Join our Team

• Utilise your Lived Experience to provide effective recovery support the recovery of service users
• Permanent | Part Time role (19.5 hours per week)
• Heidelberg Location

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

Mind Australia is one of the country’s leading community-managed specialist mental health service providers with a range of residential, mobile outreach, centre based and online services. We have been supporting people living with the day-to-day impacts of mental illness, as well as their families, friends and carers for over 45 years.

We provide practical and motivational support that helps people to develop the skills they need to move on, thrive and improve the quality of their lives. It’s an approach to mental health and wellbeing that looks at the whole person in the context of their daily life. Mind is committed to diversity and social inclusion.

About the role

The Post-Discharge Peer Support Initiative (PDPSI), in partnership with the North East Area Clinical Mental Health Services (NEAMHS), enables clients with severe mental illness to receive clinical intervention, treatment and active support for recovery in a safe and supportive setting. PDPSI is a new approach to post-discharge support with recovery practice principles as a key service objective and tailored assistance from peer workers in the immediate post-discharge period to minimise risk of readmission to an inpatient unit.

We are seeking a self-motivated, compassionate Peer Practitioner for a Permanent, Part-Time (19.5 hours per week) opportunity to work alongside a close-knit team in the Heidelberg area. Peer Practitioners champion the voice of lived experience whilst practicing in alignment with family-inclusive principles, recovery-oriented approaches, trauma-informed theories, and anti-oppressive frameworks. In this role you will utilise your lived experience of mental ill health and recovery to engage with clients providing empathetic and positive support.

Key responsibilities

• Demonstrate knowledge and abilities gained from both an individuals lived/living experiences, collective impacts and Lived Expertise, and be able to support the development of these approaches across the reach of Mind’s work.
• Support your team to understand and deliver services and approaches that are consistent with recovery-oriented practice from a peer/Lived Experience perspective.
• Purposefully engage with service users using modalities that you will be introduced to in the role such as intentional peer support, family inclusive practice, and trauma informed practice.
• Acts as a conduit to other organisations and services in the context of a customer service mindset.
• Facilitate, as appropriate, the re-engagement and maintenance of family and carer relationships.
• Engage with service users to fully understand their need for assistance from local service providers with clinical services, physical health, education and employment, eligible entitlements and benefits, housing, transport, recreation and social connections.

What you’ll bring

• Completion of Intentional Peer Support Core and/ or Advanced Training and/or Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work is desirable but not required.
• A willingness to complete Intentional Peer Support training where this has not been undertaken.
• Ability to share learnings from your personal story in an appropriate and purposeful manner to support, empower, speak about the times of hopelessness and the importance of hope, and support the recovery of clients.
• Awareness and understanding of the NDIS is desirable.
• Previous experience in using lived experience and Expertise in a dedicated Peer role is desirable.
• Able to provide proof of immunity to nominated vaccine preventable diseases, as required under our partnership with Austin Health, and in accordance with Austin Health’s immunisation screening policy.
• Able to obtain CPR and First Aid certifications.

What we Offer

• Salary packaging up to $15,899 p.a. allows you to allocate a portion of your pre-tax income to cover living expenses (e.g. rent, mortgage, childcare, car leasing expenses etc.)
• Option to access Meal and Entertainment allowance up to $2,650 p.a. via Salary Packaging.
• Generous leave entitlements including 8 weeks paid parental leave, 17.5% annual leave loading.
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), provided by Converge International, for you and your immediate family members.
• Fitness Passport - Access to our corporate health and fitness program, providing you and family with access to a wide choice of fitness facilities.
• Workplace Banking Portal that provides convenient access to a range of banking and lifestyle benefits offered through Mind’s CommBank programs.
• Professional development through regular Practice Development sessions and coaching with your supervisor.

Interested?

To apply visit Mind Careers - reference number 499153. Online applications must be submitted by 11pm Friday 24 April 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 Peer Practitioner (PDPSI) 20260327.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 and the ability to obtain vaccinations against COVID-19.

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