At a Glance
- Tasks: Support individuals with mental health challenges by connecting them to community resources and activities.
- Company: Mind Australia, a leading provider of community-managed psychosocial services.
- Benefits: Flexible part-time hours, supportive work environment, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to inclusivity and community wellbeing.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while using your lived experience to inspire others.
- Qualifications: Experience in mental health support or peer work is preferred; empathy and motivation are key.
Mind strongly encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, people with a lived experience of mental health challenges and recovery, and applicants from all cultures, genders, sexualities, bodies, abilities, spiritualities, ages and backgrounds. Mind Australia is one of Australia’s largest providers of community-managed psychosocial services, supporting people experiencing mental health and wellbeing challenges to find help, hope and purpose in their lives.
Operating for almost 50 years and employing more than 1,300 staff around Australia, Mind is a leading employer of people with lived experience of mental health challenges, recognising their unique ability to connect with and motivate clients and guide recovery.
About the service: The Adult and Older Adult Mental Health and Wellbeing services, otherwise known as “Locals”, are a key recommendation from Victoria’s Royal Commission into mental health system. Locals are a key feature of current system transformation. The Locals will act as front door to the mental health service system and will provide a continuum of care and support including clinical interventions, wellbeing supports, and therapeutic support through an integrated mental health and alcohol and other drug approach.
About the role: We are seeking a self-motivated, empathic Life Links Worker for a permanent part-time opportunity (34.2 hours per week) to work within the Echuca area. The successful applicant will utilise learnings from their lived/living experience of mental health challenges and/or alcohol and drug challenges to walk alongside service users, in line with Mind’s Life Links Social Prescribing Model, Mind’s Model of Recovery Oriented Practice, My Better Life model, Mind’s Peer Work Framework and organisational values for people with mental health and alcohol and other drug challenges.
In this role you will utilise a cultural and intersectional practice approach in line with Mind’s Intersectionality Framework, Intentional Peer Support model, and Human Rights to support consumers to link into a range of groups, activities and resources within the community to increase wellbeing and social connection.
Key responsibilities:
- Undertake designated community linkage work with people as part of their holistic care plan and as led by the person themselves.
- Actively walk alongside people in all parts of the community, providing tailored supports that connect and link them with their requested social groups, activities, resources, training, education, employment and safe spaces.
- Contribute to building the directory of community resources.
- Demonstrate knowledge and abilities gained from both an individual's lived/living experiences, collective impacts and Lived Expertise, and be able to support the development of these approaches across the reach of the service.
- Lead the planning and development of Life Links groups that support social connection, reduce isolation and loneliness and enhance wellbeing in line with the needs of consumers.
- Work closely with the Community Engagement Worker to build strong community relationships and identify opportunities for social connectedness in line with Mind’s Life Links Social Prescribing Model.
What you’ll bring:
- Intentional Peer Support Core and/or Advanced training (Highly desirable).
- Tertiary qualifications in Mental Health, Peer Work, Psychology, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Community Services or other professional field as designated by Mind are preferred, and/or equivalent experience in a similar industry will also be considered as an alternative to peer work trainings.
- Previous experience in using peer approaches and experience and expertise in a dedicated Peer role strongly desirable.
- Draw upon your knowledge of and consider the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities (2006) in all decision-making processes.
- Experience in linkage work and/or social prescribing is highly desirable.
- Experience, expertise and/or desire in working directly with people with mental health issues, and their families and carers.
We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to provide a positive, barrier-free recruitment process. If you require any support or reasonable adjustments to complete your application, please contact us at. The successful applicant is required to complete comprehensive reference and background checking prior to employment, including a Working with Children Check, NDIS Workers Screening Check.
Life Links Worker in Echuca employer: Mind Australia Careers
Mind Australia Careers is an attractive employer due to its commitment to diversity and inclusion, actively encouraging applications from individuals with lived experience of mental health challenges. The organization offers a supportive work environment focused on recovery and personal growth, providing opportunities for employees to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those they serve. With nearly 50 years of experience in the field, Mind Australia Careers fosters professional development and stability within the mental health sector.
