Youth Peer Worker

The Royal Melbourne Hospital; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 30,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading mental health service in Melbourne seeks a compassionate Youth Peer Worker to empower young people facing mental health challenges through lived experience support. The role offers part-time hours and involves collaborating with families and clinical teams to enhance recovery-focused care. Applicants should possess strong interpersonal skills and have experience in youth mental health environments.

Benefits

Salary Packaging

Monthly ADO

EAP and Wellbeing programs

Qualifications

• Lived experience of accessing youth mental health services for mood disorders
• Experience in peer support or lived experience roles in youth mental health settings
• Strong communication skills with diverse young people

Responsibilities

• Provide lived-experience support to young people in the Youth Mood Clinic
• Engage families and carers for advocacy and peer support
• Develop recovery and life skills activities for young people

Skills

Peer support experience

Interpersonal communication

Collaboration in multidisciplinary teams

Job description

The Parkville Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Service (PYMHWS) provides dedicated mental health care to young people aged 12-25 in Melbourne’s north and west, along with their families, carers, supporters and kin.

Operating at sites across Melbourne’s north and west PYMHWS is Victoria’s first standalone public mental health service built exclusively around young people’s needs.

This means every decision – from the front desk to the boardroom – centres on what young people need.

Working in partnership with Orygen, PYMHWS combines world-leading research, clinical excellence and dedicated governance to deliver seamless, person-centred care. Our singular focus on youth means we’re not just providing mental health care - we’re reimagining how it’s experienced, accessed, and delivered.

Building on Orygen’s pioneering legacy, PYMHWS will maintain clinical excellence while Orygen continues as an essential partner providing research and innovation.

Youth Peer Worker – Youth Mood Clinic

Parkville Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Service (PYMHWS) is seeking a Youth Peer Worker to provide lived-experience peer support to young people in the Youth Mood Clinic, empowering recovery and connection.

• Join Victoria’s newest Public Mental Health Service dedicated to youth
• Permanent Ongoing, Part-time role | 0.4 EFT | Parkville based
• Salary Packaging | Monthly ADO | EAP and Wellbeing programs

About Us

Parkville Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Service (PYMHWS) is Victoria’s newest public mental health service dedicated to the care of young people aged 12 to 25 experiencing complex mental health challenges.

PYMHWS is leading a bold and values-driven transformation in youth mental health care across Melbourne’s north and west. We exist to walk alongside young people, their families, carers, supporters and kin delivering care that is accessible, inclusive, developmentally appropriate, evidence-informed, and grounded in lived experience.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a compassionate and relatable Youth Peer Worker to provide specialist lived-experience support to young people. This role will contribute to enhancing recovery-oriented care through advocacy, mentoring, and collaboration within a multidisciplinary team.

• Support young people by sharing lived experience to foster connection and promote self-care.
• Engage with families and carers to provide advocacy and peer support in a collaborative way.
• Collaborate closely with clinical, research, and peer teams to contribute to holistic care planning.
• Develop and deliver recovery and life skills activities that empower young people’s independence.
• Provide feedback and insights to improve service delivery and digital engagement platforms.
• Participate in supervision, training, and service improvement initiatives to continually enhance your practice.

About You

Lived experience of accessing youth mental health services for mood disorders is essential; lived experience with bipolar disorder is highly desired.

Experience in peer support or lived experience roles within youth mental health settings.

Strong interpersonal and communication skills with ability to engage diverse young people.

Excellent collaboration skills working within multidisciplinary teams.

Motivated by recovery-oriented, culturally safe, and inclusive practices.

Ability to manage boundaries, work independently, and seek support as needed.

PYMHWS stands in solidarity with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in work and care. We are proud to be a workplace that champions diversity, inclusion and equality for our staff and our community.

All appointments are made subject to a satisfactory Criminal History Record Check and a Working with Children Check. Successful applicants will be required to provide evidence of an immunisation assessment prior to commencement.