Peer Worker

**Employment Status**

Permanent Part Time

**Program**

Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Services

**Location**

Drugs and Alcohol Services

**Hours Per Fortnight**

64

**Position Summary**
- Join a passionate team providing Harm Reduction and Drug and Alcohol treatment services
- Bring your lived and/or living experience of drug use to assist others seeking assistance
- Great work/life balance Permanent Part Time - 64 hours per fortnight

**About Barwon Health**

Guided by our values, Barwon Health is Victoria's largest regional health care service and is also the largest employer in the Geelong and surf coast region, employing over 8700 staff. Barwon Health's core facilities include the renowned University Hospital Geelong precinct in central Geelong, the McKellar Centre precinct in North Geelong, the innovative Sunrise Centre, Barwon Health North a vital services that includes child and family health support, renal dialysis, medical imaging, and urgent care. Four Aged care centres spanning the Region, Mental Health Services that are delivered through a number of programs across the Geelong and Barwon South West region. Community Health and Dental service and world renowned Research that that advances health and wellbeing for all. Explore all of our comprehensive services here.

**About the service**

Barwon Health's Drug and Alcohol Service (DAS), provides treatment and harm reduction services to people wanting to access services regarding their substance use. DAS has a range of harm reduction services including providing the needle and syringe program, naloxone training and provision, opioid replacement assessments and linkages to prescribers, Hep C screening and treatment and overdose support and education. We provide comprehensive assessment, counselling, non-residential withdrawal, brief intervention and bridging support, and care co-ordination for people seeking treatment for their substance use.

DAS is located in central Geelong in newly refurbished offices and is in close proximity to University Hospital and has a staffed NSP at Corio Community Health Centre. The central location provides great access to the Geelong shopping and arts precinct, the Geelong Waterfront and public transport.

**About you**
- Able to identify as having lived and/or living experience of drug use
- Clear understanding of the health and social issues affecting people who use drugs
- Demonstrated understanding of the principles of health promotion and the social and structural determinants affecting the health of people who use drugs
- Understanding of peer support principles
- A commitment to operating with a high degree of professionalism and personal integrity within a harm reduction and community development framework
- Lived experience of engagement with Drug and Alcohol services

**About the role**

As the successful applicant and as part of the Barwon Health inter-professional Drugs and Alcohol Service (DAS), duties of your new role include but are not limited to;
- Assisting with the facilitation and growth of Harm Reduction Peer Advisory Group(s)
- Contributing to the development of Barwon Health Alcohol and Drugs (AOD) programs
- Brining a lived experience perspective of drug use to the design, implementation and evaluation strategies of the program
- Providing one on one and/or group peer support to people who use drugs and their carers and family members within agreed models of care and MHDAS peer work scope of practice

**What we offer**
- 5 weeks annual leave with the option to purchase additional leave
- Professional development opportunities
- Doorstep to the Great Ocean Road, Bellarine Peninsula and the Surf Coast
- Attractive salary packaging benefits
- Living Expenses capped at $9,010 and includes repayments on mortgages, credit cards, personal loans and rental payments
- Meal Entertainment & Accommodation capped at $2,650 and includes food and drink consumed in a social or entertainment settings and some accommodation expenditure

**Diversity and Inclusion**

At Barwon Health we are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce where we value each person's uniqueness. We embrace diverse life experiences and the perspectives of our people, whilst providing high-quality health care to all members of our community, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, religion, cultural background, disability, or sexual orientation.

We are also proud to be Totally Smoke Free.
- This role must be fully vaccinated for Covid -19 and influenza and meet the requirements of the Barwon Health immunisation policy._

Melbourne, Victoria

**Selection Criteria**

Essential: Can you please list Barwon Health's values?
Essential: Can you please choose one of Barwon Health's values and describe a situation in the workplace where you have displayed this value?
Essential: I agree, to commence employment, I am required to meet Barwon Health's immunisation requirements (including full Covid-19 and Influenza vaccination) set ou