Peer Practitioner

Mind strongly encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, people with a lived experience of mental ill health 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 service

The Mental Health and Wellbeing Local services are a key recommendation from Victoria’s Royal Commission into the mental health service system’s transformation.

The Mental Health and Wellbeing Local services, act as a front door to the mental health service system and provides a continuum of care and support including clinical interventions, wellbeing supports, and therapeutic support through an integrated mental health and alcohol and other drug framework approach.

About the role

We are seeking a passionate, empathetic Peer Practitioner with lived experience of mental ill health and recovery for a Permanent, Part Time (30.4 hours per week) opportunity to work in the Pakenham area. Make a meaningful impact in this role as you champion the voice of lived experience, advocate for human rights, and offer a powerful alternative to traditional mental health responses through mutuality and connection. You’ll work within a recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, family-inclusive, and anti-oppressive framework—guided by Mind’s Model of Recovery Oriented Practice, My Better Life model, Peer Work Framework, and Intentional Peer Support principles.

Key responsibilities

• Apply your lived experience and Lived Expertise to support others and help shape peer-led approaches across Mind’s services.
• Walk alongside people using Intentional Peer Support, offering flexible outreach and holistic understanding of their lives and experiences.
• Design and lead group programs using co-design and co-production principles, grounded in relational practice and peer work values.
• Support individuals to navigate systems and connect with community services that help address barriers to social, educational, and employment participation.
• Reflect on your own lived experience and the broader Lived Expertise knowledge base, using it intentionally to inform and strengthen your practice.

What you’ll bring

• Training in Peer Support or Mental Health is a plus – While not essential, completion of Intentional Peer Support Core and/or Advanced Training, or a Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work, will be highly regarded.
• Relevant qualifications welcome – We value formal learning, so a minimum Certificate IV in Mental Health, Peer Work, Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD), or a related health field (as recognised by Mind) will be considered.
• Lived experience matters – You bring personal insight from your own journey with mental health challenges and recovery, and you’re ready to use that lived expertise to help shape meaningful change.
• Peer work experience is a strong advantage – If you’ve previously worked in a dedicated Peer role where your lived experience was central to your work, we’d love to hear about it.
• Be a changemaker – You’re passionate about advancing the Lived Experience agenda and have the integrity, drive, and influence to help embed it across the organisation.
• 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.
• Professional development through regular Practice Development sessions and coaching with your supervisor.

Position Description

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 **@mindaustralia.org.au

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