Mental Health Lived Experience Worker

Latrobe Regional Health is a leading provider of health care services across the Gippsland Region

Are you seeking a rewarding and diverse Peer Support role in a leading regional hospital? Join the Bairnsdale Mental Health Services Team at Latrobe Regional Health, where we value our employees by providing a safe and supportive workplace culture that enables you to thrive. 

Latrobe Regional Health (LRH) is looking for a Carer Lived Experience Worker (Peer Support) to join our growing team on a part-time, ongoing basis.

Make a meaningful difference by supporting, empowering, and advocating for carers, families, and supporters of people experiencing mental health challenges.

About the Role

Latrobe Regional Health is seeking a compassionate and motivated Carer Lived Experience Worker (Peer Support) to join our Bairnsdale Community Mental Health Service. This unique non-clinical position draws on your own lived/living experience of supporting and caring for someone through mental health challenges and recovery.

In this role, you will provide empathetic, hope-inspiring peer support to carers, family members, and supporters of individuals engaged with our Mental Health and Wellbeing Service. You will form meaningful peer relationships, share your experiences appropriately and purposefully, assist with service navigation, and advocate for the needs of families and carers.

As a valued member of our multidisciplinary teams, you will contribute your lived expertise to service development, carer engagement activities, intake processes, case reviews, group programs and system improvement initiatives. You will also collaborate closely with the Lived/Living Experience Workforce, community teams, inpatient units, and the Senior Family–Carer Lived Experience Worker, who provides ongoing supervision, mentoring and support.

This role is a key part of LRH’s commitment to implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System and strengthening the role of carers in mental health care.

Key Responsibilities

As a Carer Lived Experience Worker, you will:

• Build positive and supportive connections with carers and families using your lived experience.
• Provide peer support for up to 28 days while the consumer is engaged with LRH Mental Health Services.
• Inspire hope, optimism, and empowerment through workshops, groups, and one-to-one support.
• Participate in initial engagements with families and carers, and support them to self-advocate.
• Assist families and carers with navigating and understanding mental health services.
• Share strategies, information and resources and provide links to community supports.
• Promote the needs and perspectives of families and carers to enhance recovery-oriented service delivery.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and other Lived Experience workers to co-design programs and activities.
• In-reach into inpatient units to support families and carers through periods of transition.
• Document interactions in line with LRH policies and procedures.

Working Together | We will respond to challenges together to create a safe, quality health service

You are someone who brings:

Essential

• Lived experience of supporting and caring for someone through mental health challenges, service use and recovery.
• A strong belief in hope and recovery for consumers and carers.
• Understanding of the issues faced by families and carers when accessing mental health support.
• Willingness to share your lived experience appropriately to support others.
• Ability to articulate the principles of Lived Experience/Peer Work.
• Commitment to the meaningful inclusion of Carer Lived Experience Workforces in clinical settings.
• Highly developed communication, interpersonal and collaborative skills.
• Ability to manage time effectively, balance competing needs and maintain accurate records.
• Confidence in using Microsoft Office applications.

Desirable

• At least 6 months’ experience supporting carers or consumers in a service setting.
• Experience in facilitating groups or activities.
• Creativity in developing peer-led programs.
• Understanding of supervision, reflective practice, and self-care strategies.
• Ability to plan, deliver and evaluate lived experience-led activities.

You will bring:

• Current, unrestricted driver’s licence.
• National Police and current Working with Children Check.
• Completion or willingness to complete Intentional Peer Support training, a Certificate IV in Peer Work or Mental Health, or other relevant peer training.

Latrobe Regional Health offers a range of benefits including:

• Salary packaging up to $9,000 per annum.
• Meals/Entertainment benefit up to $2,650 per annum.
• Encouragement for professional development and ongoing education.
• A range of social club activities, discounts and diverse workplace activities.
• Free access to our Staff Wellbeing Centre offering health education and wellbeing
• Access to discounted gym membership and fitness services through Fitness Passport Services.

Interested about this exciting opportunity, but want more information? We encourage you to contact Kelly Burrough, Team Manager - Bairnsdale Recovery, Bairnsdale CMHS via email: Kelly.Burroughs@lrh.com.au or Sarah Davis-Gilmore, LLE Family-Carer Lead & Consultant, via email: sarah.davis-gilmore@lrh.com.au for a confidential discussion.

Please click here for a copy of the Position Description

About us

Located in the picturesque region of Gippsland, Latrobe Regional Health (LRH) offers the perfect balance between career and lifestyle. Enjoy easy access to Melbourne, stunning beaches, majestic mountains, and serene lakes. With flexible working hours, you can make the most of what Gippsland has to offer.

LRH cares for a population of about 300,000 and is the regional provider of specialist services. Our catchment covers 42,000 square kilometres, from Phillip Island to Mallacoota in the far east of Victoria. LRH offers cardiac care, surgery, medical, renal, emergency care, aged care, women's and children's services, pharmacy, allied health and rehabilitation. Medical and radiation oncology are offered by the Gippsland Cancer Care Centre.

Now is an exciting time to join the LRH team, with the $223.5 million expansion completed in March 2024, offering improved maternity and paediatric facilities, larger intensive care unit, increased medical and surgical beds and additional operating theatres.

Diversity and inclusion

We embrace workforce diversity and actively encourage applications from across our community including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with linguistically diverse backgrounds, people of all genders and gender identities and people with disabilities. LRH's Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officer is available to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent applicants and can be contacted via email: AboriginalHealthUnit@lrh.com.au 

How to apply

Join us in our mission to provide exceptional healthcare services to our community. Apply today and make a difference in the lives of our patients and their families. Please click the APPLY button to be directed to our Careers page for direct application. Applications should include a cover letter addressing the Key Selection Criteria and current resume.

Applications close: 28 December 2025

Explore all the great things happening at LRH by visiting our Careers and Training page of our website www.lrh.com.au/Careers-and-Training/ and take the next step in your career journey.

Before commencement, the successful applicant will

Provide evidence of an original and valid National Police Record Check, an employee Working with Children Check, and a current season influenza vaccine (if applicable to work area), unless a valid medical exemption applies.