First Nations Youth Peer Worker

Primary Clinical Services Melton, VIC Part-time

18/9/2025

• Melton location | Onsite parking + close to public transport
• Part time contract until Dec 27 | days per week)
• Join a new program | Support First Nations young people and their families

About Orygen

Orygen is Australia's Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health and the largest translational research organisation dedicated to youth mental health in the world.

For over 30 years, Orygen has led groundbreaking early intervention and developed evidence-based models of care to improve the mental health outcomes of young people aged

About the job

The Youth Peer Worker will draw on their lived experience of identity and cultural connection to engage directly with First Nations young people at headspace Melton. This role offers flexible, culturally informed pathways into and through the service, helping to foster a sense of belonging and cultural identity.

This is a newly developed role within a brand-new program seeking to reduce stigma and identify and address barriers that may impact on young, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander young people's engagement to access mental health care.

Reporting to the Clinical Services Manager you will:

• Provide culturally safe peer support to First Nations young people, valuing lived experience and empowering meaningful engagement with headspace.
• Support young people to make informed choices, access services, and build hope, resilience, and empowerment through intentional peer work.
• Co-design, facilitate, and deliver programs, groups, and workshops for young people and families within headspace and the wider community.
• Engage with community events and networks to promote headspace and strengthen connections with First Nations young people and their communities.
• Contribute to service development, team collaboration, supervision, and accurate documentation while fostering a safe, inclusive workplace culture.

(ONLY INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY AS THIS POSITION IS EXEMPT UNDER THE SPECIAL MEASURE PROVISION, SECTION 12(1) OF THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ACT 2011 (VIC)

Skills and experience

The following criteria must be met for consideration for this position:

• Aged between 18 and 30 years and lived experience as a First Nations young person.
• Demonstrated commitment to working with First Nations young people.
• Sensitivity to experiences that First Nations young people may have had; this may include difficulties in their social and emotional wellbeing; physical health problems; difficult family experiences; or challenges with work and study.
• Excellent organisational, interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal) to communicate warmly and effectively with young people, community members and other stakeholders
• Comfort in sharing personal experiences of identity and cultural connection.
• Willingness to participate in a peer work or relevant tertiary course.

Note: this role requires the applicant to be within a specific age range for the duration of their employment within this role. This role falls under the special measures category in the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 to promote substantive equality for a group of people who have one (or more) protected attributes such as age. Orygen aims to address equality for young people who have faced or are facing mental ill health challenges.

Benefits

• $68,330 - $74,554 pro rata commensurate with skills and experience + 12% superannuation and $15,900 in NFP salary packaging + $2,600 meals and entertainment card.
• Make a real impact on young people in a dynamic, youth-centered environment.
• Support Orygen's mission for youth mental health and contribute to positive social change.
• Be part of a team that values collaboration and innovative thinking, driving impactful results.
• Ability to purchase additional leave; access to EAP; generous Parental Leave Scheme.
• Benefit from a location that is easily accessible by public transport and offers amenities that support a healthy work-life balance.

How to apply

If you're ready to make a difference in youth mental health and be part of a collaborative, innovative team, apply now.

For the full position description, visit

This is a part time days per week role) until December 2027.

Applications will close on 16th October (2pm), unless a suitable candidate is found sooner.

Before applying at Orygen, it's important to understand that you may encounter sensitive information related to mental health as part of your work. Being aware of this and how it could affect you is essential in deciding if this is the right opportunity for you.

Orygen is committed to providing diverse, equitable and inclusive environments for Staff and anyone connected to Orygen. We strive to continue building a culturally safe workplace where our values underpin the way we work and our commitment to First Nations people of Australia, young people and their families, people with disabilities, LGBTIQA+ people and CALD communities. We strongly encourage applications from First Nations people.

Orygen is a child-safe organisation and is committed to promoting and protecting the safety and well-being of all young people and embedding safeguarding practices into all our programs and services. All employment appointments are subject to holding a valid working with children check and successful police check.