Use your lived experience to inspire recovery!

Empower young people (12–25) recovering from mental health challenges to rebuild confidence and strengthen connections in their community.

• Permanent full-time role | Monday to Friday
• Base Salary from $76,372 + Super 12%, with salary packaging options to boost your take-home pay
• Outreach-based role across Mackay, with flexibility to work from the office or home

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 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 more than 45 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 role

We are seeking a Peer Practitioner to support young people using your lived experience of mental health and/or alcohol and other drug challenges. This is a recovery-focused, outreach-based role, walking alongside service users to help them build skills, strengthen connections, and achieve their goals. You will champion lived experience, advocate for human rights, and place relationships and the person’s choices at the centre of your practice.

Key responsibilities

• Use your lived/living experience to provide recovery-oriented, peer support for young people with mental health or AOD challenges.
• Build trusting, safe relationships using Intentional Peer Support principles.
• Support young people in developing individual recovery plans, skills, and access to meaningful activities, housing and community connections.
• Collaborate with clinical teams, families, carers, and local service providers to coordinate care.
• Champion co-design and co-production of services, ensuring service users’ voices are central to service delivery.
• Apply trauma-informed, family-inclusive, recovery-oriented, and culturally safe approaches.
• Participate in ongoing professional development, reflective practice, and peer supervision.

What you’ll bring

• Lived or living experience of mental health and/or AOD challenges, and a desire to use this to support others.
• Certificate IV or higher in Mental Health, Peer Work, Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) or other health-related field (or willingness to work toward this).
• Completion of Intentional Peer Support training (desirable).
• Previous experience in a dedicated Peer role strongly desirable.
• Commitment to advocacy, human rights, and recovery-focused practice.
• Current, unrestricted driver’s licence and access to a registered roadworthy vehicle.
• Ability to provide proof of vaccination against vaccine preventable diseases or willingness to obtain required vaccinations per Queensland Health partnership.

Benefits

• Generous not-for-profit salary packaging - up to $15,899 p.a. to reduce taxable income and cover living expenses.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - support for you and your immediate family.
• Fitness Passport - access to a wide range of fitness facilities for you and your family.
• Professional development - ongoing training and career growth opportunities.

Interested?

To apply visit Mind Careers - reference number 498522. Online applications must be submitted by 11pm Monday 10 November 2025. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible, as the advertisement may close early if a suitable candidate is identified.

For more information, please contact:

Tracey Hocking, General Manager, Complex Care National Services

[email protected]

Mind is committed to a barrier-free recruitment process. If you require any adjustments to complete your application, please email [email protected]

Position Description

PD Peer Practitioner (EPPS) - 20251007.pdf

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