Your opportunity 

headspace is operated by Lives Lived Well, a progressive, for purpose organisation, delivering leading edge services aimed at supporting people to live their lives well. Our Youth Mental Health Programs provide evidence-based interventions and support to young people aged 12 to 25 years, comprising primary care and specialist case management services.

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to provide recovery orientated, person-centred peer support to families, caregivers and significant others of young people accessing our specialist early intervention psychosis service. You will help to normalise experiences, providing support and education through a mix of individual and group support, e.g. self-care groups. Utilising a lived experience framework, you will provide valuable insights and perspectives, adding to our holistic approach to recovery, treatment, and care. 

You will be joining a new, supportive and inclusive lived experience team, who work collaboratively as a part of a multidisciplinary service. You will have the opportunity to significantly contribute to our peer work program development and will pay a critical role in its success.

You will thrive in this opportunity to:

• Appropriately and purposefully share parts of your own lived experience of supporting a young person during their first episode psychosis and/or other significant mental health challenges, that help caregivers feel heard, supported and seen when sharing their experiences.
• Provide individualised peer support to families and caregivers.
• Work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team.
• Develop and share information and resources as well as facilitate or co-facilitate groups for caregivers.
• Provide individual advocacy to support the inclusion of family and caregiver perspectives and input into care and recovery plans.

This is a part-time position, working 2 days per week (15.2 hours). The position is based at headspace Southport with a regular requirement to travel to our Meadowbrook or Upper Coomera offices for meetings, training or to deliver services. headspace services, including the Peer Support Program are primarily delivered between 8am – 6pm Monday to Friday, with the occasional requirement to work outside of these hours.

The gross hourly rate for this position ranges between $36.00 to $38.60 per hour + super + salary packaging, depending on the successful applicant’s skills, knowledge, and experience.

What you’ll bring

You are an approachable, engaging individual, with the ability to work within appropriate boundaries and draw on knowledge and expertise gained through reflection on your own lived experience.

Self-care and strong boundaries are paramount, along with the ability to self-reflect and determine your own support needs. This includes raising issues early with your manager and seeking suitable support when required.

You will also be able to demonstrate the following:

• Lived experience of supporting a young person during their first episode of psychosis and/or other significant mental health challenges.
• Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work or working toward completion.
• Previous experience in a Family/Carer Peer Support Worker position or similar lived experience role in a mental health setting.
• Willingness and ability to share your lived experience as a carer in a clear, safe and purposeful way that describes the strategies and factors that have contributed to the recovery of the young person you supported. 
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience working within family and carer peer support frameworks, providing individualised and goal-oriented support to caregivers.
• Demonstrated experience and effectiveness in working considerately and non-judgmentally with caregivers from diverse backgrounds.
• Demonstrated experience facilitating or co-facilitating recovery or support groups for caregivers.
• The ability to work autonomously, while also contributing to team direction and planning as well as maintaining appropriate boundaries with caregivers that you are supporting.
• Well-developed computer skills including programs such as Microsoft Office and information and data recording service systems.

We would love for you to have:

• Sound knowledge and understanding of first episode psychosis and treatment.

Under s25 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991, there is a genuine occupational requirement for the incumbent to have a personal lived experience of substance dependence and or Mental ill-health, service use and recovery. 

What matters most is that you’ll live and breathe our values, which means:

• You are humble, human, and full of hope.
• You show up and share.
• You ask: Why not? And what’s next?
• You leave a positive wake.

And while you support others, we’ll support you with some great benefits including:

• An extra five paid leave days per year to support your wellbeing and work-life balance (pro rata for part-time staff).
• Salary packaging to increase your take-home pay.
• Paid parental leave of 8 weeks.
• An employee assistance program (EAP) for you and your family, including emotional, psychological, financial counselling and wellbeing services.
• Fitness Passport membership access to a wide range of gyms, pools, and fitness and leisure centres across Australia, at a discounted rate.

Are you ready to imagine the possibilities? Here’s how to apply.

Please review the Position Description on our careers page prior to applying.

Click ‘apply’ and go to our LLW Careers page and submit your application.

All applications must be received via this channel.

In your application, provide a response to the key selection criteria outlined in the position description.

For questions about the role or to obtain a copy of the position description, email [email protected] 

Due to the volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Applications close: Thursday, 21 December 2023 

Lives Lived Well is an equal employment opportunity employer. We encourage applications from a diverse range of social, cultural and gender backgrounds that reflect our community including First Peoples.

Confirmation of employment will be subject to the candidate’s possession of a Current Australian Drivers Licence, and Working with Children Check (Blue Card).