Peer Support Worker

Uniting Vic.Tas; Ballarat; On-site; AUD 28,000 - 42,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Childcare discount

Office 365 discount

Op Shops discount

Salary packaging benefits

Meal entertainment benefit

Leave purchasing

Paid parental leave

Holiday opt-in/out

Diversity and inclusion

Job summary

Ballarat-based Part-time Peer Support Worker in the Uniting Vic.Tas program will use lived experience to support recovery and community participation. You will work within the Early Intervention Psychosocial Support Response (EIPSR) program, providing peer support, advocacy and encouragement to help consumers navigate services and achieve independence.

This is not a clinical role; you will walk alongside consumers, collaborating with Mental Health & Recovery Clinicians to deliver

Qualifications

• Lived experience of mental illness, recovery and sustained wellbeing.
• Ability to safely share recovery stories to support others.
• Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work or equivalent.
• Experience providing peer support, advocacy or direct support in mental health services.
• Belief in recovery, hope, self-determination and person-centred practice.

Responsibilities

• Share lived experience safely to inspire hope.
• Provide advocacy and moral support at appointments and in the community.
• Support consumers to build confidence, independence and community connections.
• Collaborate with clinicians to deliver recovery-focused support and group programs.
• Represent lived experience within a multidisciplinary team.

Skills

Lived experience

Recovery story sharing

Peer Work Cert IV

Peer support experience

Recovery-centered practice

Education

Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work

Job description

• Use your lived experience to support recovery and self-determination.
• Flexible 3 days per week in a recovery-focused community role.

• 532856
• Ballarat, VIC
• Mental Health
• Maximum Term Part Time
• Closing on: Oct 20 2026

• Use your lived experience to support recovery and self-determination.
• Flexible 3 days per week in a recovery-focused community role.
• SCHADS Level 3 + super, Max Term 30/07/2027, p/t 0.6FTE (22.8hr p/week)

Your new role

This is a unique opportunity to use your lived experience of mental health recovery to support others on their journey toward wellbeing, independence and community participation. Working as part of the Early Intervention Psychosocial Support Response (EIPSR) program, you'll walk alongside consumers and help them achieve their recovery goals.

This is not a clinical role. Instead, you'll provide peer support, advocacy and encouragement, drawing on your own recovery experience to instill hope, promote self-determination and help consumers navigate services and community supports.

Your Impact Will Include

• Sharing your lived experience safely and purposefully to inspire hope.
• Providing advocacy and moral support at appointments and in the community.
• Supporting consumers to build confidence, independence and community connections.
• Working alongside Mental Health & Recovery Clinicians to deliver recovery-focused support, including group program development.
• Being the voice of lived experience within a multidisciplinary team.

This part-time (0.6 FTE) position is based in Ballarat and offers flexibility to work across any three days between Monday and Friday.

About The Program

The Early Intervention Psychosocial Support Response (EIPSR) program is delivered by Uniting in partnership with Grampians Health. The program provides recovery-oriented psychosocial support to adults living with severe mental illness across the Grampians and Central Highlands region.

Using a trauma-informed and person-centred approach, EIPSR supports people who are ineligible for, or awaiting access to, the NDIS. The program helps consumers build independence, strengthen community connections and work towards meaningful recovery goals.

Peer Support Workers play a vital role in the team, bringing lived experience, hope and understanding to support consumers in leading meaningful and self-directed lives.

Benefits Of Working At Uniting

At Uniting, you’ll enjoy:

• Working in a values-led organisation with real community impact.
• A 60% discount for eligible employees on out-of-pocket childcare fees at Uniting learning services.
• A 30% discount on Office 365 subscriptions, and a 25% discount at our Uniting Op Shops.
• Up to $15,900 in salary packaging benefits that can be used for living expenses such as groceries, bills, clothing and streaming services.
• Saving on dining out and drinks with a meal entertainment benefit of $2,650 annually.
• Increase your annual leave entitlements through our purchase leave program
• Up to 10 weeks of paid parental leave for primary caregivers (4 for secondary)
• An extra 17.5% on top of your fortnightly pay when you take paid annual leave
• Opt in or out of public holidays and be respected for your unique background.

Your Skills And Experience

You're passionate about mental health recovery and ready to use your lived experience to empower others to build meaningful and self-directed lives.

You Will Bring

• Lived experience of mental illness, recovery and sustained wellbeing.
• Ability to safely and purposefully share your recovery story to support others.
• Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work, Mental Health or equivalent.
• Experience providing peer support, advocacy or direct support within mental health services.
• A strong belief in recovery, hope, self-determination and person-centred practice.

About Uniting

We create real change in people’s lives by working in partnership with people, communities, governments and other agencies to reduce the impact of poverty, trauma and disadvantage.

We provide compassionate care for people facing tough times and personal challenges. We support children and young people to break the cycle of disadvantage. We help families keep safe, together and thriving.

For over 100 years we’ve been fighting inequality, opposing discrimination, and responding to the needs in our communities across Victoria and Tasmania.

We are an inclusive, values-led organisation and proudly welcome people of all identities, backgrounds and experiences. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, LGBTQIA+ people, and people with lived and living experience relevant to our work.

We are committed to inclusive hiring practices. You are welcome to share your pronouns and let us know if you require any adjustments during the recruitment process. We are here to support you.

Uniting is a child safe organisation and is committed to the safety, wellbeing and empowerment of all children and young people. We embed child safety in everything we do. Employment with Uniting is subject to relevant pre-employment checks, including a National Police Check and Working with Children Check.

For any questions, reach out to Sarah Lapinski, Team Leader Community Mental Health & Well-being on 0479 187 493 for a chat.

Visit us: www.vt.uniting.org