Peer Support Worker

Iaawg; Cooma; On-site; AUD 56,000 - 61,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging

Counselling support

Volunteering opportunities

Annual leave purchase

Extra leave

Job summary

Mission Australia is seeking a part-time Peer Worker in Cooma NSW, with regular travel to Bega, to support individuals experiencing gambling harm. You will use your lived experience to provide empathetic outreach, facilitate connections to GambleAware services, and work with a multidisciplinary team to improve client outcomes.

You will be part of a compassionate culture, participate in ongoing training, and enjoy Not-for-Profit salary packaging and wellbeing supports as part of your role.

Qualifications

• You have lived experience of gambling harm and recovery.
• You can share your story to inspire hope and engagement.
• You listen, connect, and build trust with clients.

Responsibilities

• Support easy access to GambleAware services through lived experience perspective.
• Be part of the GambleAware team and provide support to individuals/groups.
• Assist our Community Coordinator to build community connections.
• Share your personal recovery journey to help clients.
• Complete administrative tasks such as case notes and reports.

Skills

Lived experience

Storytelling

Empathy and listening

Education

Cert IV in Community Services or Mental Health

Job description

Flexible part-time opportunity 17.5 hours per week with hours and days negotiable to support lived experience and wellbeing. Hourly Rate: $41.44 to $43.55 per hour plus Super + Not for Profit Salary Packaging Salary dependent upon qualifications and experience Location: Cooma NSW 2630 with outreach to Bega NSW 2550 Make a meaningful difference to the lives of Australians in need!

Your Opportunity

At Mission Australia, we believe recovery is most powerful when guided by compassion and lived experience. Peer Workers use their lived experience of gambling harm and recovery to support and inspire hope and recovery in others, and ultimately to positively influence client outcomes. Their lived experience helps them to build connections and rapport with people and inspires hope and confidence. As a Peer Worker, you will work alongside a dedicated, multidisciplinary team to support people experiencing gambling harm. Drawing on your own recovery journey, you will offer understanding, empathy, and practical strategies to help clients overcome barriers to accessing support and to connect with GambleAware services.

This role is based in Cooma and involves regular travel to Bega and surrounds. A pool car is provided for all work-related travel.

Key Responsibilities

• Supporting easy access for people to the GambleAware Service through lived experience perspective.
• Being part of the GambleAware team and provide support to individuals/groups.
• Supporting our Community Coordinator to build community connections.
• Sharing your personal experience of recovery from gambling harm.
• Completing a range of administrative tasks such as case notes and reports.

About You

• You have lived experience of the personal impacts and effects of gambling harm and related challenges and recovery.
• You know the right story to tell to inspire hope.
• You share your own stories as a way to engage and build trust.
• You take time to listen and get to know people and find common ground with ease.
• You create environments that make people feel safe, in control and have a sense of belonging.
• You’re organised, prepared and always have a plan.
• You can roll with it when plans change.
• You understand self-care is important in order to help others.
• You have a Cert IV in Community Services or Mental Health or willing to obtain while working.
• You have a current NSW driver’s licence.
• Before starting work with us, you will need to undertake a national police history check, qualifications, and referee checks, and have a clearance to work with children/vulnerable people.

Please note that disclosing convictions will not automatically preclude you from our recruitment process.

Your Benefits

• Rewarding work – every day you know you’re making a real difference
• Not-for-profit salary packaging, reducing your tax (details via AccessPay)
• Free external, confidential counselling and access to chaplaincy support
• Volunteering opportunities
• Opportunity to purchase additional annual leave
• Extra leave including: Mission Australia Thank You Day & Work Anniversary Day off

Our Culture

Our innovative and inclusive culture will ensure you feel valued at Mission Australia as you help Australians in need and develop in your career. We prioritise the safety and wellbeing of everyone, both within our team and the individuals we serve. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment. We actively support and encourage people of all backgrounds; gender, age, ethnicity, race, cultural background, disability, religion, and sexual orientation to submit an application and aim to ensure that the recruitment and employee experience is as accessible and inclusive as possible. So, whoever you are, if you’re skilled and actively support our purpose and values, you would be welcome at Mission Australia.

If you live with disability and require support to submit your application, please email [e-mail] or visit our Careers page for additional contact details. We strongly encourage applications from people who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. For culturally safe support or assistance with your application, please contact us at [e-mail].

About Mission Australia

Thank you. Mission Australia is a national Christian charity motivated by a shared vision of an Australia where everyone has a safe home and can thrive. Since 1859, we’ve been standing alongside people in need across Australia, offering real hope that has lasting impact. Backed by our supporters, churches, partners, and funders, we work together for the long-term wellbeing of anyone who needs us, reflecting our values of respect, compassion, integrity, perseverance and celebration. We collaborate with people experiencing homelessness or disadvantage to tackle the root causes of their challenges through providing access to safe, affordable homes and innovative, evidence-based support services. Every day we deliver homelessness crisis and prevention services, provide social and affordable housing, assist struggling families and children, address mental health issues, fight substance dependencies, support people with disability and much more. Mission Australia believes a person’s circumstances shouldn’t define their future and that given the right support, everyone can reach their full potential. That’s why we stand together with Australians in need, until they can stand for themselves. Learn more about Mission Australia and our purpose.