Join our Team

Mind strongly encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, people with a lived experience of mental health challenges and recovery, and applicants from all cultures, genders, sexualities, bodies, abilities, spiritualities, ages and backgrounds.

Mind Australia is one of Australia’s largest providers of community-managed psychosocial services, supporting people experiencing mental health and wellbeing challenges to find help, hope and purpose in their lives. Operating for almost 50 years and employing more than 1,300 staff around Australia, Mind is a leading employer of people with lived experience of mental health challenges, recognising their unique ability to connect with and motivate clients and guide recovery.

About the service

The Sub-Acute short stay ‘step up, step down’ Youth Prevention and Recovery Care (YPARC) service, delivered in partnership with Austin Health and Mind Australia, supports young people with psychosocial disability to transition from an acute hospital setting (Step-down) or to prevent hospital admissions by providing extra support to those entering directly from the community (step-up).

The Youth Prevention and Recovery Care (YPARC) service is a residential program providing short-term, intensive treatment for up to 28 days to young people aged between 16-25 years living with mental health challenges.

About the role

We are seeking a resilient, compassionate Lived Experience Lead Practitioner for a Permanent, Part Time (34.2 hours per week) opportunity in Heidelberg. You will will mediate, advocate and work collaboratively with a team to enable the best outcomes for people, families and carers. This role provides practice leadership and direction to Mind staff in the delivery of the psychosocial rehabilitation, recovery programs, support services and ensures staff are supported in their work.

Key responsibilities

• Willingness to utilise your own lived experience of mental ill health, service use, alcohol and other drugs challenges and recovery to inform your work and the work of the team.
• Purposefully engage with people using intentional peer support framework and informed by the values and principles of lived experience work
• Aid in the development and implementation of the Lived Experience group programs
• Be grounded in the discipline of Lived Expertise, drawing from your own lived experience, including personal, services and systems experiences, informed by a commitment to social change, human rights, dignity and choice
• Contribute to evaluation of the effectiveness of services in consultation with people and their support networks.

What you’ll bring

• Tertiary qualifications (minimum Certificate IV) in Mental Health, Peer Work, Psychology, Social Work, Occupational Therapy or other health related field as designated by Mind.
• Proven experience in Community Services, Mental Health, Disability, Social Welfare, Housing, Healthcare or Government sectors is required.
• Experience and expertise in working directly with people with mental health issues, complex needs and with their families and carers.

Interested?

To apply visit Mind Careers - reference number 499909. Online applications must be submitted by 11pm Wednesday 29 July 2026. We encourage you to apply promptly as the advertisement may close early should a suitable applicant be sourced. Please contact the person below for more information.

Chris Van Saane - Service Manager - Austin Health CRP & PARC

Christopher.vansaane@austin.org.au

Position Description

 PD Lead Practitioner - Lived Experience (YPARC -Austin) 20260401.pdf

The successful applicant is required to complete comprehensive reference and background checking prior to employment, including a Working with Children Check, NDIS Workers Screening Check.

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to provide a positive, barrier-free recruitment process. If you require any support or reasonable adjustments to complete your application, please contact us at hr@mindaustralia.org.au