Senior Lived Experience Peer Worker - ICYMHS CAT

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• Join Austin Health as a Senior Lived Experience Peer Worker to help pioneer a brand‑new Youth Crisis Assessment Team
• Ongoing, part time role working 30.40 hours per week
• An opportunity to shape how crisis support is delivered to young people and the families, carers, and kin who stand beside them

Austin Health is the major provider of tertiary health services, health professional education and research across three campuses in the north-east of Melbourne and statewide. We have a highly engaged, diverse and collaborative workforce that is unified by our goal to help people live healthy and fulfilled lives. 

About the department

The Infant Child and Youth Mental Health Service (ICYMHS) Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team (CATT) within Austin Health plays a crucial role in providing timely and effective assessment, treatment, and post-discharge assertive support for young people presenting with high acuity mental health needs. The team sits within the Mental Health Division which provides care and services through a comprehensive range of teams to meet the needs of mental health consumers and carers throughout Victoria. Services are located across Austin Health campuses and in the community.

About the role 

As the Senior Peer Worker, you will bring the values and principles of Intentional Peer Support to life - building authentic, relational, human‑centred connections with young people at some of their most vulnerable moments. You will play a vital part in helping young people feel heard, understood, and supported while offering their families and kin reassurance, guidance, and compassionate connection.

This role is designed for someone who deeply understands mental health distress through their own lived experience, and who wants to use that insight with purpose, leadership, and hope.

A regular day will see you:   

• Providing empathetic and informed peer support, information and referrals to families, carers and supported whose lives are impacted by mental health and/or substance use challenges
• Supporting carers to discover their own solutions and empowering them to take ownership of the journey.
• Encouraging and facilitating referrals to internal and external services, family/carer/supporter support groups and education, and access to hardship funds. 
• Participation in regular self-reflection, group and operational supervision and professional development.
• Participating in regular carer perspective supervision including self-reflective practice and identification of needs.
• Seeking support, debriefing and actively following up challenging or concerning issues with the Team leader/manager and/or Discipline lead.
• Encouraging carers and families to provide feedback to the service.
• Ensuring the data collection and reporting requirements are complete to a high standard and in a timely manner. Participating in regular peer-to-peer learning through community of practice.  

About you 

You will be someone who has excellent communication skills, with a strong commitment to excellence in patient care. You’ll bring energy and drive to your work, and have a keen interest in developing your skillset.

To be successful in this role you’ll bring with you:

• Completion of Intentional Peer Support (IPS) training and/or Certificate IV in Mental Health or Mental Health Peer Work (or equivalent qualification).
• Lived experience of caring for a family member or loved one with mental health and/or substance use challenges.
• A strong understanding of the Victorian public mental health system.
• Experience working as a carer Peer Worker/Lived Experience role in Emergency Departments or Crisis Assessment teams. 
• Knowledge of carer peer support principles, with a commitment to providing support from a mutual perspective, sharing lived experiences to inspire hope.
• A deep understanding of relational recovery and an ability to work from a tripartite approach.   

Our benefits 

Working at Austin Health means enjoying a strong sense of purpose, engaging in meaningful work every day. Our people also receive a variety of rewarding benefits, including: 

• Greater take-home pay through generous salary packaging, for living expenses, meals, and holiday accommodation. 
• A suite of wellness initiatives designed to support you, including discounted fitness memberships and special offers on health insurance, and a comprehensive wellbeing program. 
• Onsite childcare at Austin Hospital, easy access via public transport and car parking options. 
• Mentoring and career development opportunities. 

Work with us! 

We are committed to cultural safety and health equity for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander People. We celebrate, value, and include people of all backgrounds, genders, identities, cultures, bodies, and abilities. We welcome and support applications from talented people identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, people with disability, neurodiverse people, LGBTQIA+ and people of all ages and cultures. 

If you feel this role is right for you, we encourage your early application. Even if you don’t meet every single requirement, we encourage you to apply. What matters most is your passion, your drive and your willingness to learn and contribute. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews may take place prior to the closing date. This means we reserve the right to close a job ad prior to the advertised closing date. 

All appointments are made subject to a satisfactory National Police Check and if required, a Working With Children Check. If you require any reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process, you are welcome to reach out to the hiring manager: Nathan Hall, Program Manager - Community Teams ICYMHS at Nathan.Hall@austin.org.au

Interested in finding out more about this opportunity? Read the position description for further details. 

Application closing date: Sunday 15 March 2026