Consumer Lived Experience Support Worker (AOD)

About the role

Mercy Health is recruiting a Consumer Lived Experience Support Worker (AOD) to support people with co-occurring mental illness and substance use. The position was created for people who have direct experience of mental health and alcohol and other drug services as care recipients. It is a permanent role of 38 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 8:00-16:30, across Mercy sites including Werribee Mercy Hospital, Wyndham Clinic and Williams Landing.

Key responsibilities

• Work with the multidisciplinary team, consumers and their families or carers to facilitate support, learning and practical assistance toward recovery goals.
• Bring a lived experience perspective to the AOD specialist team at MMH&WS.
• Advise clinicians on how to work with people with co-occurring mental illness and substance use.
• Contribute to professional development and capacity building so the service delivers integrated treatment, care and support.

Required profile

• Resilient, compassionate and committed to patient-centred care.
• Extensive experience of mental health and alcohol and other drug challenges and recovery.
• Ability to share lived experience appropriately, supporting consumers to build understanding, hope and resilience in line with peer support principles.
• Good knowledge of the diverse issues and perspectives of people experiencing mental ill health.
• Trauma-informed understanding of alcohol and other drug use.
• Desirable: extensive experience as a lived experience worker, as a consumer of mental health or AOD services, and a full unrestricted Victorian driver's licence.

Required skills

• Certificate IV in Mental Health (Peer Work) or training/experience in the Intentional Peer Support framework, or willingness to work towards it.
• Desirable: Cert IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs or relevant qualification.
• Must obtain a current Police Record Check and Working with Children Check, and meet current COVID-19 and influenza vaccination requirements.

To apply, upload a resume, cover letter and qualifications through the online application.