Peer Worker

💼 Hunter New England Local Health District

REQUIRED 606343

Where your Experience Makes the Difference

Remuneration : $31.51 - $57.58 per hour + Superannuation + Salary Packaging

Employment Type : Permanent, Part Time 24 hrs/week

Position Classification : Health Education Officer (accepting both Graduate and Non‑Graduate applications)

Location : Maitland Hospital

Requisition ID : REQ606343

Closing Date : Sunday 2nd November 2025

The Impact You Will Have

As a Peer Worker, you will use your lived experience to provide non‑clinical, person‑centred support that promotes hope, self‑determination, choice, and social connectedness. You will walk alongside people on their recovery journey—offering empathy, understanding, and genuine connection.

- Provide individual and group peer support

- Assist with safety and wellness planning

- Offer advocacy, education, and referrals

- Help people connect with community services and ongoing supports

- Work collaboratively with consumers, families, carers, and clinicians

Who We Are Looking For

You draw on your lived experience of suicide to support others in a way that feels safe, empowering, and grounded in recovery. Collaboration comes naturally to you—you value being part of a caring, multidisciplinary team as you approach your work with empathy, calm, and a strong commitment to person‑centred, trauma‑informed care.

Building trust with people in crisis is one of your strengths, and you’re confident working alongside other services to make sure everyone receives the holistic support they need. You have also completed or are willing to complete a Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work.

This opportunity is for 3 days a week, with usual hours between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM — though we’re happy to have a conversation about what days and times best suit your lifestyle.

Benefits

- Career growth and professional development: Explore future roles within HNE, access ongoing training, and benefit from regular clinical supervision and reflective practice.

- Supportive workplace and network: Connect with our extensive peer work network, and enjoy guidance, collaboration, and a sense of belonging.

- Wellbeing and lifestyle benefits: Increase your take‑home pay with Salary Packaging and Fitness Passport options and access our Employee Assistance Program for additional support.

To be eligible for permanent employment in this position you must be an Australian Citizen, a permanent resident of Australia, or a New Zealand citizen with a current New Zealand Passport. Employment of a temporary visa holder may only occur if no suitable local candidate is identified for the position; in this instance, you may only be offered employment in line with the conditions and expiry date of your visa.

We are unable to accommodate visa sponsorship for applicants requiring a visa for this position.

An eligibility list will be created for future permanent part‑time and temporary part‑time vacancies. Casual opportunities may be available for recommended applicants.

Information for Applicants

Applicants will be assessed against the essential requirements and selection criteria contained within the position description. For assistance addressing selection criteria visit: https://bit.ly/3vL5fq2

Stepping Up Website is a resource designed to help indigenous job applicants apply for positions in NSW Health. For more information, please visit: https://bit.ly/HNEHealthSteppingUp

This is a Category A position. Recommended applicants will be reviewed for compliance with NSW Health policy directive PD2024_015: Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination against Specified Infectious Diseases for Category A positions prior to offer. All new employees must agree to comply with the requirements outlined in the policy.

Salary Packaging

Salary packaging is beneficial to most Hunter New England Health employees and may increase your take‑home pay Salary package a range of personal expenses including novated motor vehicle leases, relocation expenses, and HECS/HELP debt. Find out more by contacting SalaryPackagingPLUS via nswhealth@salarypackagingplus.com.au or 1300 40 25 23.

Hunter New England Health employees may be eligible for a range of benefits such as allocated days off (ADO) for full‑time employees, long service leave, paid maternity leave, and salary packaging options including meal expenses.

Inclusion

At Hunter New England Local Health District, we are an inclusive employer dedicated to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming workplace. Our commitment to a workforce that reflects the community we care for is essential for delivering the highest quality healthcare to our community. We encourage people with diverse lived experiences to apply. Please contact Rebecca.Caldwell@health.nsw.gov.au for confidential support to ensure an equitable, barrier‑free application process.

Cultural Acknowledgement

NSW Health acknowledges the people of the many traditional countries and language groups of New South Wales. It acknowledges the wisdom of Elders past and present, and pays respect to all Aboriginal communities of today.

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