Aboriginal Mental Health Peer Worker

Bring your lived experience and cultural strength to a role where you'll be embraced, empowered, and deeply valued.

Remuneration: $ $45.57 per hour + super + salary packaging

Employment Type: Permanent Part Time

Position Classification: Health Educ Off Non Grad

Location: Armidale Community Health Service

Hours Per Week: 32

Requisition ID: REQ600093

Applications Close: Sunday, 31st August 2025

Hunter New England Local Health District acknowledges Aboriginal people as the traditional owners and custodians of the lands in which our facilities are located. We pay our respects to Elders, Community members and Community-controlled sector who partner with us to improve the health and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our district.

This is a position identified for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people on the basis of a genuine occupational qualification under section 14(d) of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977. Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander applicants must demonstrate Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander status in addition to addressing the selection criteria.

Where you'll be working:

Discover a career with purpose in the heart of the Northern Tablelands. Join the New England Mental Health Service in Armidale, where you'll work alongside a passionate multidisciplinary team supporting individuals with moderate to severe mental health needs. Nestled in a vibrant regional city known for its heritage charm, thriving arts scene, and stunning natural surrounds, this role offers the perfect balance of meaningful work and an enviable lifestyle.

About the role:

This position will focus on culturally appropriate support and compassionate care that can be provided by peer workers with lived experience of a mental illness. A lived experience workforce recognises the effects of ongoing negative historical impacts and or specific events on the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It encompasses the cultural, spiritual, physical, emotional and mental wellbeing of the individual, family or community. The Aboriginal Mental Health Peer Worker works alongside other members of the multi-disciplinary team, contributing to care planning and liaising with internal and external stakeholders to ensure best outcomes for consumers.

For Aboriginal people, health is holistic, which links mental and physical health with a whole of life view, interconnected to spiritual and cultural factors, connection to land, community, traditions and identity. You will be supported by the Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Cultural supervision framework to ensure your success in this position. This is one of our strategies in Hunter New England Mental Health Service to achieve sustainable employment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the public health sector. As an employee you will be able to take 4 hours a month to reconnect back to culture and maintain your spiritual wellbeing and be paid for it. This opportunity ensures our service is considerate of the health and social emotional wellbeing of our mob working in a public sector.

We know as Aboriginal people we need to work in a culturally responsive workplace which holds culture as central to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing. The supervision framework allows ongoing reflective practice and life-long learning, it enables growth for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff to become leaders, it is relationship focused and is person and community centred. It appreciates diversity between groups, families and communities and requires access to knowledge about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, peoples and cultures.

You will not be alone either, you will be fully supported culturally but also professionally. Being able to belong, connect, laugh and embrace our culture is an important factor when you come to work every day, you want to be happy and feel safe to be YOU and most of all we want you to come back So if you think this could be for you and are keen to embrace this fantastic opportunity, apply now

About you:

• Are you passionate about improving mental health and sustaining the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal people located on Anaiwan and surrounding nations?
• Do you want to work in your local community to provide culturally appropriate support and advocacy for our people accessing Armidale community mental health centre?
• Do you want to be part of a Deadly team that is supported by an Aboriginal workforce?

The successful candidate will be committed to empowering our mob to yarn about their journey of mental health and social emotional wellbeing. You will also have the ability to provide cultural knowledge and advice to our non-Aboriginal colleagues and stakeholders about local cultural protocols and the importance of incorporating holistic social and emotional wellbeing care. You will have the strength and passion to enhance Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people engagement with Mental Health services by listening and learning from our communities lived experience and will be dedicated to create a culturally safe and supportive environment within the team and model self-care.

Aboriginal peer workers must be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the local Aboriginal community and engage and involve Aboriginal communities when working from or liaising with emergency departments to ensure people in distress are safe.

Requirements:

• Completion of or willingness to undertake and successfully complete Certificate IV Peer Work Mental Health qualification within 12 months after employment.

What we can offer you:

At Hunter New England Health, enjoy a career where you're challenged by interesting work and surrounded by spectacular locations. You'll contribute to the team enriching health in millions of ways every day. On top of this we also offer:

• Sustainable Healthcare: Together towards zero
• Proximity to shopping and other services
• 4 weeks annual leave (pro-rata for part time employees)
• Paid parental leave (for eligible employees) - giving you the opportunity for true Worklife balance
• Salary packaging options - up to $11,600 plus novated leasing
• Fitness Passport for health and well-being - discounted gym options for you and your family
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for staff and family members
• Opportunity to work and collaborate with a range of non-clinical and clinical professionals

Additional information:

• An eligibility list will be created for future permanent part time and temporary part time vacancies.

Need more information?

1) Click here for the Position Description

2) Find out more about applying for this position

For role related queries or questions contact Melissa Rose on

Information for Applicants:

Applicants will be assessed against the essential requirements and selection criteria contained within the position description (link below). For assistance addressing selection criteria visit:

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

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.

.