Lived Experience Peer Worker - Graduate and Early Career Program

For all people in Australia living with mental health and wellbeing challenges to live a life that is meaningful to them.

Position Details

• 2x Part-Time Maximum Term Positions Available until 2nd February 2027
• Classification: SCHADS Level 3 with a salary range of $76,451 - $81,984 per annum (pro rata + Superannuation
• Salary packaging arrangements providing tax benefits available for living and entertainment expenses increasing your take home income where part of your wage is paid tax free each pay, savings thousands in tax each year
• Location: South Morang, VIC

About your new role
The Mental Health and Wellbeing Local is an innovative solution to deliver on the compelling vision outlined through the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System (RCVMHS). Delivered in partnership with Uniting VicTas, Drummond Street Services, and Victorian Aboriginal Health Services (VAHS). The Local brings together three leading providers with extensive experience and success in the delivery of community-based care.

The Mental Health and Wellbeing Local provides a 'no wrong door' approach and supports members of the community to be connected to the right support. The centre provides a holistic approach to care, addressing a range of social, physical, and emotional needs informed by the Collaborative Relational Practice (CRP). The Local will have a strong focus on lived experience and will support a high engagement within a transdisciplinary team.

This role has been made available through the Victorian Governments Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals Graduate and Early Career Program. This Lived Experience Peer Worker - Early Graduate andEarly Career role provides the opportunity to commence an early career within Mental Health and Wellbeing Local Services. This position represents a unique pathway into the mental health sector and will provide an opportunity for those with diverse skills and backgrounds to begin their mental health workforce journey. This role includes the unique opportunity to experience various stages of a consumer's journey with rotational opportunities.

This identified role will work within a transdisciplinary team bringing their own wealth of lived experience knowledge. The worker will learn to walk alongside people experiencing crisis and distress; offering practical strategies, emotional, social, and service access support that works out and respond to people's needs.

The Whittlesea Mental Health and Wellbeing Local operates Monday to Saturday, and on Sundays by appointment. This position is on a rotating roster and shifts will be either 08:30 -17:00 or 10:00 -18:30 on business days only (Monday to Friday).

About Neami National
We're Neami. We're big believers in everyone having the opportunity to live a full life. We support people to achieve wellbeing and mental health outcomes that matter to them. We provide services across Australia for mental health and wellbeing, housing and homelessness, and suicide prevention.

For some people, this means having a stronger sense of self. For others, it may mean nurturing relationships or building the confidence to tackle tomorrow. We support people to improve their quality of life in a way that suits them.

We're proud to support 34,000+ people living with mental health challenges each year across Australia and offer services over 40 different Indigenous lands.

Values
Together with our vision and purpose, our values define who we are and guide the way we operate. They are fundamental to our identity, and we align all our actions with them.

• Connecting
• Collaborating
• Learning
• Belonging

What will Neami offer

• Generous leave entitlements including Gratis Leave, Wellness Leave and Parental Leave (pro-rata if part-time)
• Optional monthly Accrued Day Off (ADO) for full-time staff
• 17.5% Annual Leave Loading
• Flexible work arrangements are available for maintaining your work-life balance
• Professional development through regular practice development sessions and coaching with your supervisor
• Ongoingextensive in-house Learning and Development programs to encourage learning and skill-building
• Fitness Passport membership to support your health and wellbeing (available in most States/Territories and subject to minimum working hours and/or length of service)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through TELUS - providing holistic health and wellness supports and resources to Neami staff and their immediate family

What you will bring to the role

• Personal lived experience of distress, trauma, and/or substance use, with a focus on healing/recovery and the ability to purposefully use lived experience learnings to connect with and support others.
• Willingness to share and draw on lived experience purposefully in the role to instil confidence and hope in others about the journey of recovery
• Willingness to identify or be identified by others as a professional with lived experience of recovery
• Understanding of Lived Experience (Peer) principles and the Consumer/Carer movements to ground practice in collective knowledge.
• Strong emotional resilience including the ability to sit with discomfort, distress and people in crisis.
• Ability to work autonomously, adapt communication to diverse need and maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to self-reflect, take on feedback to grow practice skills and engage in personal and professional development.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills pluscomputer literacy
• Completion, or only placement hours required, in Cert IV Mental Health Peer Work qualification
• An appropriately qualified graduate who has not completed a graduate program and is in their first 1-2 years of professional practice.

What the role requires

• National Criminal History Check (police check) - disclosable outcomes considered
• Current Working with Children Check - required before commencement of work
• Australian working rights
• A valid and current Australian Driver's license
• Access to a roadworthy insured vehicle which can be used for work purposes

How to apply
The terms and conditions of the role are listed in the position description which can be found on the Neami Job Vacancy portal (please select the paperclip icon in the top right-hand corner).

To apply for this position, please:

• Click the 'Apply' button where you will need to create a username and password
• Upload your resume and cover letter.

When applying for this position, you are asked to tell us about your previous work experience, your suitability for this role and your answers to any target questions (where asked). Please include in your application how you would prefer to be contacted (whether via email, text or phone call).

If you have any further questions not addressed in the job advertisement or position description, or if you require any adjustments to participate in the recruitment process, please contact:

Sharon Teague, Student Placement Coordinator - [email protected]

If you are excited about this role, but only meet some of the requirements, we encourage you to call or email us to talk about this opportunity. We're passionate about creating opportunities and supporting professional development.

If you have any technical issues when applying for this role, please email [email protected] for assistance.

If your application is shortlisted:

• We may invite you to have an informal phone conversation to discuss the role and get toknow more about your experience and interest and answer your questions.
• We may invite you to an interview (which may be in person or conducted online via Microsoft Teams) with up to three panel members from Neami.

Applications Close: 19th November 2025

Be Yourself - Neami values and celebrates diversity including multidisciplinary teams and the unique backgrounds, experiences and contributions that each person brings to our community. First Nations people, those identifying as LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities and culturally and linguistically diverse people are encouraged to apply. Our aim is to create a workforcethat is accessible, inclusive and reflects the community in which we live.

Neami is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. We commit to providing accessible and safe physical and online environments for all children and young people. Click here for the full statement.