Peer Worker or Mental Health Worker

Apply Now; Inverell; On-site; AUD 82,000 - 86,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging

Flexible working conditions

Career development & training

Employee assistance program

Staff discounts

Fleet pricing discounts

Job summary

Flourish Australia is seeking a Peer Worker or Mental Health Worker to join our Specialist Homelessness Service, based in Moree or Inverell. The role supports people with lived experience of mental health challenges to pursue recovery goals, build wellbeing, and access housing and community services.

You will work Monday to Friday with Level 3 SCHCADS earnings of $40.49–$43.42 per hour plus super and salary packaging.

Qualifications

• Certificate IV or higher in a relevant field OR minimum 2 years' full-time human services experience.
• Personal lived experience of a mental health challenge and recovery (Peer Worker only).
• Understanding of recovery-based practice and commitment to Flourish Australia's values.
• Ability to use Microsoft Office and knowledge of data information management systems.

Responsibilities

• Hold recovery and social citizenship conversations with service users to connect, support, and build reciprocity.
• Guide and support individuals in their recovery, focusing on strengths and person-led journeys.
• Contribute to reducing stigma around lived experience of mental health challenges.
• Support access to activities and opportunities promoting independence.
• Support skill development through self-directed learning, information, training and education.

Skills

Microsoft Office

Education

Certificate IV or above in relevant field

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Use your passion for mental health and play a key role in supporting people people to achieve their recovery goals!

Flourish Australia has an exciting opportunity for a Peer Worker or Mental Health Worker to join our dedicated Specialist Homelessness Service!

The position available is:

• Full-time (76 hours/fortnight)
• Based in Moree or Inverell
• Working Monday to Friday
• Level 3 on the Flourish Australia Enterprise Agreement (2018) hourly rates equivalent to $40.49 - $43.42/hour+ Super + Salary Packaging!

About the Opportunity

As aPeer Worker or Mental Health Worker, you will support people accessing our services who have a lived experience of mental health challenges to achieve their hopes and dreams. You will play an important part in assisting people to maintain wellness and realise their goals.

The Specialist Homelessness Service provides early intervention and intensive support to help people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness sustain their housing and address barriers that may lead to homelessness. Operating across the New England region, the program supports a range of priority groups, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, young people, families, people exiting correctional facilities, and those experiencing complex or recurring homelessness.

On a day to day basis you will:

• Effectively and appropriately hold recovery and social citizenship conversations with people who access our services in order to connect with them, support them and build reciprocity, via mutual understanding, trust and shared experience.
• Effectively and appropriately guide and support each individual in their recovery and be strengths, ability and possibility focused, whilst ensuring they are the leads in their own recovery journey.
• Effectively contribute to decreasing stigma and discrimination around having a lived experience of a mental health challenge.
• Support the person to access activities and opportunities that promote independence.
• Support skill development at every opportunity through self-directed learning, information, training, and education.

We value lived experience and believe peer support is a powerful part of the mental health recovery journey. Therefore, ourPeer Workerroles are for those willing to use their personal lived experience of a mental health challenge and recovery.Yourpersonal lived experience of mental health challenges, trauma, recovery and navigating services is recognised as a form of Lived Experience Expertise. You use this expertise intentionally, safely, and purposefully to build relationships grounded in mutuality, shared understanding, respect, and hope. Through authentic connection and values-aligned self-disclosure, you support people to explore their strengths, rights, choices, and self-defined recovery goals, always honouring their roles as the expert in their own life.

It isnota requirement forMental Health Workersto use their lived experience of a mental health challenge in their everyday work.

Full position descriptions for each role can be found below:

Please note - Successful candidates must maintain an Australian drivers license and proof of comprehensive insurance must be provided when required. You may be directed to use your private motor vehicle in the course of performing your duties when an organisational pool motorvehicle is unavailable.You will receive the Travelling Transport and Fares Allowance when using your private vehicle for work related purposes.

Who we are

Flourish Australia is one of Australia’s most experienced community mental health organisations. Our purpose is to support people to flourish, believe in their futures, and become contributing members of the community.

Our services are comprehensive and highly personalised because each person’s experience will be different and their needs, as an individual, are unique. Together we set goals, connect individuals with the right people, support services and opportunities to meet their needs.

Our positions are opento all suitably qualified applicants. We have a strong commitment to the participation of people with lived experience of mental health challenges in our workforce. We value diversity and encourage applications from suitably qualified people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds, people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities, LGBTQ+ communities and mature age candidates.

Selection Criteria

• A Certificate IV or above in a relevant field OR a minimum of 2-years full-time experience working in the human services field (as recognised by Flourish Australia).
• A personal lived experience of a mental health challenge and recovery (Peer Worker only).
• Willing and able to effectively, respectfully, and appropriately use your lived experience of a mental health challenge and recovery (Peer Worker only).
• Demonstrated alignment to Flourish Australia’s values.
• A strong understanding and commitment to recovery-based practice in the workplace.
• Understanding of the challenges faced by people with a lived experience of mental health challenges.
• Understanding of, and ability to effectively use, Microsoft Office and knowledge of data information management systems.

Flourish Australia recognises and values its people as demonstrated by:

• Level 3 (SCHCADS)on the Flourish Australia Enterprise Agreement (2018)
• Tax-Free Salary Packaging available up to $15,900 + additional $2,650 for entertainment benefitssuch as meals and holiday accommodation
• Generous leave provisions including17.5% leave loading + 2 additional days of personal leave + extra day paid leave over Christmas/New Year + paid parental leave
• Family-friendly andflexible working conditions
• Opportunities forcareer progression,professional development and training such asMental Health First Aid and ASIST
• Employee Assistance Programfor confidential wellbeing support
• Workplace Community Groupssuch as ourRainbow Networkfor LGBTQ+ staff members & allies andYarnUpfor Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff members
• Exclusive personalFleet pricing discountswith our preferred automotive supplier
• Employee discountsat 400+ popular retailers (Woolworths, Expedia, Myer, Kmart etc)

All appointments with Flourish Australia's Mental Health Services are subject to an NDIS Worker Screening clearance, a National Criminal History Check, a WWCC, previous employment reference checks, satisfactory Australian residency status and other background checks. All successful applicants will be required to declare any private or secondary employment prior to commencement in line with Flourish Australia's Private or Secondary Employment Policy.