Suicide Prevention Peer Worker, SafeHaven - SESLHD Mental Health Service

Employment Type: Permanent Part Time
Position Classification: Health Education Officer Graduate, Health Education Officer Non-Graduate
Remuneration: $31.51 - $52.48 per hour, plus superannuation
Hours Per Week: 19
Requisition ID: REQ572074
Location: Kogarah, Sydney

Applications close date: 18 May 2025

Come Work With Us!

An exciting opportunity to be a part of delivering an innovative suicide prevention program? Be a part of a fantastic and contemporary team, making a difference to people experiencing suicidal distress. The Alternative to Emergency Department, SafeHaven aims to provide people experiencing suicidal crisis rapid access to compassionate care from suicide prevention workers and received support to access appropriate services.

For more information we encourage you to contact Katie Thorburn on [email protected]

Interviews are expected to be held between 26 May 2025 and 30 May 2025.

Learn more about us here: South Eastern Sydney Local Health District

Where you'll be working

Safe Haven, Kirk Place, Kogarah.

The Safe Haven is an afterhours drop in program open 5pm – 9pm, 6 days a week. Evening work is a requirement of the role. Staff will be provided with training, reflective supervision and support to ensure the delivery of a high quality non-clinical suicide prevention program. Staff will be supported to use their knowledge and skills to facilitate education to other staff and community members about suicide prevention.

The SafeHaven Suicide Prevention Worker (Peer) will provide specialist person centred and compassionate care to people at risk of suicide and connect people to support services to address their underlying factors contributing to their distress. The Suicide Prevention Worker (Peer) will draw on their personal lived experience to provide recovery-orientated and trauma informed peer support for people who attend the SafeHaven. Support may include psychosocial support, safety planning, recovery/wellness planning, individual or group peer support, advocacy, collaborative identification of community support, follow up and support to access other services. The Suicide Prevention Worker (peer) will also be required to work from or liaise with Emergency Department to ensure people in distress where appropriate are successfully linked to the service and that Emergency Department staff have a high awareness of the service.

Additional Information and Benefits

• An eligibility list may be created for future Permanent Part Time positions
• Up to 12 allocated days off each year (for full-time employees) in addition to annual leave.
• Salary packaging options that reduce your taxable income and increase your take-home pay! Up to $9K for living expenses and $2.6K meal & entertainment & Novated Leasing.
• Discounted gym memberships with a Fitness Passport
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for employees and family members.
• Discounted Private Health Insurance.

Selection Criteria:

To be considered for this position, please ensure you address the below questions as thoroughly as possible.

1. Personal lived experience of suicidal crisis, and ability to meaningfully and purposefully use lived experience to provide peer support to people at risk of suicide.
2. Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work or willingness and commitment to obtain, including completion of CHCCCS003 module; Increase the safety of individuals at risk of suicide and willingness to complete any other essential training as soon as practical. For Graduate Health Education Officers, additional relevant health degree required.
3. Demonstrated experience in using recovery orientated, trauma informed principles and situational distress approaches in providing support to people experiencing suicidal distress.
4. Understanding of the suicide prevention sector and ability to utilise appropriate suicide prevention support such as crisis response, safety planning and managing risk.
5. Demonstrated knowledge and commitment to co-design and lived experience leadership in service provision.
6. Excellent communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively within the multi-disciplinary team and with a diverse range of stakeholders including service users, families and service providers.
7. Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision, as well as part of a multidisciplinary team.
8. Demonstrated excellent computer skills, with proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.

Need more information?
1) Click here for the Position Description and SESLHD Expected Standards
2) Find out more about applying for this position

Our CORE Values are Collaboration, Openness, Respect and Empowerment and have been created by employees for employees and help define how we work and to inspire positive interactions in the workplace.

Reasonable Adjustments

NSW Health recognises everyone is unique, and that you may require some adjustments to ensure you have the best opportunity to apply. If we can make some adjustments to the NSW Health recruitment/interview process, then please email [email protected] and let us know. Adjustments may include but are not limited to, physical requirements, interview setups and specific interview availability times where required.

Information for applicants:

Employment of a temporary visa holder may only occur if no suitable permanent resident or citizen of Australia has been identified for this position following suitable labour market testing.

Applicants will be assessed against the essential requirements and selection criteria contained within the position description.

Recommended applicants will be reviewed for compliance with NSW Health policy directive Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination against Specific Diseases for all positions prior to offer.

SESLHD is committed to creating a workplace that reflects the diversity of our community. This will help ensure our employees, our patients and their carers, feel supported. We invite candidates of all ages, genders, sexual orientation, cultural backgrounds, people with disability, neurodiverse individuals, and Indigenous Australians to apply. We do have an Aboriginal Employment Consultant that can also provide support ([email protected]) and for additional information please visit our Stepping Up Website