Carer Lived Experience Worker - AOD Hub

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

Are you seeking a rewarding and diverse Lived Experience Worker - Consumer role in a leading regional hospital? Join the Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drugs (MHAOD) Hub 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 Lived Experience Worker to join our growing team on an ongoing part-time basis.

About the Role

Latrobe Regional Health (LRH) is seeking a Lived Experience Worker – Consumer to join our Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drugs (MHAOD) Hub. This is a meaningful opportunity to work within a transformative model embedded in the Emergency Department, supporting individuals during crisis presentation and through the critical transition back into the community.

This non-clinical role is central to implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System and strengthening peer-led, recovery-oriented practice across our service.

As a Lived Experience Worker – Consumer, you will provide emotional and practical peer support to

individuals presenting with mental health and/or alcohol and other drug (AOD) challenges, including co-occurring concerns.

Drawing on your own lived and living experience of recovery and service use, you will:

• Purposefully share your lived experience to build connection, trust and hope
• Provide emotional support and validation during presentations to the Emergency Department and MHAOD Hub
• Advocate for consumers’ rights and perspectives within the multidisciplinary team
• Support consumers to self-advocate and actively participate in discharge planning
• Assist individuals to identify personal recovery and wellbeing goals
• Provide outreach support for up to 28 days post-discharge
• Help consumers navigate mental health and AOD systems and link with community services
• Accompany individuals to appointments where advocacy support is required
• Collaborate with the Psychiatric Emergency Care Team (PECT), Emergency Department staff and the broader multidisciplinary team

You will also contribute to documentation, reporting, team meetings, supervision and reflective practice in line with National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards and recovery-oriented frameworks.

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

About you

You are someone who:

• Has personal lived experience of mental health and substance use challenges and recovery
• Understands the value of peer support, hope, empowerment and power-sharing
• Can use your lived experience safely, intentionally and therapeutically
• Demonstrates empathy, integrity, maturity and strong self-awareness
• Is committed to human rights and recovery-oriented frameworks
• Can build respectful, inclusive and non-judgemental relationships
• Practices self-care and values supervision and reflective practice
• Has strong communication and organisational skills
• Holds a current driver’s licence

Desirable:

• Certificate IV in Peer Work or Intentional Peer Support (IPS) training (or willingness to obtain)
• Established peer networks within mental health and/or AOD sectors
• Experience in group facilitation, advocacy or community support roles

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 Teagan Evans, Acting PECT NUM via email: Teagan.Evans@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: 31 May 2026

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.