Community Peer Worker

• Do you have Lived Experience of Addiction and a Personal Journey of Recovery to share in a supportive and relatable manner?
• Do you have experience in supporting people with Alcohol and Other Drugs Recovery or Mental Health?

About the role

Life Without Barriers is seeking dedicated Community Peer Workers to provide assertive and targeted outreach support to people referred to the innovative Assertive Outreach Drug and Alcohol Program, Next Steps.

This role is to provide individual one to one psychosocial support services which focus on consumer determination, empowerment, hope and belief that recovery from an addiction is possible. You will be a resource for providing support, education and innovative strategies to participants engaging in the Life Without Barriers service.

The ideal candidate will be well equipped with emotional intelligence and communication skills to effectively convey personal lived experiences to connect with others going through recovery. They will have a strong background in Alcohol and Other Drugs recovery support, and/or Community outreach experience, and/or mental health support.

The contract on offer is full time until 30 December 2025 with potential for extension.

Key Responsibilities

• Engage and develop rapport with clients to understand their needs and to help them identify problems and areas for improvement and implement effective solutions.
• Encourage and support clients to achieve their goals, sharing openly your own story when appropriate to do so, to engender hope and demonstrate a positive role model.
• Liaise with CRSWs to support clients to develop their own support plans in partnership with Life Without Barriers CRSW's, Community services and carers.
• Maintain accurate case notes, up to date case plans and files.
• Support Life Without Barriers to reduce the stigma associated with addiction through involvement and/or support of a community education program.
• Provide a lived experience knowledge base for staff to liaise with and work with members of the team to participate in the planning of the Life Without Barriers induction of new staff from interview to orientation.

Skills & Experience

• Must have a lived experience of addiction and a level of recovery that enable you to share personal lived experience.
• Minimum Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs and/or Peer Work.
• Current Senior First Aid Certificate.
• Current Driver Licence.
• Previous experience in working with people who have a mental health issue and who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
• Comprehensive understanding of the Recovery Framework and the underlying principles.
• Well-developed verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work with people from Diverse Cultural Backgrounds with specific reference to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• Demonstrated ability to positively engage, interact and work with people who have complex needs.

Successful candidates will be required to clear probity checks including National Criminal History Record Check and Working with Children Check (where relevant to the role).

Benefits

• Work within a team passionate about facilitating positive changes for people
• Monthly RDO and great salary packaging benefits
• Ongoing training, support and career opportunities

About the Organisation

Every day, Life Without Barriers provides support and care to children and young people, as we work collaboratively with families, carers, and communities, to ensure they have the environment they deserve to grow. With a focus on ensuring safety and respect, this is an opportunity to make a positive and meaningful difference in these young lives and help pave a brighter future.

Life Without Barriers is a leading social purpose organisation of 8,000 employees working in more than 500 communities across Australia. We support children, young people and families, people with disability, older people, and people with mental illness. We work with people who are homeless and refugees and asylum seekers. Join a community of people dedicated to breaking down barriers.

We employ people who reflect the diversity of our clients to ensure we can support each client's individual needs and wants. We encourage people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background and people with disability to apply.

How to Apply

Include your resume and covering letter in one document, click 'Apply' and follow the prompts. For any enquiries including persons with disability that require adjustments, contact Dillon

Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible as applications may be reviewed prior to the closing date; and as such the closing date is subject to change without notice.