Drummond Street Services: LGBTIQA+ Mental Health & Wellbeing Peer Worker - Latrobe
Michael Barnett OAM
LGBTIQA+ Mental Health & Wellbeing Peer Worker - Latrobe
Job description
- Full time position till June 2028, subject to further funding
- SCHADS 3
- First Nations People, LGBTIQA+ people, people with disability, people of colour, public housing residents or people with a lived experience are encouraged to apply
- DSS is committed to child safety and strictly adheres to the Reportable Conduct Scheme for organisations. The safeguarding and wellbeing of our clients is our core focus. All staff must undergo thorough recruitment process including screening and providing evidence of current Working With Children Check and National Police Check.
About the role
Drummond Street Services (DS) is working in partnership with Neami National and Uniting in continuing to deliver the Latrobe Mental Health and Wellbeing Local. The Service is an innovative solution to deliver on the compelling vision outlined through the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. Offering a ‘no wrong door’ approach, the service will support members of the community to be connected to the right support, providing a holistic approach to care, addressing a range of social, physical, and emotional needs. The service will have a strong focus on lived experience and will support a high engagement, multi-disciplinary team model.
Peer Workers deliver high quality services to consumers experiencing mental health challenges presenting to the Mental Health & Wellbeing Local. Peer workers draw on their lived experience of recovery from mental illness, mental health crisis or caring for someone living with a mental illness to instil confidence and hope in others about the journey of recovery. You must identify as LGBTIQA+ and have a lived experience of your own recovery in mental ill health or experience in a caring role for someone with mental ill health.
You must be willing to purposefully use your own story to help others further their own understanding of recovery and work alongside a multi-disciplinary team. Peer workers will support a high engagement model of care, through actively greeting and supporting consumers throughout their time at the Local Mental Health & Wellbeing Local. Peer workers are an important element of the team approach and bring the wisdom of experience to many aspects of service delivery including intake interviews, service promotion, partnership work and case reviews.
Your responsibilities
- Engage LGBTIQA+ consumers through community engagement and referrals and develop trusting and professional relationships that respect worker/consumer boundaries.
- Seek to learn about the consumers’ interests, their connections with family and friends, and work with the consumer in building their capacity to be part of their community.
- Provide emotional support to consumers by constructively applying lessons learnt through your own lived experience.
- Provide support through a range of means, including the provision of outreach and centre-based activities.
- Draw upon your understanding and belief in strength based, recovery orientated models of service including Collaborative Relational Practice and Intentional Peer Support.
- Provide opportunities to discuss problem solving strategies, reflecting on helpful and unhelpful behaviours.
- Provide social validation support by giving consumers feedback about their social interaction.
- Actively contribute as a team member to the delivery of an integrated mental health service delivery with the aim to more effectively support consumers and promote the recovery model.
About you
- A lived experience and understanding of the impact of mental health issues on health and wellbeing
- Demonstrated capacity to work creatively, show initiative, contribute ideas and be active in a supportive team environment in an agency working to support individual and family relationships
- Cultural and diversity humility
- Identify as belonging to LGBTIQA+ communities, as well as other communities with whom DS assertively engages
Selection Criteria:
All of the following must be addressed in your application to be considered.
Essential:
- Mental Health Qualification such as Certificate IV level or above, or commitment to complete such a qualification within 2 years of your commencement of employment. Support may be provided to complete this qualification.
- A strong personal/professional support network that promotes resilience.
- Involved and actively participating in the local community.
- A commitment to and/or experience in working with people from LGBTIQA+ communities.
- An interest in or demonstrated experience in running group programs.
- Demonstrated understanding of the needs, issues and sensitivities of people from diverse backgrounds including Aboriginal, LGBTIQA+ and culturally and linguistically diverse people and communities.
- A current Victorian drivers license.
Desired:
- Intentional Peer Support Core Training.
Please review the attached position description attached which outlines the full list of responsibilities and key selection criteria.
Application process
Please click "Apply Now" by the closing date to submit your application.
All applicants must include a resume with a cover letter addressing all the key selection criteria for the position.
Applicants shortlisted for an interview will be required to provide evidence of their qualifications during the interview process
Please contact Jack Khouri on 0436 821 131 or jack....@ds.org.au using the subject line: LGBTIQA+ Mental Health & Wellbeing Peer Worker - Latrobe enquiry via EthicalJobs to discuss your application.
Supporting Materials
Applications for this role will take you to the employer’s site.
Job Summary
- SCHADS 3
- Applications close: 11:59 PM AEDT, 25th Jan 2026
- Job posted on: 6th Jan 2026
- Regional VIC > Morwell