Harm Reduction Peer Specialist

**A bit about the role**

The Harm Reduction Peer Specialist will support both the Proactive Overdose Response Initiative and The Living Room Primary Health Service by utilising their lived experience of alcohol and other drugs to engage service users to coordinate pathways out of homelessness and reduce drug-related harm.

This position is responsible for connecting with service users in the Living Room to deliver high quality, high impact support to people accessing the clinical and drop-in services and undertaking some outreach activities.

The Harm Reduction Peer Specialist will play a critical role in engaging service users to create linkages with our clinical health and alcohol and other drugs services, as well as referrals to external services and providing brief interventions.

**Key Requirements**
- Minimum Certificate IV Alcohol & Other Drugs or Certificate IV qualifications in Social Work, or Community Services & units of competency in AOD
- Current First Aid level 2 certificate (Preferable)
- Have lived experience in Alcohol or Drug misuse.

**A bit about you**

You might be an AOD worker or a lifelong Community Health worker, but one thing is for sure, you know your stuff when it comes to utilising their lived experience of alcohol and other drugs to engage service users to coordinate pathways out of homelessness and reduce drug-related harm.

You know the importance of boundaries and frameworks. You are an active listener and tailor your support based on the goals and aspirations of the person you are working with. You've got experience working with the mental health service system and bring a mix of best practice and responsive thinking to help us provide high-impact support without judgement

**A bit about us**:
The Living Room is a primary health service, the team works with people aged 18+ to provide free healthcare and support to improve the physical, mental and social well-being of individuals who are, or at risk of experiencing homelessness.

The only service of its kind in Melbourne, focuses on the social determinants of health to look beyond disease or illness, to see a person's overall situation. Our multi-disciplinary team works with individuals to identify goals and focus on harm minimisation, self-determination, and empowerment.

We are a non-judgemental service with a strong focus on respect, client centred care and harm prevention. We work with clients on a personalised, tailored basis to address highly complex issues faced by people experiencing multiple and complex needs.

Youth Projects is an independent, registered charity providing front line support to young people and individuals experiencing disadvantage, unemployment, homelessness, alcohol and other drug issues. We recognise the complex and varying needs of the people we work with and go above and beyond, 365 days a year, to provide pathways out of poverty.

This is (some) of what we got up to:

- Over 8,000 people accessed our services.
- Welcomed 16,431 visits to The Living Room.
- 80% of the young people we supported landed sustainable employment or education outcomes.
- More than 150,000 coffees were sold through our social enterprise cafes with $73K profit re-directed into homelessness and youth services.
- Experienced 130,000+ contacts through our harm minimisation programs.

You can read more in our Impact Report or you'll find us right across Naarm/Melbourne with our main hubs located in Glenroy, Sunshine, Werribee, Melton and on Hosier Lane in the heart of the city.

**Why should you work with us?**

We're a casual and flexible, yet professional and high energy workplace. We encourage flexibility for a healthy work/life balance and although we are very serious about our work, we are very chill when it comes time to wind down. Every day you spend working with us, you're making a difference.

Although they're pretty great perks, we don't just stop therehere are some of the others:

- Free, locally roasted coffee at the office
- A portion of your income as tax-free through generous salary packaging benefits
- PLUS additional tax-free salary packaging on meals & entertainment expenses
- Flexible work environment & Great Place to Work Certified
- 17.5% Annual Leave Loading
- Uncapped Employee Assistance Program
- Additional paid leave for caregiving, wellbeing, family violence, study PLUS an extra 5 personal leave days

**Sounds like you'd like to join the team at The Living Room?**
- Please note is a requirement of all Youth Projects positions that the successful applicant holds a valid Working with Children's Check, Police Check._

**Our commitment to diversity**

**Safety screening**

Youth Projects is committed to being a Child Safe organisation, providing an environment where children who come into contact with the organisation are safe and feel safe. Youth Projects has a zero tolerance for child abuse. All Youth Projects staff must undergo Police and Working with Children