The Opportunity

• Generous salary packaging options
• Friendly team environment
• Part Time Fixed Term to June 2020

The Peer Support Worker – Medication Support & Recovery Service (MSRS) will provide practical and emotional support for clients and their families whose lives are significantly impacted as a result of pharmaceutical/medication misuses. This role provides the opportunity to share your experiences of recovery or role as a carer of someone with pharmaceutical/medication concerns and empower participants, their families, clinicians and the community to ultimately improve outcomes for clients and families/loved ones engaged in the MSRS.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual peer support through engagement, brief interventions, outreach and post-treatment aftercare as required to individuals, carers and families who lives are affected by pharmaceutical/medication misuse
• Encourage and facilitate referrals and supports for clients into MSRS treatment services, internal and external services, carer support groups and education
• Establish and facilitate peer support programs across the EMPHN catchment with a focus on medication misuses and recovery
• Develop strong community and sector connections to support improved participation in group programs
• Engage with GPs, health services, attend community development forums and participate in community development activities
• Represent MSRS and partner agencies at local, regional and state-wide networks, forums and presentation as appropriate

Skills & Experience

• Identify as having lived experience of pharmaceutical/medication misuse and demonstrate current stability in your recovery OR identify as a family member/carer of someone with pharmaceutical/medication misuse
• Be willing to effectively, respectfully and appropriately use your lived experience of substance use issues in your everyday work
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Experience and confidence to co-facilitate a peer support group,
• Experience in speaking at or delivering community education or community engagement events
• Completion of, or enrollment in formal studies in AOD/MH/peer work or similar training

Culture & Benefits

People love working at Access Health & Community because we offer:

• Generous salary packaging opportunities
• Opportunity to purchase additional leave
• Commitment to work-life balance
• Paid parental leave
• Annual Leave Loading
• Monthly RDO (for full time employees)

About Access Health & Community

We are a not for profit community health organisation operating in twelve locations across Melbourne. With caring at our centre, our mission is to build healthier lives together with our communities and deliver excellent health services for all. AccessHC delivers medical, health and community services for all ages. We employ over 250 employees across Eastern Melbourne.

The Alcohol and Other Drug service at AccessHC offers a number of specialist AOD services to the community at no cost to clients, including:

• Medication Support and Recovery Service (MSRS) for use/misuse of prescription and over the counter medications
• Youth services for clients aged 12-25 years
• Adult services for clients aged 16 years +
• Forensic assessment and treatment services
• Family counselling for family/friends affected by substance use
• Peer support groups for families and individuals
• A secondary NSP on site to promote harm reduction for clients who are injecting drugs
• Pharmacotherapy services with AccessHC GPs

For further information or to discuss the role, please contact Beth Locke, AOD Manager on 9810 3035 or via email, [email protected].