“We support individuals living with mental health challenges to achieve outcomes they value.”

About the Role

• Full time, Permanent position
• Classification: Consumer Service Delivery Level 2 with a salary range of $71,215 - $76,353 per annum + Superannuation

• Salary Packaging arrangements providing tax benefits available for living and entertainment expenses increasing your take home income where part of your wage is paid tax free each pay, savings thousands in tax each year

• Location: Penrith Head to Health

About Neami National

Neami National is a community mental health service supporting people living with mental illness to improve their health, live independently and pursue a life based on their own strengths, values and goals.

About your new role

Peer Support Workers are integral members of the team and represent 50% of the workforce within Head to Health Penrith. Peer Support workers draw on their lived and living experience of recovery from mental illness, mental health crisis or caring for someone living with a mental illness, to instil confidence and hope in others about the journey of recovery. You must have a lived experience of your own mental illness/caring role, and a rich understanding of the processes of recovery. You must be willing to purposefully use your own story to help others further their own understanding of recovery.

You will work alongside a multi-disciplinary team inclusive of mental health clinicians, mental health registered nurses, medical officers and consultant psychiatrists. Delivering a Peer First and Peer Last approach the Peer Support Workers will support a high engagement model of care, through actively greeting and supporting guests (consumers) throughout their time at Head to Health Penrith. Peer Support Workers are an important element of the team approach and bring the wisdom of experience to many aspects of service delivery including intake interviews, service promotion, partnership work and case reviews.

Peer Support Workers have access to a tailored training program and to regular professional development sessions.

What you will bring to the role?

• Lived experience of mental illness, mental health crisis or caring for someone living with a mental illness and demonstrated experience of recovery, and willingness to share your story.
• Experience of the public or private mental health system
• Computer literacy and written communication skills
• Mental Health Qualification: It is a requirement of the Peer Support Worker position that you hold, and provide Neami evidence of, a Mental Health (or equivalent Human Services, Community Services) qualification of Certificate IV level or above, or complete such a qualification within 2 years of your commencement of employment.
• Experience in facilitating groups
• Experience of the public or private mental health system
• Experience in a similar role

• National Criminal History Check (Police check) – disclosable outcomes considered
• Current Working with Children Check required before commencement of work
• Australian Working Rights

What will Neami offer in return?

• Generous leave entitlements including paid parental leave, an Accrued Day Off each month, Gratis Leave and Wellness leave
• Professional development through regular Practice Development sessions and coaching with your supervisor
• Ongoing extensive in-house Learning and Development Programs to encourage learning and skill-building
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through Benestar - access a holistic health and wellness offering of supports and resources to Neami staff and their immediate family
• Work flexibility arrangements available for maintaining your work-life balance

How to apply:

The terms and conditions of the role are listed in the position description, attached.

If you have any further questions not addressed in the advertising words or position description, please contact:

Mark Lesa, Acting Clinical Service Manager: [email protected], using the subject line: Peer Support Worker - Head to Health Penrith enquiry via EthicalJobs. 

Be Yourself - Neami values and celebrates diversity including multidisciplinary teams and the unique backgrounds, experiences, and contributions that each person brings to our community. First Nations people, those identifying as LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities and culturally and linguistically diverse people are encouraged to apply. Our aim is to create a workforce that is accessible, inclusive and reflects the community in which we live.