Recovery-Focused Mental Health Peer Worker (IPS)

Woden Community Service; Canberra; On-site; AUD 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Woden Community Service (WCS) invites applications for a Mental Health Peer Worker to join the Community Mental Health Programs team in the ACT. The role leverages lived experience to support recovery, using Intentional Peer Support principles in group activities and one-to-one peer support.

Reporting to the Team Leader, you will co-facilitate peer-led groups, foster inclusion and wellbeing, maintain records, and work within a multidisciplinary team to strengthen peer-informed services across

Qualifications

• Lived or living experience of mental health challenges, distress, and recovery used to support others.
• Minimum Certificate III in Peer Work, Mental Health, Community Services, or related discipline.
• Understanding of peer work values and recovery-oriented, strengths-based, and trauma-informed practice.
• Experience supporting people experiencing mental health challenges, suicidal distress, psychosocial disability, or other complex support needs.
• Experience facilitating or supporting groups, community activities, or peer-led initiatives.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build authentic and respectful relationships.
• Organisational and administrative skills, including maintaining accurate records.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Confidence using client management systems and Microsoft Office applications.

Responsibilities

• Use lived experience to support participants through peer relationships and shared learning.
• Apply IPS principles in participant interactions, activities, and groups.
• Co-facilitate peer-led groups, workshops, and community participation activities.
• Support participants to build confidence, social connection, community inclusion, and wellbeing.
• Provide informal individual peer support within the role scope.
• Foster safe, welcoming environments where participants feel heard and valued.
• Identify distress or risk and respond through appropriate referrals and escalation.
• Contribute lived experience perspectives to service improvement and recovery-oriented practice.
• Maintain accurate participant records and activity documentation.
• Collaborate within a multidisciplinary team and contribute to a positive peer workforce culture.

Skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Group facilitation

Independent work

Team collaboration

Education

Certificate III in Peer Work / Mental Health / Community Services

Tools

Client management systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Woden Community Service (WCS) invites applications for a Mental Health Peer Worker to join the Community Mental Health Programs team in the ACT. The role leverages lived experience to support recovery, using Intentional Peer Support principles in group activities and one-to-one peer support.

Reporting to the Team Leader, you will co-facilitate peer-led groups, foster inclusion and wellbeing, maintain records, and work within a multidisciplinary team to strengthen peer-informed services across