• Part time role (0.7) | SCHADS Level 3 | Sunshine, NW Melbourne Region
• Support participants with mental health challenges overnight in a short-term residential setting
• Sleepover positions are a great opportunity for students looking to enter mental health field whilst studying or for those that are night owls!

Wellways is committed to reconciliation, lived experience and inclusivity. We strongly encourage and warmly welcome people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, people with a lived experience of mental health and disability and people who identify as LGBTIQA+ to apply. Even if you only meet some of the criteria, we'd love to hear from you.

Women's Prevention and Recovery Care (WPARC) is a sub-acute, mental health short-stay residential service in collaboration with Northwestern Mental Health. This will be the second women-only PARC unit and the first in Victoria that will also accommodate a small number of women and their children.

About the opportunity

This is a truly rare and rewarding opportunity to make a difference within the community.

Wellways is expanding our Prevention and Recovery Care (PARC) services into North West Melbourne. Our multidisciplinary recovery teams are creative, motivated and focused on ensuring positive experiences for participants and their loved ones.

The Sleepover Recovery Worker role is integral to the PARC program as they work closely with participants to support healthy evening routines whilst at PARC. As a Sleepover Recovery Worker, you will use your skills to approach situations with a calming lens, have the ability to support people as they wind down for the night or just sit quietly with someone and connect in moments of need. You will have a good sense of how to address emerging risks and support people through potential distress.

Sleepover shifts are active from 5pm to 11pm, then sleepover (with the ability to wake up and convert to active if required) and active again from 7am -9am to support early morning routines and handover. PARCS operate 24/7 on a rotating roster and penalty rates apply for afternoon, evening and weekend hours.

About the program

PARCs are located in a community setting and provide an option for people who are becoming unwell, or who are in the early stages of recovery from an acute illness and need a short period of additional support to strengthen their gains from spending time in an inpatient setting and to consolidate their community transition and recovery treatment plans.

This womens-only PARC will provide an essential service within the continuum of care that will empower and provide opportunity to women to seek mental health care and treatment that they may not receive otherwise. The Recovery Model is the centre of all that we do.

Employee benefits

• Access to ongoing training, professional development and professional practice supervision
• Salary packaging enables you to spend a portion of your salary before it is taxed to pay for things like rent, mortgage repayments, car leasing or dining out.
• 17.5% leave loading

What do you need?

• Undertaking OR completion of studies in Mental Health, AOD, Community Services or related field (min Cert 4 or above) or qualifications in a social science (social work, occupational therapy, nursing or psychology)
• Experience in the field of mental health, community services or disability (highly desirable)
• An understanding of the biopsychosocial model of mental health and social inclusion
• Current valid Driver's Licence and the ability to undertake some travel (Desirable)
• Evidence of, or a willingness to undergo a National Police Records Check, Working with Children Check-employment and working rights within Australia
• NDIS Worker Orientation Module Certificate
  https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/workers/training-course
• COVID Vaccination Certificate or valid medical exemption

Why us?

Wellways are a team of approximately 2000 staff and 150 volunteers across 93 sites providing a range of programs, services and supports to people right across Queensland, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and Tasmania. We remain committed to our mission, of creating inclusive communities where everyone can imagine and achieve their hopes and potential; and we are always on the look-out for like-minded people who would like to be a part of this.

Apply now!

Please just submit a Cover Letter outlining your interest and experience in the position along with your CV using our online portal.
For a confidential discussion about the role, we encourage you to email us at

We encourage early applications as successful applicants may be contacted prior to closing date.

The health and safety of Wellways participants and employees is our highest priority and all Wellways roles are covered by directives that require mandatory COVID vaccinations. Successful applicants will be required to provide evidence of COVID-19 vaccination or valid medical exemption prior to commencement.