• DURATION: Part time (0.8EFT) position, till 30 June 2025 subject to further funding
• First Nations People, LGBTIQA+ people, people with disability, people of colour, public housing residents or people with a lived experience are encouraged to apply
• DS is committed to child safety and strictly adheres to the Reportable Conduct Scheme for organisations. The safeguarding and wellbeing of our clients is our core focus. All staff must undergo thorough recruitment process including screening and providing evidence of current Working With Children Check and National Police Check.

About the role

Drummond Street Services (DS) is working in partnership with Neami National and Uniting to establish a Mental Health and Wellbeing Service (MH&WS) in the Whittlesea region. The Service is an innovative solution to deliver on the compelling vision outlined through the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. Offering a ‘no wrong door’ approach, the service will support members of the community to be connected to the right support, providing a holistic approach to care, addressing a range of social, physical, and emotional needs. The service will have a strong focus on lived experience and will support a high engagement, multi-disciplinary team model.

Peer Support Workers deliver high quality services to consumers experiencing mental health challenges presenting to the Local Mental Health & Wellbeing Service. Peer Support workers draw on their lived experience of recovery from mental illness, mental health crisis or caring for someone living with a mental illness to instill confidence and hope in others about the journey of recovery. You must identify as LGBTIQA+ and have a lived experience of your own mental illness/caring role, and a rich understanding of the processes of recovery.

You must be willing to purposefully use your own story to help others further their own understanding of recovery and work alongside a multi-disciplinary team.  Peer Support Workers will support a high engagement model of care, through actively greeting and supporting consumers throughout their time at the Local Mental Health & Wellbeing Service. Peer Support Workers are an important element of the team approach and bring the wisdom of experience to many aspects of service delivery including intake interviews, service promotion, partnership work and case reviews.

Your responsibilities

• Engage LGBTIQA+ consumers and develop trusting and professional relationships that respect worker/consumer boundaries
• Seek to learn about the consumers’ interests, their connections with family and friends, and work with the consumer in building their capacity to be part of their community
• Provide emotional support to consumers by constructively applying lessons learnt through your own lived experience
• Provide support through a range of means, including the provision of outreach and centre-based activities.
• Draw upon your understanding and belief in strength based, recovery orientated models of service
• Provide opportunities to discuss problem solving strategies, reflecting on helpful and unhelpful behaviours
• Provide social validation support by giving consumers feedback about their social interaction
• Actively contribute as a team member to the delivery of an integrated mental health service delivery with the aim to more effectively support consumers and promote the recovery model.

About you 

• A lived experience and understanding of the impact of mental health issues on health and wellbeing 
• Demonstrated capacity to work creatively, show initiative, contribute ideas and be active in a supportive team environment in an agency working to support individual and family relationships 
• Cultural and diversity humility 
• Belong to LGBTIQA+ communities as well as other communities with whom DS assertively engages

Selection Criteria:  All of the following must be addressed in your application to be considered.

Essential

• Mental Health Qualification such as Certificate IV level or above, or commitment to complete such a qualification within 2 years of your commencement of employment. Support may be provided to complete this qualification.
• A strong personal/professional support network that promotes resilience
• Involved and actively participating in the local community
• A commitment to and/or experience in working with people from LGBTIQA+ communities
• An interest in or demonstrated experience in running group programs 
• Demonstrated understanding of the needs, issues and sensitivities of people from diverse backgrounds including Aboriginal, LGBTIQA+ and culturally and linguistically diverse people and communities
• A current and valid Victorian driver’s license

Application process

• All applications will be directed to our careers portal at the Apply Now link
• All applicants must include a resume with a cover letter addressing all the key selection criteria for the position 
• Suitable applicants that apply before the closing date will be offered an interview

Please contact Tara Dempster-Clark on 03 9663 6733 or [email protected] using the subject line: LGBTIQA+ Mental Health & Wellbeing Peer Support Worker enquiry via EthicalJobs to discuss your application.

A position description is attached.