• Part-time (30 hrs Per week) ongoing opportunity based at Newcastle, NSW
• $37.35 - $40.05 per hour (SCHADS Level 3B) + Super + Leave loading + salary packaging benefits
• Join us in supporting individuals to live a fulfilling and meaningful life in their own community!

Wellways is committed to reconciliation, lived experience and inclusivity. We strongly encourage and warmly welcome people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, people with a lived experience of mental health and disability and people who identify as LGBTIQA+ to apply. Even if you only meet some of the criteria, we'd love to hear from you.

About the Program

The Youth Transitional Care Pilot (YTCP) is an innovative mental health initiative funded by the Primary Health Network (PHN) and delivered in partnership with Hunter New England Local Health District. This program is designed to support young people aged 12 to 18 years who are experiencing serious mental health concerns and are transitioning from hospital (tertiary care) back into the community (primary care).

The YTCP addresses a critical gap in care by providing short-term, psychosocial support during the vulnerable post-discharge period. It aims to:

• Improve young people's experience of discharge and transition
• Strengthen short- to medium-term mental health outcomes
• Reduce unplanned hospital readmissions and emergency department presentations
• Increase access to community-based supports

At the heart of this program is a recovery-oriented, person-centred approach that empowers young people to regain control of their lives, build resilience, and reconnect with their communities.

About the opportunity

As a Peer Recovery Worker with the Youth Transitional Care Program (YTCP), you'll play a crucial role in supporting young people aged 12-18 as they transition from hospital to community-based mental health care. Drawing on your own lived experience of mental ill health and recovery, you'll offer a unique and powerful form of support that fosters hope, resilience, and independence.

This is more than a job - it's a chance to turn your experience into purpose and make a meaningful difference in the lives of young people in the Greater Newcastle region.

In this role, you will:

• Use your lived experience to connect authentically with young people and support them on their recovery journey
• Provide tailored, flexible, and practical support, helping participants identify goals, navigate services, and build sustainable coping strategies
• Empower participants and their families, strengthening natural supports that contribute to long-term wellbeing
• Guide participants through every stage of the program, from referral and assessment through to planning, recovery support, and community reintegration
• Work within families and communities, not just with individuals, to promote inclusion and reduce stigma
• Collaborate as part of an integrated team, ensuring young people have timely access to the supports they need
• Maintain accurate documentation, including assessments, support plans, risk profiles, referrals, and progress notes
• Travel across the Greater Newcastle area to meet young people where they are - at home, in the community, or alongside other services

This opportunity offers a real chance to influence positive change - not just in the lives of participants, but within systems and communities. Join us and be a part of a compassionate, inclusive movement driving meaningful outcomes for young people.

You will also need:

• Completion of the Certificate 4 in Mental Health Peer Work, Certificate 4 in Mental Health or Certificate 4 in Community Services, or equivalent practical experience working in a lived experience role
• Lived experience of mental health issues and recovery as a person with mental health challenges and recovery.
• A contemporary understanding of mental health issues and recovery orientated mental health practice
• Rights to work in Australia and A current and valid Driver's License
• Satisfactory Police Records Check [less than 12 months old] and Working with Children Check, before commencement - or willing to obtain.
• NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) Worker Orientation Module Certificate is mandatory prior to commencement: https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/workers/support-for-workers/training-course
• NDIS Worker Screening Check (NDISWSC) is mandatory before commencement.

About Us
Wellways connects people, strengthens families, and transforms communities for individuals of all ages experiencing disabilities or challenges to their social and emotional wellbeing. A leading for purpose mental health and disability support organisation operating nationally, our services span mental health, disability and community care and reach more than 7000 people each year!

Working with a diverse range of people, Wellways creates an inclusive community where everyone can imagine and achieve their hopes and potential.

What we offer

• A purpose-driven culture where people can thrive, everyone is respected, and differences are valued
• An equitable, diverse, and socially inclusive work environment
• Salary packaging up to $15,899 enables you to spend a portion of your salary before it is taxed to pay for things like rent, mortgage repayments, car leasing
• Meal and Entertainment allowance via salary packaging up to $2,650 per annum
• Receive 17.5% leave loading every time you take annual leave
• Paid parental leave after 12 months of ongoing employment
• Access for you and your family to our Employee Assistance Program

For a confidential discussion about the role, we encourage you to contact Jenna Katchel, Team Leader at [email protected]

Wellways is committed to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable people. Successful applicants must undergo a comprehensive screening process prior to their commencement.