Senior Peer Worker, Mental Health Therapy Services

Barwon-Health; Geelong; On-site; AUD 44,000 - 66,000; Part time

Job summary

Barwon Health is seeking a Senior Peer Worker to join the Mental Health Therapy Team in Geelong. This temporary part-time position supports consumers through individual and group-based programs, guided by lived experience and recovery-focused care. You will mentor Peer Workers and contribute to program development within a multidisciplinary team.

The role emphasizes collaboration, hope, self-determination and connectedness, with opportunities to lead and shape peer-led services across MHDAS.

Qualifications

• Lived experience of mental health or AOD services used to support others.
• Experience in peer work and group facilitation beneficial.
• Strong communication and mentoring abilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual peer support aligned with peer work principles and facilitate peer/therapeutic groups.
• Guide, mentor and support Peer Workers within the team.
• Contribute to program development and staff education on peer work.

Skills

Lived experience

Intentional Peer Support

Group facilitation

Mentoring

Peer work

Job description

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Senior Peer Worker, Mental Health Therapy Services

Employment Type - Temporary Part Time

Hours per fortnight - 56

Job Category - Other Professionals - Lived Experience

• Lived experience of mental health or AOD services, used purposefully to support others
• Temporary part time – Parental relief opportunity

About the role

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Peer Worker to join the Mental Health Therapy Team at Barwon Health. The team is part of Mental Health, Drugs and Alcohol Services (MHDAS). It provides therapeutic support to consumers through individual and group-based programs, delivered by a multidisciplinary team that includes lived experience staff.

In this role you will draw on your own lived experience of using mental health or alcohol and other drug services to walk alongside consumers in their recovery. You will offer individual peer support and facilitate peer and therapeutic groups grounded in hope, choice, self-determination and connectedness. Working independently and alongside the team, you will bring a lived experience perspective to how the team’s programs are developed and delivered. You will also guide and mentor Peer Workers, and help build a greater understanding of the value of peer work across MHDAS.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide individual peer support in line with Intentional Peer Support principles and the MHDAS Peer Work Scope of Practice, and facilitate or co-facilitate peer and therapeutic groups
• Guide, orientate and mentor Peer Workers, and take an active part in the Lived Experience Team, including reflective practice and supervision
• Use your lived experience expertise to shape MHTS programs, policy and service development, and educate MHDAS staff about the role of peer work

What We Are Looking For

You will have personal lived experience as a recipient of tertiary mental health or drug and alcohol services. You will also be confident using that experience purposefully to support others. You’ll be someone who builds trusting relationships easily, works well on your own and as part of a team, and is passionate about recovery-oriented practice.

• Demonstrated experience in peer work, ideally including group facilitation and an understanding of Intentional Peer Support
• Strong communication skills and a commitment to mentoring others and improving services

• Excellent working conditions and a strong sense of job satisfaction
• A vibrant staff wellbeing program and access to our 24/7 Employee Assistance Program
• Attractive salary packaging benefits
  • Living expenses capped at $9,010
  • Meals and entertainment capped at $2,650

• Working with Children Check (if applicable)

Barwon Health is an inclusive and welcoming employer, committed to reflecting the diverse communities we serve. We value and celebrate people of all genders, sexual orientations, cultural backgrounds, faiths, abilities, family structures, and identities, and encourage applications from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and members of the LGBTIQA+ community.