Mental Health Peer Worker

About the Opportunity

Melbourne City Mission (MCM) is a leader and innovator in the provision of services to the community. Established in 1854, Melbourne City Mission is a non-denominational organisation that supports thousands of Victorian people and communities to overcome barriers and disrupt disadvantage to live their life, their way.

As a service provider Melbourne City Mission’s work is focussed on supporting people to take charge of their own lives and participate fully in community life. Melbourne City Mission’s service profile includes: Children, Youth, Adult and Family; Disability; Employment, Education and Training; Homelessness; and Palliative Care. Our Healing Oriented Framework guides us in our trauma informed knowledge to enhance trauma responsiveness across all programs and deepens the capacity of teams and services in complex environments to provide healing-oriented care.

Frontyard Youth Services, within the Homelessness, Justice & Family Services division, is a specialist youth service providing a range of multidisciplinary programs to meet the holistic needs of young people aged between 12 and 25 years who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Frontyard aims to support young people to meet their physical, emotional and social needs and to develop pathways out of homelessness. Many of the services at Frontyard work with young people across greater Melbourne and throughout Victoria.

The Frontyard Mental Health Program was developed in 2017 and has recently significantly changed to respond to recommendations of the Royal Commission into Victorias Mental Health System. This role will be working closely with St Vincents Hospital, the Northwest Public Health Network, Orygen and area mental health services to address the gaps in service provision for young people that experience mental ill health and homelessness. This enhanced program aims to ensure no one falls through the gaps of mental health service provision.

The Program aims to:

• provide non-clinical, holistic care and support to young people aged 12-25 years presenting with complex mental health issues
• develop and maintain partnerships and working relationships with service providers to facilitate referrals with more appropriate services.
• contribute to evidence informed approaches to supporting young people with, or at risk of, severe mental illness

About you

We are looking for someone who can:

• Provide peer support by working to foster hope and inspire young people to engage in support and support planning to achieve their goals
• Collaborate with Frontyard staff to co-facilitate programs aimed at increasing the skills and capacity of young people accessing the service
• Provide education from a lived experience for young people to better understand and navigate service systems, support options, and to increase the capacity of the organisation to better respond to the needs of young people
• Participate in advocacy around collective issues at an organisational, community and/or leadership level
• Co-facilitate the delivery of events for key dates across the annual calendar

Benefits of working with MCM include:

• Inclusive Employer by the Diversity Council of Australia
• Attractive Salary Packaging benefits
• Supportive learning and development environment
• Culture of continuous improvement

Essential:

• A relevant qualification in peer work, youth work, community development or similar and/or experience in peer mental health work
• A lived experience of mental health services, preferably in Victoria
• Ability to use own life experience to provide support to young people and build their hope for the future
• An understanding of the key issues affecting people with multiple and complex needs including mental ill health, homelessness, disabilities, alcohol and other drug issues, health and safety issues and social connection
• A strong commitment to recovery-based practice
• Knowledge of homelessness and other community services for young people
• An understanding of the requirements for ensuring child safety
• Computer literacy, including proficiency in Microsoft programs

Screening Criteria

• National Police check
• Working with Children check and NDIS Worker Screening check or ability to obtain
• Valid Victorian Drivers licence
• Right to Work in Australia
• Up to date with COVID-19 Vaccinations or valid medical exemption

Applications for this role close: 25 June 2023, so please apply early.  Please include your current resume and cover letter.
Please review the position description to understand more about the role and responsibilities.  For assistance with your application please email: recruitment@mcm.org.au

About MCM

We are a leading not for profit, purpose-driven organisation that offers a broad range of services in Early Years, Disability, Homelessness and Family Services, Palliative Care and Education.  

Our Commitment to Diversity

At MCM, we embrace differences in gender, age, ethnicity, race, cultural background, disability, religion and sexual orientation. We know that diversity in our workforce enables us to deliver empowering services that are informed by lived experience.

Our commitment to Safety

MCM is committed to the safety of its clients and employees, taking a zero-tolerance approach to violence within the workplace and abuse, including child abuse and abuse of people with disability. All employees are required to comply with the Child Safe Standards.