Peer Worker

Flourish Australia are starting up new services with the Inclusive Employment Australia program and we are looking for a Peer Worker to join the team

The position available is:

• Part-time position based in Maitland
• Working days between Monday to Friday
• Level 3 on the Flourish Australia Enterprise Agreement equivalent to $ $41.45p/h + super + tax-free salary packaging

About the Role

Flourish Australia is excited to continue to deliver employment services for people with a lived experience of mental health issues under the new Inclusive Employment Australia program that is replacing the Disability Employment Service (DES) from 1 November 2025. We are excited to be able to start delivering services on the NSW South Coast, Wollongong, New England and Brisbane areas, as well as in the areas were we're currently delivering DES in the Sydney region, Hunter and Broken Hill. We believe that the new inclusive program that values lived experience at its core will help many people to reach their employment goals

As a Peer Worker, you will work in the community to support people accessing our services who have a lived experience of mental health issues to achieve their hopes and dreams. You will play an important part in assisting people to maintain wellness and realise their goals. You will also use your lived experience to inform and contribute to staff learning, service understanding, and delivering person-led, recovery focused, strengths-based language, documentation, training and actions.

On a day to day basis you will:

• Support people to prepare for and understand the value employment can have in their recovery
• Support people to better understand their own recovery journey to ensure people feel prepared and supported when moving into employment
• Promote positive self-care strategies, enrich social and living skills, increase vocational skills and access to education, training and employment, and work to improve community integration.
• Encourage shared learning experiences, and support skill development at every opportunity through self-directed learning, information and education.

Flourish Australia is proud to have built one of Australia's largest peer workforces, a proven, strengths-based approach to mental health recovery. Peer Work is a cornerstone of our services with more than half of our workforce having had a lived experience of a mental health issue. By applying personal lived experience in mental health, Peer Workers can empathise, support, and inspire people in finding their own path to recovery.

For more information about what it means to be a Peer Worker with Flourish Australia, please review the Position Description and the following document on An Introduction to Peer Work at Flourish Australia.

The Benefits

Flourish Australia recognises and values its people as demonstrated by:

• Level 3 on the Flourish Australia Enterprise Agreement (2018)
• Tailored onboarding program to set you up for success
• Tax-Free Salary Packaging available up to $15,900
• Exclusive personal fleet pricing discounts with our preferred automotive supplier
• Generous leave provisions including 17.5% leave loading + 2 additional days of personal leave + Christmas/New Years Gratis Day + 10 weeks paid primary carer parental leave
• Comprehensive infrastructure including a laptop, mobile phone and other resources for work purposes
• Regular supervision (reflective practice), ongoing 1:1 mentoring
• Employee Assistance Program for confidential wellbeing support
• Opportunities for professional development and training to obtain mental health specific qualifications such as Mental Health First Aid, Certificate IV or Diploma in Mental Health or Employment Services and ASIST Suicide Prevention training
• Workplace community groups- Rainbow Network for LGBTQ+ staff members & allies and YarnUp Group for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff members
• Employee discounts program at 400+ popular retailers (Woolworths, JB HI FI, Rebel, Myer, etc.)

Selection Criteria

Essential:

• A Certificate IV or above in a relevant field OR a minimum of 2-years full-time experience working in the human services field (as recognised by Flourish Australia).

• A strong commitment to recovery-based practice in the workplace.

• A personal lived experience of a mental health issue and recovery.

• Demonstrated alignment to Flourish Australia's values.

• Understanding of, and ability to effectively use, Microsoft Office and knowledge of data information management systems.

• Maintain a current Australian Driver's Licence.

For further information, please contact Andre Maddocks, Regional Manager, Employment Services. E: (please do not email applications).

All appointments with Flourish Australia's Mental Health Services are subject to an NDIS Worker Screening clearance, a National Criminal History Check, a WWCC, previous employment reference checks, satisfactory Australian residency status and other background checks. All successful applicants will be required to declare any private or secondary employment prior to commencement in line with Flourish Australia's Private or Secondary Employment Policy.

Please note - Successful candidates must maintain a Class C drivers license and proof of comprehensive insurance must be provided when required. You may be directed to use your private motor vehicle in the course of performing your duties when an organisational pool motor vehicle is unavailable. You will receive the Travelling Transport and Fares Allowance when using your private vehicle for work related purposes.

Who we are

Flourish Australia is one of Australia's most experienced community mental health organisations. Our purpose is to support people to flourish, believe in their futures, and become contributing members of the community. Our services are comprehensive and highly personalised because each person's experience will be different and their needs, as an individual, are unique. Together we set goals, connect individuals with the right people, support services and opportunities to meet their needs.

Our positions are open to all suitably qualified applicants. We have a strong commitment to the participation of people with lived experience of mental health issues in our workforce. We value diversity and encourage applications from suitably qualified people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds, people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities, LGBTQ+ communities and mature age candidates.

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