Family and Carer Peer Worker

• Part Time Permanent, lived/living experience role, Ivanhoe,
• Not for Profit, salary packaging benefits, flexibility & wellbeing support
• Collaborative and supportive culture with career development opportunities

About the Northeast Metro Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect

Access Health and Community will lead the Northeast Metro Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect in partnership with Self Help Addiction Resource Centre (SHARC), healthAbility and Inspiro, to deliver mental health and wellbeing services for families and carers in Northeast Metro region of Victoria.

We aspire to provide a service of hope, recovery and humanity to improve the mental health and wellbeing of families and carers within our community. Our service is codesigned, governed and led by people with lived/living experience as families or carers of people with mental health and/or substance use challenges.

The opportunity

The Family and Carer Peer Worker role provides practical, safe, welcoming, compassionate and emotional connection and support for family, carers, and supporters of individuals, with mental health and/or substance use challenges, supported by the Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect. The Team Leader and Lived Experience Practice Lead will provide support to this role which involves one-on-one direct support and delivery of peer support and psychoeducation groups to inspire hope and confidence in families, carers and supporters to achieve improved health and wellbeing with a focus on their strengths and resilience as part of their recovery.

What you will be doing

• Draw on your lived experience and understanding of mental health and/or substance use as a family member to connect and engage with people who are accessing services and programs at the Northeast Metro Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect
• Provide a safe, welcoming and compassionate environment for families to feel supported, listened to, and understood
• Understand and reflect on families’ support needs and work to increase the capacity of the Northeast Metro Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect to flexibly respond to the needs of people who access the service
• Work to inspire hope and confidence in families, carers and supporters to achieve improved health/wellbeing and/or focus on their strengths and resilience as part of their own recovery.
• Engage and empower participants, clinicians and the community to better understand the family/carer/supporter perspective
• Build supportive and respectful relationships with all people engaged in the Northeast Metro Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect

What you will bring

• Be willing to effectively, respectfully and appropriately use your lived experience as a family member, carer or supporter of someone with mental health and/or substance use challenges in your role
• Relevant training, qualifications and/or experience in family/carer peer support. Training such as Intentional Peer Support (IPS) training, a Cert IV in Peer Support or previous paid/voluntary role in lived experience family/carer work highly desirable
• Experience facilitating/co-facilitating peer support or psychoeducational groups is highly desirable
• Demonstrated understanding of the key issues affecting families, carers and supporters of people with MH and/or AOD concerns, and how these may intersect with physical health, gambling, neurodevelopmental conditions, intellectual and physical disabilities
• Demonstrated understanding of recovery-oriented and strengths-based approaches and family-inclusive practice

Attributes

• A genuine commitment to supporting families and carers in line with the Victorian Royal Commission Recommendations
• An ability to work sensitively and from a trauma-informed approach with people of diverse cultures, abilities, ages, sexualities and gender identities
• Lived or living experience as a family member, carer or supporter of someone with mental health and/or substance use challenges
• Demonstrated behaviours consistent with Northeast Metro Family and Carer-led Centre values

Culture & Benefits

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 a common commitment and passion to make a positive impact, and we believe that this shared ethos creates a range of benefits for all who work with us. From opportunities for personal and professional growth to a sense of purpose and belonging, our culture promotes an environment of success and fulfilment.

Come join us and experience the rewards of a career where you truly make a difference. Please review Northeast Metro Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect benefits: here.

Apply Now

If you are excited about this new opportunity, please forward your resume and cover letter responding to the key selection criteria. Please refer to the Position Description for the key selection criteria information on our careers website: here.

For further information and/or the opportunity to discuss this role. Please contact Manager, Family and Carer-led Centre: Katherine Cameron: [email protected], using the subject line: Family and Carer Peer Worker enquiry via EthicalJobs. P: 03 9420 9147

Apply now so not to miss this opportunity, as we will be assessing applications as they are submitted and may appoint position before closing date.

The Northeast Metro Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect 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 Northeast Metro Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect, 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 acknowledging 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 Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people, who are the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work. We pay our respects to Wurundjeri 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 NDIS Check, Working With Children Check, Police Check and potentially an International Check.