• Experience on the job training for a designated LGBTQIA+ position whilst you study to deliver recovery-orientated services to clients with mental ill health
• Fixed Term, Part Time role | 22.8 hours per week, 10 months
• Abbotsford Location

Mind strongly encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, people with a lived and living experience of mental distress and recovery, and applicants from all cultures, genders, sexualities, bodies, abilities, spiritualties, ages and backgrounds.

Mind Australia is one of the country’s leading community-managed specialist mental health service providers with a range of residential, mobile outreach, centre based and online services. Mind has been supporting people experiencing mental health and wellbeing challenges to find help, hope and purpose in their lives for more than 45 years.

We provide practical and motivational support that helps people to develop the skills they need to move on, thrive and improve the quality of their lives. It’s an approach to mental health and wellbeing that looks at the whole person in the context of their daily life. Mind is committed to diversity and social inclusion. 

About the role

The Aftercare service, offers a safe place of psychological healing and holistic support for people from the LGBTIQ+ community who are having thoughts or intentions of suicide and experiencing mental health challenges at no cost. Aftercare delivers short-term (up to 6 months), peer-based recovery-focused outreach, counselling and therapeutic services to support clients, families, carers and loved ones to move forward with a life of meaning and purpose. Requiring a high degree of thoughtfulness, nuance and practical expertise the lived experience Peer Practitioners and multidisciplinary Allied Health team provide warm, affirming care and strategies, tailored supports and a range of clinical interventions delivered in line with Mind’s Model of Recovery Oriented Practice and organisational values for people with a psychosocial disability.

The Aftercare service integrates evidence-based practice with community insights to works collaboratively with clients following a suicide crisis providing individualised one-to-one sessions, group work facilitation, workshops and preventative supports. The service also addresses contributing factors to LGBTIQA+ suicide by delivering support coordination, community advocacy, access to service providers, meaningful referrals and ongoing supports to ensure continuity of care.

We are seeking a resilient, self-motivated Peer Cadet for a 10 month Fixed Term,  Part Time (22.8 hours per week) opportunity in the Abbotsford area. You will be supported to deliver personalised support services and works collaboratively with clients to achieve their recovery goals through one-to-one support, shared supports, workshops and group work facilitation to enhance recovery, personal growth and activities of daily living. 

This is a designated LGBTQIA+ position for people with a lived experience of suicidality.

To be eligible

To be eligible, applicants must submit a covering letter that addresses their ‘Lived Experience’, as well as provide evidence of enrolment in the Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work before commencement of the cadetship period.

Applicants will also need to meet the selection criteria defined by participating organisations.

Online information sessions

Understanding more about what peer work is, and what the Peer Cadet Program involves, can help you make sure this is the right opportunity for you. Applicants must watch a pre-recorded session before applying. 

We invite potential candidates to watch one of our information sessions (online) to find out more about the program. Program leads from participating organisations will also be available to answer any questions you may have about this opportunity.

The agenda items for the information session are as follows:

• About the Peer Cadet Program
• What Is Peer Work
• Why I chose Peer Work
• What to Consider Before Applying to Become a Peer Cadet
• Peer Cadetship Expectations
• Peer Cadet Program Host Organisations
• The Application Process
• Question Time

Recorded information session

To receive a link to a recorded session please register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-25-peer-cadet-program-recorded-information-session-tickets-914293615817?aff=oddtdtcreator

Further information and will be available on the department of Health website Lived Experience Peer Cadet Program | health.vic.gov.au

Questions about the program can be emailed to [email protected]. 

Key responsibilities

• Willingness to utilise your own lived experience of mental ill health and recovery and/or caring to inform your work and the work of the team.
• Draw on Mind’s Peer Work Framework and Model of Peer Work to guide your work.

• Support staff and clients to return to a place of residence and a meaningful life supporting them through a staged approach to recovery
• Aid in planning and developing group work programs that will assist clients to build their skills, focus on their recovery and work towards transitioning back to their natural community.
• Engage with clients to fully understand their need for assistance from local service providers with clinical mental health, physical health, education and employment, eligible entitlements and benefits, housing, transport, recreation and social connections.

What you’ll bring

• Must be currently undertaking Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work
• Intentional Peer Support (IPS) and/or Alt2Su training desirable but not mandatory
• Ability to draw on Mind’s Peer Work Framework and Model of Peer Work to guide your work
• Experience in Community Services, Mental Health, Disability, Social Welfare, Housing, Healthcare or Government sectors is desirable.
• Demonstrated understanding of available community services, networks and supports is desirable.

Benefits

• Salary packaging up to $15,899 p.a. allows you to allocate a portion of your pre-tax income to cover living expenses (e.g. rent, mortgage, child care, car leasing expenses etc.)
• Option to access Meal and Entertainment allowance up to $2,650 p.a. via Salary Packaging.
• Professional development through regular supervision sessions

Interested?

To obtain a position description and apply online click 'Apply Now' to visit Mind Careers - reference number 495120. Online applications must be submitted by the closing date. Please contact the person below if you require more information. 

Tim McGregor, Lived Experience Project Lead

[email protected]

The successful applicant is required to complete comprehensive reference and background checking prior to employment, including a Working with Children Check, NDIS Workers Screening Check and the ability to obtain vaccinations against COVID-19.