Family/Carer Peer Worker
Dandenong, VIC, AU, 3175
Monash Health is a great place to work
Monash Health is Victoria’s largest and most comprehensive health service. For more than 170 years, Monash Health and its predecessors have provided safe, high-quality healthcare and service for people at every life stage. With 25,500 employees, we provide care across south-eastern metropolitan Melbourne and rural Victoria from over 40 locations; via telehealth, within local communities and in people’s homes.
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Join our team as a Family/Carer Peer Worker to work in our inpatient team. Three positions available based on three separate wards, at Lived Experience Workforce Classification Level 2 or 3 based on prior experience. See below for more details.
We are recruiting to 3 ongoing positions (2.8 EFT in total) with options for full-time or part time working arrangements. These positions are based at our Dandenong mental health inpatient units on our adult (Unit 1), youth (Unit 2), and older persons (Unit 3) wards. The older persons position will also work at the older persons ward (Biala) at our Kingston Centre.
Please specify any preference the adult, youth, or older adult position in your cover letter.
About Our Lived & Living Experience Workforce at Monash Health
Monash Health is one of the largest Lived and Living Experience Workforce employers in Victoria, encompassing both Consultants and Peer Workers. Our Peer Workforce, which includes both Consumer and Family/Carer Peer Workers, is integral to several of our inpatient units, community teams, emergency departments, and drug and alcohol services. We are dedicated to fostering a safe and supportive workplace, reinforced by strong professional leadership, reflective supervision, and opportunities for connection through co-reflection, employee forums, and ongoing professional development.
About The Mental Health Inpatient Units
The mental health inpatient units provide short-term, intensive care for individuals experiencing acute mental illness such as psychosis, suicidal ideation, or extreme psychological distress. The units provide support in a secure environment, focussing on assessment, stabilisation, and the development of treatment plans to support ongoing recovery. Our youth ward (Unit 2) focusses mainly on individuals aged 18-25 years, our adult ward (Unit 1) provides care for individuals aged 18-64 years, and our older adult wards (Unit 3 and Biala) proivdes care for individuals 64years and older.
About The Role
As a valued member of the multidisciplinary inpatient team, you will be responsible for providing peer support to family members and carers of patients receiving treatment on the inpatient unit, and for up to 28 days post discharge. You will draw on your own lived experience of supporting someone with a mental illness, utilising the Intentional Peer Support principles to offer hope and support to others. You will support carers to engage with and navigate the mental health service, also promoting their rights and wellbeing.
These positions are based at Dandenong Hospital with the option hybrid working arrangements, and there may be a requirement travel to other sites at times.
About You
As a designated family/carer lived experience role, you will have a declared personal experience of supporting someone living with mental illness, and experience of the mental health system.
You possess a deep understanding of mental health challenges through your own lived experience as a family/carer and are passionate about supporting others. You have a genuine commitment to enhancing the lives of individuals with mental health difficulties and their carers. With a strong focus on inclusion, diversity, and person-centred care, you bring excellent communication and interpersonal skills to your work. Your enthusiasm, compassion, and ability to collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary team set you apart. You are driven to pursue a meaningful and purposeful career, with a desire to grow as a lived experience health professional. As an experienced peer worker, you are dedicated to fostering reflective practice in collaboration with others.
What You Need
You will demonstrate the following key skills, experience and knowledge to be considered for this role (see attached Position Description for a complete list of requirements):
- Declared personal experience of supporting someone living with mental illness, including experience of supporting someone as a mental health service user.
- Ability to use your own lived experience to inspire hope in belief and recovery.
- Knowledge of peer work principles and the ability to support others from a mutual perspective.
- Completion of Intentional Peer Support (IPS) training, (for Level 3) or willingness to complete (for Level 2).
- Completion of, or working towards, Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work or similar qualification also required for the Level 3 position.
- Previous experience working as a peer worker or equivalent role is desirable.
What the Lived & Living Experience Workforce at Monash Health offers:
- Comprehensive orientation and induction program.
- Up to 2 hours reflective supervision per month, plus group co-reflection spaces.
- Support and mentoring from Peer Work Leads.
- Higher Education Recognition Allowance.
- Funded Lived & Living Experience professional development and training opportunities.
- Lived & Living Experience Workforce forums.
Monash Health employees enjoy a range of benefits including:
- Salary packaging options that increase your take-home pay.
- Comprehensive Health and Wellbeing program.
- Free flu vaccinations.
- Private health insurance at discounted rates.
- Health imaging services.
- + more
For a confidential discussion and to explore the opportunity further, please call Judy Hogan, Family/Carer Peer Work Team Leader on 0497 383 835; Georgia Jones, Unit 1 Nurse Manager, on 0429 279 629; Mark Makunike, Unit 2 Nurse Manager, on 0431 555 411; or Chinchu Francis, Unit 3 Nurse Manager, on 0436 024 432.
Lived Experience Worker Level 2 Position Description can be found here
Lived Experience Worker Level 3 Position Description can be found here
We recognise the value of equal employment opportunity. We are committed to patient safety, promoting fairness, equity and diversity in the workplace and to Child Safe Standards. At Monash Health we are relentless in our pursuit of excellence and work to our six guiding principles and our five ICare values. Respectfully, applications from recruitment agencies will not be accepted.
How to Apply
Applications are accepted via the Monash Health online EHub system. For information including how to apply and probity check requirements, please click here for the ‘Application Guide’
Applications will be screened upon receipt and selection activity may commence prior to the closing date.
Applications close: 11 November, 2025