• Permanent Part-Time 0.8EFT, South Melbourne, headspace
• Collaborative and supportive team environment
• Thriving not for profit organisation, ADO, and salary packaging

About Us

Access Health and Community, with a 150-year legacy of compassionate care, is on a mission to build healthier lives together. Our team of over 400 dedicated employees and 200 volunteers, serve across 18 locations. We are thrilled to announce our upcoming merger with Inspiro, a trusted partner in community health.

Inspiro, with a skilled team of 100, is dedicated to providing accessible, inclusive, and high-quality care in the Yarra Ranges. This merger strengthens our commitment to delivering exceptional care and opens up new opportunities for our team and the communities we serve.

The opportunity

Join a supportive and values-based culture with an engaged workforce at headspace South Melbourne, a part of Access Health and Community (AccessHC). We are dedicated to providing mental health, alcohol and other drugs (AOD), and wellbeing services to young people aged 12-25. Our mission is to create an empowering environment where young people feel encouraged to seek help and thrive.

About the role

For young people seeking help, their first interaction with services is a pivotal moment in their journey the Peer Support Worker at headspace South Melbourne will be the initial point of contact, engaging with young people, their carers, family, and friends before they attend a 'treat first' appointment in a genuine and empathetic manner, ensuring that their first experience with headspace South Melbourne is positive and fosters feelings of welcome, hope, and understanding.

As part of the multidisciplinary headspace team, you will provide one-on-one and group-based support to young people aged 12-25 years, collaborating closely with clinical and other staff to offer support that is welcoming, responsive, and adaptable.

Drawing on your own lived experience with mental ill-health and recovery, you will support young people and their families or friends, utilising the Intentional Peer Support Framework.

Reporting to the Manager of South Melbourne, support may be delivered in person or through telehealth and some off-site and after-hours work may be required.

What you will be doing

Key Responsibilities

• Provide one-on-one and group based support to young people aged 12-25 years, their family/carers
• Provide consumer-perspective practice supervision and support to peer workers across the Mental Health and AOD teams at AccessHC
• Develop and co-facilitate group support programs across headspace, AOD and Mental Health teams

What you will bring

Key Selection Criteria

• Identify as having a lived experience of mental ill health and demonstrate current stability in recovery and be willing to effectively, respectfully and appropriately use your lived experience of mental health issues in your role
• Completion of, or enrolment in relevant Peer Helper/ Peer Facilitation training, such as, Cert IV in Peer Support, an accredited Intentional Peer Support Program or similar
• At least two years’ experience delivering peer support services in a paid or volunteer capacity (experience working with young people is preferred)
• Experience and confidence to co-facilitate a peer support group, identify any risk issues and seek support from clinical staff where required
• Experience and confidence to work one-on-one with young people to provide support, information and assistance in relation to their recovery goals

Attributes

• Experience in speaking at or delivering community education or community engagement events
• Understanding of the Intentional Peer Support model and its use in mental health services
• An approach that aligns with trauma-informed care principles of welcome, hope and empathy when working with young people and their family/friends
• Genuine interest and passion working with young people
• Ability to work with young people across the 12-25 year age group
• Understanding awareness of risk and safety concerns and demonstrate an understanding of when risk needs to be escalated
• Understand confidentiality, and rights and responsibilities of consumers within a community health and youth services context
• Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to work creatively and respectfully with young people from a diverse range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds, including LGBTIQA+, culturally and linguistically diverse, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and in a team environment
• Sound computer skills, proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office and other software programs
• The ability to manage wellbeing including the identification of strategies for managing wellbeing whilst working.
• Demonstrated behaviours consistent with AccessHC values

Access Health and Community Culture and Benefits

At AccessHC, we offer more than just a fulfilling career; we provide an environment where you can thrive in a culture of collaboration and support.

Our team members share commitment and passion to make a positive impact and this ethos creates a range of benefits for our people from opportunities for personal and professional growth to a sense of purpose and belonging.

Our culture promotes an environment of success and fulfilment.

Join us and experience a career where you truly make a difference.

The position encompasses an extensive range of benefits:

• Supportive and values based culture and engaged workforce
• Culture of trust and empowerment for people to grow and thrive
• Commitment to a work-life balance with flexible working conditions
• Focus on staff wellbeing and health - Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Commitment to ongoing professional development and career growth
• Paid parental leave and opportunity to purchase additional leave
• Annual leave loading
• Generous salary packaging opportunities(up to $15,990 per annum + $2,650 meals/entertainment expenses)

Read more about our culture and benefits: accesshc.org.au/culture-and-benefits.

Apply Now

Submit your application including your resume and cover letter addressing the key selection criteria.

Please refer to the position description on our website for the key selection criteria information: accesshc.org.au/careers.

We will be reviewing applications as they are submitted and may appoint the role before the end of date of the advertisement.

For more information regarding your application, or if you would like to discuss accessibility requirements, preferred communication methods or other possibilities, please email: Vanessa Cavanagh – Manager, headspace South Melbourne: [email protected], using the subject line: Peer Support Worker enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A position description is attached.

Access Health and Community (AccessHC) is a Child Safe Organisation that values inclusivity and diversity. We encourage applications from people with disabilities, those with lived experience of mental health and/or alcohol and other drugs (AOD) challenges, and those with diverse genders and sexualities.

At AccessHC, our vision for reconciliation is an Australia where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experience equitable health and social outcomes. Our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) will contribute to achieving reconciliation. We will seek an understanding of and acknowledge histories and injustices, support the active expression of culture, build strong, trusting relationships, and apply culturally appropriate practices within our work.

We will work in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to create a welcoming and safe place for everyone at our services. AccessHC acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work. We pay our respects to the Elders past, present, and future, and extend that respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and we acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

As a vaccine positive organisation, we encourage COVID-19 vaccinations and require successful applicants to undergo a Working With Children Check, Police Check and potentially an International Check.