Peer Worker (Trans Mental Health and Wellbeing)

 We're on the lookout for someone to join the Community Care team and play a vital role in our Trans Mental Health and Wellbeing program. This position is funded to support the mental health and wellbeing of trans and gender diverse people. Ok, so what’s the role? The Peer Worker (Trans Mental Health and Wellbeing) uses lived experience to guide the provision of peer navigation, peer support, mentoring and advocacy to trans community members. The position sits within and works closely with the broader ACON Client Services team to deliver trauma-informed, wholistic person-centred support to clients. You will be required to use your experience openly, appropriately and effectively to build professional relationships with the people you support. You will be providing support to people living throughout NSW face-to-face in the ACON office and via telehealth. Due to the nature of the role, you will be supporting individuals that are experiencing mental ill health, distress, suicidal ideation or suicidal crisis. You will: Ø   Provide peer navigation, peer support, mentoring and advocacy to trans and gender diverse people, including people who are questioning their gender, and trans people who are experiencing mental ill health, present in distress or are experiencing a suicidal crisis. Ø   Use a strengths-based and person-led approach to help clients navigate to gender affirming care and support, and if required to support them to meet their recovery journey goals. Ø   Support clients to strengthen their self-management skills through self-directed and shared learning experiences. Ø   Work collaboratively with the broader clinical, non-clinical and health promotion teams within ACON to ensure that the broad psycho-social support needs of clients are being met. Ø   Maintain timely client records by documenting work with clients in ACON’s electronic client record management system. Ø   Collect required client data to enable reporting to funders and service evaluation, including demographics, client outcome and client experience data. Ø   Conduct outreach support (as required) following ACON policies and procedures – this could include attending appointments or conducting home visits with clients to provide advocacy and support. Who are we looking for?: Ø   Someone with the ability to reflect thoughtfully upon one’s personal lived experience of being trans or gender diverse, and an understanding of which elements may be common to other trans people, with the intention of providing peer navigation and peer support. Ø   A person with lived experience of, and recovery from, psychological distress, mental ill health, and a willingness to share your story purposefully to support the mental health of others. Ø   Someone with at least 6-months' work in a peer position or volunteering with LGBTQ+ community members. Ø   A person with a strong commitment to, and understanding of, trauma-informed recovery-based practice. Ø   Someone who works independently and collaboratively in a team, reporting regularly to be supported. Ø   A person with well-developed communication skills and demonstrated experience using MS Office. Ø   Someone with proof of CoVid-19 Vaccination, in addition to other vaccination required to perform the role.

Details

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Essential Criteria

Essential: 1.              Ability to reflect thoughtfully upon one’s personal lived experience of being trans or gender diverse, and an understanding of which elements may be common to other trans people, with the intention of providing peer navigation and peer support. 2.              Personal lived experience of, and recovery from, psychological distress, mental ill health, and a willingness to share your story purposefully to support the mental health of others. 3.              At least 6-months experience working in a peer position or volunteering with LGBTQ+ community members. 4.              A strong commitment to, and good understanding of, trauma-informed recovery-based practice. 5.              Work independently and collaboratively as part of a team, reporting back regularly so progress can be supported. 6.              Well-developed verbal and written communication skills and demonstrated experience using Microsoft Office. 7.              Evidence of CoVid-19 Vaccination, in addition to any other vaccination required to perform the role.

Desirable Criteria

Desirable: 1.              Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work/equivalent qualification. 2.              Experience working collaboratively with allied health professionals. 3.              Knowledge of mental health services and other community services in NSW.

Other Information

What else can we tell you? ACON provides a colourful, nurturing, and fun workplace. Our employees and volunteers are the foundation for our ongoing effectiveness and for our capacity to deliver innovative community engagement and health promotion programs and initiatives for our communities. To support the successful candidate in their new role at ACON we offer: *   Flexible working arrangements. *   Generous learning and development opportunities. *   Potential for tailored mentoring opportunities. *   Supportive working environment with a knowledgeable and friendly team. We provide a flexible and supportive work environment as part of the Client Services Unit within the Community Health Division. A highly focused team responsible for delivering trauma-informed, wholistic person-centred support to clients. The ‘Nuts & Bolts’: Salary:            $69,924 to $72,891 (Gross FTE per-annum, PLUS Superannuation and Leave Loading) – commensurate with skills, qualifications, and experience [$41,954 to $43,734 for 3 days per week]. Location:       ACON’s Gadigal / Sydney Office, with flexible working options a possibility (away from the office). Hours:            Part-Time (42 hours / fortnight) on a one-year fixed term contract (with a possibility of extension). We offer flexible working arrangements and a generous array of entitlements often above the National Employment Standards (NES) including: *   Salary Packaging up to $35,000 gross up value (i.e., currently up to $15,900 Expenses + $2,650 Meals, tax free). *   Generous pro-rata leave entitlements – including up to an extra week of paid leave for full time employees to be taken during our Christmas and New Year’s shutdown period. *   Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – access to a comprehensive counselling service free to employees.

How to Apply

Still reading?: If this sounds like you, we invite you to apply to join our team and help us make a meaningful impact on the lives of those we serve. By joining us, you will be part of a mission to create a healthier and more inclusive community. We’d love someone who has experience already in this area but people at all levels of experience are absolutely welcome to apply. We highly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from CALD backgrounds, people with disabilities, and people of all genders to apply. For more information on the role, please contact Chloe Wilson, Peer Work Team Leader at cwilson@acon.org.au or (02) 49627700 or Louise Dunne, Acting Regional Operations Manager at ldunne@acon.org.au If this sounds like the position and organisation you’ve been looking for, find out how to apply at www.acon.org.au/jobs. All applications must include: 1.              Your completed ACON Employment Application Form – with all the details filled in where requested; 2.              Your Cover Letter outlining how you meet the Selection Criteria; and 3.              Your Resume.

ACON Health Limited

ACON is Australia’s largest health promotion organisation specialising in community health, inclusion, and HIV responses for people of diverse sexualities and genders. Established in 1985, ACON works to create opportunities for people in our communities to live their healthiest lives. We are grounded in the belief that diversity is our strength, our differentiator, and at the core of who we are and what we do. As part of our commitment to inclusion, we encourage applications from people living with HIV, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and LGBTQ people from culturally, linguistically and ethnically diverse, migrant and refugee backgrounds, and LGBTQ people of colour. www.acon.org.au