• Be involved in the establishment of the new Locals – a key system transformation
• Deliver positive, person centred wellbeing services to people with mental health and AOD challenges
• Permanent role| Full time or Part time
• Echuca 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, spiritualities, 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 service

The Adult and Older Adult Mental Health and Wellbeing services, also refer to as “Locals”, are a key recommendation from Victoria’s Royal Commission into the mental health service system’s transformation. The Locals will act as the ‘front door’ service to the mental health system and will provide a continuum of care and support, including clinical interventions, wellbeing supports, and therapeutic support through an integrated mental health and alcohol and other drug framework approach. These services will have a ‘no wrong door’ policy, ensuring accessibility to all individuals seeking support.

About the role

We are seeking a self-motivated, empathic Peer Practitioner. This is a permanent full time or part time opportunity to work within the Echuca area. The successful applicant will utilise their lived/living experience of mental ill health, recovery and/or alcohol and drug challenges to provide services to consumers, in line with Mind’s Model of Recovery Oriented Practice, My Better Life model, Mind’s Peer Work Framework and organisational values for people with mental health and alcohol and other drug challenges.

In this role you will be a champion of co-design and co-production in all aspects of the Local’s Service. You will work with people to understand their needs and identify how they would like to move towards what is possible in their lives by focusing on relational care.

Key responsibilities

• Willingness to utilise your own lived /living experience of mental ill health, alcohol and other drugs challenges and recovery to inform your work and the work of the team.
• Disclose your lived experience in an appropriate and purposeful manner to support, empower, bring hope and support the recovery of consumers.
• Support the team to understand and deliver services within the Local that are consistent with recovery oriented practice from a peer/lived experience perspective.
• Lead the planning and development of group work programs that will assist consumers to build their skills, focus on their recovery and work towards transitioning back to their natural community.
• Engage with consumers 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

• Tertiary qualifications in Mental Health, Peer Work, Psychology, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Community Services or other professional field as designated by Mind are referred, and/or equivalent experience in a similar industry.
• Intentional Peer Support Core and/or Advanced training will also be considered as an alternative to tertiary qualifications.
• Previous experience in using lived experience expertise in a dedicated Peer role strongly desirable.
• Experience, expertise and/or desire in working directly with people with mental health issues, and their families and carers.
• Experience or ability to acquire skills in understanding needs and working collaboratively to plan wellbeing supports using evidence informed approaches and tools.
• Experience and/or commitment in providing empathic person centred relational support.

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.)
• Generous leave entitlements including 8 weeks paid parental leave, 17.5% annual leave loading.
• Learning and development opportunities.   

Interested?

To obtain a position description and apply online click Apply Now to visit Mind Careers - reference number 495087. Online applications must be submitted by the closing date. Please contact the person below for more information.

Lisa Henderson – Service Operations Manager

[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.