Being is the NSW peak representative organisation for people living with mental health issues and emotional distress. We have a strong focus on human rights, and as such advocate for the rights of people with mental health issues to live and participate in the communities they choose, free of stigma and discrimination.

Our guiding principles are:

• Creating space for people with lived/living experience of mental health issues to have their voices heard;
• Ensuring that recovery-oriented and trauma-informed practice underpins all aspects of Being’s operation;
• The belief that a life free of stigma and discrimination are human rights for every person;
• Providing capacity-building opportunities for all people with lived/living experience to grow;
• Ensuring that everything Being does is consumer led.

Our operational and governance structures have a majority of people living with mental health issues, including our staff and Board, who draw on their unique skills and experiences as consumers and survivors of services. Our membership base is made up predominantly of people who identify as personally living with mental health issues.

Role Description

The Peer Workforce Project Coordinator will be instrumental in developing processes which support the expansion and development of infrastructures for consumer peer workers across NSW. To inform this vital work, the Peer Workforce Project Coordinator will work collaboratively with a range of stakeholders, including peer workers across NSW.

As a senior leadership role within the organisation, the Peer Workforce Project Coordinator will work closely with the CEO and other senior staff in developing projects and activities to support the NSW peer workforce, including the hosting of the annual NSW Public Mental Health Consumer Worker Forum

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Work on projects and initiatives to support the work of Being in line with the needs of the consumer peer workforce across NSW;
• Lead the development of infrastructures to build the NSW Peer Workforce Network including design, development, maintenance, and evaluation of the project;
• Establish, recruit and Chair the NSW Peer Workforce Network Committee;
• Maintain and manage a database of peer workers across NSW including public, private and NGO sectors;
• Consult and liaise with key stakeholders including peer workers, Ministry of Health, community managed organisations, peak bodies, the NSW Mental Health Commission and NSW Local Health Districts on peer workforce requirements;
• Lead the organisation and hosting of the annual Consumer Peer Worker Forum, including working with the NSW Public Consumer Peer Workforce Committee for the purposes of the forum;
• Contribute to the development of the Peer Supervision model for NSW;
• Lead delivery of projects to ensure deadlines and budgets are met, including completion of funding reporting.;
• Development of resources (including training) to support the professional development of the Peer Workforce;
• Undertake research and data specific reports in line with Peer Workforce methodology;
• Be involved in activities that support the NSW Peer Workforce, in line with BEING’s values and purpose and the core principles of peer work;

• Contribute to other projects and initiatives identified as required;
• Supervision of student placements and volunteers peer workers;
• Other duties and responsibilities as required.

Essential Criteria:

1. Personal experience of living with mental health issues and demonstrated ability to utilise your own recovery to support and inspire hope and recovery for others;
2. Strong knowledge of the mental health sector in NSW;
3. Strong understanding of issues relating to consumer peer workers in public mental health services and community managed organisations;
4. Demonstrated strategic thinking skills and experience in the development of high-end projects and documents;
5. Demonstrated understanding of the principles that inform good practice mental health peer work;
6. Demonstrated evidence in working from a practice which is recovery-oriented and trauma-informed;
7. High level analytic skills in relation to research, literature review and reports, and an ability to take discussion papers, literature reviews and reports from conception to completion;
8. High level communication skills and demonstrated high level relationship management experience;
9. Demonstrated high level project management skills;
10. Excellent administrative skills including secretariat experience and proficient in using Microsoft Office.

Desirable Criteria

1. Experience with state or national level Peer Workforce initiatives;
2. Experience on statewide project management initiatives;
3. Previous work experience as a consumer worker or consumer peer worker in public mental health services or community managed organisations;
4. Certificate IV Mental Health Peer Work (consumer) or working towards;
5. Ability to commence immediately.

BEING is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. This means we apply affirmative action strategies to the employment of people with personal lived/living experience of mental health issues.