Family Peer Specialist - headspace Early Psychosis

Alfred Health

Alfred Health is a leader in health care delivery, improvement, research and education. We are the main provider of health services to people living in the inner southeast suburbs of Melbourne, from ambulatory to inpatient and home and community-based services.

• Permanent, Part-time (45.6 hours per fortnight)
• Salary Range: $41k - $43k
• Lived experience as a carer of a young person with mental health challenges is essential
• Great Staff Benefits!
• Based in Bentleigh with some travel required between locations

The Department

headspace Early Psychosis, established in 2011, is an accessible youth and family friendly mental health service for young people (12-25) struggling with hearing voices and unusual beliefs. It builds on individual strengths and resilience, uses the wisdom of lived experience and fosters hope, potential and recovery. headspace Early Psychosis operates in five headspace centres across the Southern Metropolitan Region of Melbourne. Four regional Community Care Teams (CCTs) are based in Bentleigh, Frankston, Dandenong and Narre Warren. The service also includes a Mobile Assessment and Treatment Team (MATT) and a centre-based Recovery Program (RC) to serve the whole of the Southern Metropolitan region.

Alfred Mental & Addiction Health Program (AMAH) incorporates Infant, Child and Youth Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Service and headspace in the South-East region.

Family Peer Support

The Family / Carer Peer Specialist program works in conjunction with our clinical teams to provide support to family members or other carers in the network of the young person. Family members and friends often provide the main safety net and support system for a young person. Evidence shows that when family and friends are involved with services, outcomes for young people improve.

The aim of Family Peer Support is to:

• minimise the impact of complex mental health issues on family and significant others of young people within the service;
• and support the engagement of families and significant others with the service in order to enhance the process of recovery for young people experiencing complex mental health issues.

The Role

The role involves the provision of peer support and information to families and significant others independently of, or in conjunction with, the broader family services provided by the Mobile Assessment and Treatment Team (MATT) and Family Worker. The Family Peer Specialist will be part of a supportive interdisciplinary team, reporting to the Manager Family / Carer Lived Experience Program - ICYAMHWS/headspace. Please access the Position Description for more information or contact us to ask questions.

The Family Peer Specialist offers support, either face to face or over the telephone, to families of young people aged 12-25 years attending the headspace service and who are experiencing a first episode of psychosis. They have a lived experience of caring and supporting a young person who has experienced a first episode of psychosis. The Family Peer Specialist is not a clinician, but receives training and ongoing supervision from lived experience senior clinicians within the headspace service. They are expected to function autonomously as well as work collaboratively with other Family Peer Support Workers and clinicians within the program and to assist in the development of services for families, which are consistent with best practice standards and evidence-based care, and are in line with the strategic direction and vision for the headspace service.

Experience and Skills Required

We are looking for someone with Lived experience as a carer, family member, kin or supporter of a young person with complex mental health issues (essential), ideally someone who has journeyed alongside a young person with psychosis. 

Along with the essential lived experience as a carer, you have an interest to support others who are supporting their young people. Any experience in a prior direct family/carer lived experience role will be an advantage.

We are looking for someone who loves multi-tasking and is skilled at time management.

You'll also have to complete/provide evidence of a valid Victorian Working with Children Check, current Victorian Driver's Licence, be willing to undergo a background police check, be fully vaccinated and you'll require Australian working rights. 

Staff Benefits

• Salary Packaging & Novated Leasing through Maxxia.
• Flexible Heath Insurance coverage through HCF Health Insurance
• Access to discounted gym membership for gyms across Melbourne via Fitness Passport
• Frequent professional development opportunities and regular professional supervision
• Located close to public transport and cafes

If applicable, please specify specific requirements that you require in your cover letter or CV.

Any queries, please contact Wendy McCulloch (Manager Family/Carer Peer Program) on ph: 0439 196 093 or via email: we.mcculloch@alfred.org.au 

Applications Close: 11pm AEST, Sunday 27 July 2025

Alfred Health is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce that reflects the community we serve.  Applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are encouraged.

In accordance with the Health Services Amendment (Mandatory Vaccination of Healthcare Workers) Act 2020, health care workers in Category A or B roles (as determined by the department’s risk ratings) are required to be vaccinated against influenza or hold an acceptable medical exemption. 

Website: www.alfredhealth.org.au