Grand Pacific Health is a not-for-profit, primary health care organisation providing locally tailored, high quality physical and mental health services across NSW and the ACT.

Our Next Steps program is a highly successful suicide prevention program consisting of a multidisciplinary team of Mental Health Peer Workers and Mental Health Clinicians. The peer workers are staff with lived experience of mental health challenges and recovery. The program is primarily a non-clinical support service focused on providing practical support to people experiencing a suicidal crisis or who have attempted suicide and their families. Support is provided for up to three months. Peer Workers are the primary support person, however, the peer worker and clinician work very much in partnership throughout the program.

We welcome and strongly encourage applications from people who have a lived experience of suicidality and/or mental illness and recovery.

About the position

Peer Workers at GPH form an important part of the broader multi-disciplinary team, and a critical part of our mental health services. Peer work is a unique space that allows people to connect and build genuine relationships in the context of mental health services. Peer workers use their own experiences of extreme states or periods of distress to work with people towards recovery. Peer work is non-clinical and one of the main points of difference between peer work and other mental health services is the term mutuality. While the primary focus is always on the person accessing the program, being mutual in relationship allows an exchange of information that opens-up what recovery can look like and actively promotes resilience and hope that things can and do improve.

Based in Wollongong, the position is part time (hours negotiable) and is fixed term until 30 June 2023.

Why work for us?

• We live by our values and are passionate about the work we do with others
• Flexible work arrangements to find your best work life balance
• Highly supportive and excellent team culture
• Regular support and supervision
• Continuous learning and development opportunities including access to the latest suicide prevention research and interventions

What you’ll need

• Qualifications in mental health, community services or peer work (or a willingness to work towards same) or equivalent experience
• Capacity to relate to people with a lived experience of suicidality and/or mental ill health from a perspective of having a lived experience of suicidality and/or mental ill health
• Comprehensive understanding of recovery and ability to communicate about personal lived experience

For more information contact: Jo Kain, Team Leader Next Steps on 0436 653 285.

TO APPLY

Download the attached Position Description and Employee Benefits Information attached.

Click Apply Now below to be taken to our website.

In your cover letter you must address the selection criteria found in the Position Description. Not addressing the selection criteria may mean that you do you progress to the next step in our recruitment process.

For more information contact: Jo Kain, Team Leader Next Steps on 0436 653 285.