Community Peer Advisor EX MILITARY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY | OPEN ARMS | Sydney

ACM Healthcare is working on behalf of a commonwealth government agency to source 2 X Community & Peer Advisors. 

Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling (Open Arms) is Australia’s leading provider of high-quality mental health assessment, clinical counseling and wellbeing services for Australian veterans and their families. We support over 35,000 members of the veteran and ex-service community and their families annually.

WHAT THE ROLE INVOLVES

Open Arms is expanding its national Community and Peer Program through piloting an expanded Peer Support model proposed to enhance access to mental health care for Special Forces veterans and their families.  

The role of Community and Peer Advisor requires someone with lived experience of mental health issues, including recovery, and of Australian Defence Force (ADF) service, either as an ex-ADF member within Special Forces or as the partner/carer of a current or ex-ADF member who served in the Special Forces (spouse, ex-partner or widow/widower).

In delivering this role, you will be out-posted to work in partnership with Special Forces specific Ex-Service Organisations to provide direct support to members of the Special Forces communities.

WHAT YOU WILL GAIN FROM THIS ROLE

• An opportunity to work collaboratively as part of a multi-disciplinary and cross-service team dedicated to improving the mental health, wellbeing, and outcomes of veterans and families.
• A chance to develop your career in mental health service delivery.
• An opportunity to work in a highly supportive environment with regular professional supervision and generous professional development opportunities.
• Contribute your knowledge, learnings, and lived experiences of service to support others who have served and to build cultural awareness both within Open Arms and across the community.
• Flexible work arrangements.
• Work in an interesting, variable and purposeful role.

The role of Community and Peer Advisor will provide you with an opportunity to use your own lived experience to connect with Open Arms colleagues, external stakeholders, and the community. As a Community and Peer Advisor, you will connect with clients through your shared lived experience to promote hope, offer a positive model of recovery, de-stigmatize mental health issues, build help-seeking behaviors, and act as a trusted bridge to clinical care.  

DUTIES

Provide personalized mental health peer support services; connecting through shared lived experience to promote hope and reduce self-stigma.

Walk alongside veterans and their families to increase their connectedness and belonging, assisting them to connect with activities that promote meaning and purpose and equipping them with skills and tools that build wellbeing.

Participate in and contribute to the workforce and organizational development activities, including through engaging in training, regular supervision, and case review meetings, and through collaborating with colleagues in relevant Communities of Practice.

Establish strong relationships and effective work management practices as a member of the Regional Community Engagement Team whilst delivering services through out-posting to the Special Forces specific Ex-Service Organisation.

Share knowledge, insight, and skills gained through one’s relevant lived experience with internal and external stakeholders to increase military cultural competency and inform service improvement activities.

Work in collaboration with other Open Arms service providers including in support of care coordination and, where appropriate provide lived experience advice and peer support services in co-facilitation support of Open Arms mental health literacy workshops and group treatment programs.

As a member of the regional Community Engagement Team, engage strategically with both veteran-specific and community services, organizations, and networks to break down barriers to care, increasing awareness and visibility of Open Arms services and working to improve access for veterans and current serving members and families across the Special Forces communities.

Share relevant lived experiences and role model behaviors to promote mental health recovery and wellness for the purpose of client, community, and stakeholder education and to encourage earlier engagement with care.

Support participative workplace practices in line with policies of WHS, Workplace Diversity and the Australian Public Service Values, Employment Principles, and the APS Code of Conduct.

MANDATORY SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Lived experience of mental health issues and ADF service, as either an ex-ADF member or partner/carer of a current serving or ex-ADF member (spouse, ex-partner or widow/widower).
• Willingness to undertake relevant training and professional development, including completion of certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work
• Working with Children (WWC) and/or Vulnerable People Checks/Clearance must be obtained prior to commencing in the position.

HIGHLY DESIRABLE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Experience supporting veterans and/or their family members and promoting recovery orientated behaviors
• Experience in casework or other human services delivery