Youth Suicide Prevention Peer Worker

 Join Our Team as a Youth Suicide Prevention Peer Worker with New Horizons

Full time, Defined Term contract role - to end June 2026

 
About New Horizons
With over 55 years of service, New Horizons has become a trusted leader in delivering impactful, community-focused support across New South Wales. We are a not-for-profit dedicated to creating a compassionate society where everyone can thrive. Our services address fundamental needs and uplift individuals, allowing them to achieve their goals and enhance their quality of life. As part of our mission, we're seeking a passionate youth suicide prevention peer worker to join our team and help drive positive changes in the lives of children and young people as part of the Towards Zero Suicides initiative.
 
The Opportunity
New Horizons is working in partnership with the NSW government to combat suicide in children and young people. The i.am program is a one of its kind, award winning psychosocial mental health program co-produced with young people with lived experience of suicidality. It's also one of very few programs that works with children at young ages. 

Why Join New Horizons?
We are committed to creating a workplace that supports your growth, work-life balance, and overall well-being. Here's what you'll enjoy:
· Salary Packaging: Up to $15,900 annually, maximizing your take-home pay.
· Entertainment Allowance: An additional $2,650 annually for dining, holidays, and more.
· Monthly Rostered Days Off (RDOs): Prioritize self-care with a three-day weekend every month
· Clinical Supervision & Peer Support: A collaborative environment to thrive professionally.
· Development Opportunities: Build your skills through internal and external training.
· Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Free, confidential support for personal and work challenges.
· Paid Parental Leave: Comprehensive leave to support growing families.
· Fitness Passport: Affordable access to gyms and fitness centers.

About the Role
As a Youth Suicide Prevention Peer Worker within the i.am program, you'll play a vital role in empowering young people to navigate their mental health journeys and build resilience. You will be utilising your lived experience to collaborate closely with individuals, their families, and multidisciplinary teams and deliver psychosocial supports that prioritise recovery, self-determination, and community connection.

Key Responsibilities
· Utilise your personal lived experience of a suicidal crisis or mental health distress to foster trusting, respectful relationships with young people, families, and support networks in a safe and inclusive environment.
· Deliver trauma-informed, strengths-based psychosocial support.
· Assess needs and create individualised support plans aligned with each young person's goals.
· Help young people build on their strengths to achieve personal milestones.
· Connect young people to education, employment, community, and peer support resources.
· Develop and implement risk assessments and safety plans.
· Monitor risks, provide immediate support, and update safety strategies with the Clinical Lead
· Work with multidisciplinary teams, external organisations, and families to deliver integrated care
· Participate in case reviews and team meetings to strengthen outcomes for young people
· Facilitate Youth Advisory Groups and advocate for young people's needs.
· Collaborate on program improvements through co-design with lived experience input.

About You
We are looking for compassionate professionals who are passionate about making a difference in young people's lives.

Essential Requirements

· Relevant qualifications (e.g., Certificate IV, Diploma, or Degree in Peer Work, Mental Health, Social Work, or a related field).

· Using your lived experienced to guide the support you provide to young people and families, with the goal of fostering meaningful relationships and promoting positive change.
· Experience supporting young people in mental health, suicide prevention, or disability settings.
· Knowledge of trauma-informed and recovery-oriented practices.
· Proficiency with technology, including Microsoft Office and client management systems.
· Valid NSW driver's license and willingness to travel for community-based work.

Compliance checks: NDIS Worker Screening, NSW Working with Children Check and Current Police  Check (not older than 3 months)
To help make the process speedy we encourage you to have/apply for the checks upon application as there can be some delays in obtaining these checks through the relevant services.

Ready to Transform Lives?
At New Horizons, every day is an opportunity to empower others and create lasting change. Join us in building a brighter future for young people.
New Horizons values and celebrates diversity and encourages applications from all people. Our vision is to see happy inclusive communities work together in collaborative and inclusive ways to create opportunity and improve quality of life.  Our workforce proudly reflects the local communities we connect with and support.
New Horizons acknowledges all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional custodians of the land.

Apply Now to become part of the i.am team Together, we can inspire hope and resilience where it's needed most.