Peer Worker - Suicide Prevention Outreach Team (Spot) - Queanbeyan

Employment Type: Permanent Full Time
Location: Queanbeyan
Position Classification: Health Education Officer, Grad or Non Grad
Remuneration: Depends on qualifications
Non Grad: $56,871 - $83,802 pa
Grad: $65,548 - $97,045 pa
Hours Per Week: 38
Requisition ID: REQ324876
Applications Close: 2 January 2023
Interview Details: Interviews to be held within 21 days of closing date

Southern NSW Local Health District covers a large area of the Southern half of NSW. Surrounding the ACT on three sides and all the way down to the Victorian border, it extends from the pristine beaches of the NSW South Coast, the farmlands of the Southern Tablelands, across the picturesque Great Dividing Range and the spectacular Snowy Mountains. We have 18 facilities and our hospitals take care of more than 200,000 people. As we are a major local employer, our staff are a part of our local communities. To find out more on what it is like to live and work in Southern NSW LHD click here:

What we offer:

• Flexible work arrangements
• Visa sponsorship for select roles
• Salary Packaging – up to $9k for living expenses + $2.6k meal & entertainment + Novated leasing
• Corporate Health and Fitness program
• 10.5% Superannuation on top of your gross income
• Annual Leave Loading

Where you'll be working
There is an abundance of lifestyle benefits available to you in country NSW and you will be amazed at what you will have access to - and it all comes without the queues and crowds of a big city. Queanbeyan has enviable lifestyle and affordable property surrounded by an eclectic mix of small towns and villages. Canberra is just a 5-minute drive away, you can enjoy all the attractions of the nation’s capital along with fabulous restaurants. Connect easily and quickly with the world through the Canberra International Airport, with the beach and ski fields just 2 hours away.

What you'll be doing
For many people experiencing a suicidal crisis, emergency departments are often not ideal locations for people who are in psychological distress so the SPOT will provide assertive mobile outreach where people live their lives and feel more comfortable. You will use your personal lived experience of suicidal crisis or caring for someone experiencing suicidal crisis to provide appropriate responsive care working with other professionals to support and link people with appropriate services.

Selection Criteria * Minimum Qualification Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work (consumer or carer), including completion of CHCCCS003: Increase the safety of individuals at risk of suicide or willingness to complete it within 18 months of commencing and willingness to complete other essential Towards Zero Suicide training modules as soon as practical.

• Personal lived experience of a suicidal crisis, mental distress and recovery, and ability to meaningfully and purposefully use lived experience to provide peer support to people at risk of suicide.
• Good communication skills with the ability to communicate empathically and supportively with mental health service consumers, effectively with mental health service providers and other services; and demonstrated effective negotiation, time management, and written and verbal communication skills through varied platforms (email, virtual/telehealth, medical records).
• Understanding of the suicide prevention sector and ability to utilise appropriate suicide prevention supports such as safety planning, managing risk (including promoting dignity of risk).
• Understanding of the nature of mental health service delivery, including knowledge of State and national policies and directions for mental health services; in particular, the Towards Zero Suicide initiatives. Demonstrated experience using recovery-oriented and trauma-informed principles in providing support to consumers.
• Experience in working collaboratively with individuals and groups including consumers, carers, the multidisciplinary team and other stakeholders. An ability to provide "tailored" assertive support and care to consumers consenting to peer support in the community.
• Experience working in community outreach and/or providing community support in people’s home environments and/or drop in centres.
• Evidence of a current unrestricted drivers’ licence and the ability to maintain. Ability and willingness to drive/travel as the role requires. This may involve driving long distances and overnight stays.

Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination against Specific Diseases
This is a Category ‘A’ position, please read and understand NSW Health policy directive .
All new employees must agree to comply with the requirements outlined in this policy. OASV requirements also include proof of vaccination against influenza and is compulsory for NSW Staff that enter any Residential Aged Care Facility (RACF) or who work in NSW Health owned and operated RACFs.

All NSW Health workers Category 'A' are required to have received at least three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. You will be required to provide a record of your COVID-19 vaccination status if successful.

Australian Work Rights
Please note that to apply for this position you must be an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident of Australia, or be able to independently and legally live and work in Australia by way of your own Temporary Visa. For more information, please see

Need more information?
1) Click here for the
2) Find out more about for this position
For role related queries or questions contact Kira Van Klink on Kira.VanKlink@health.nsw.gov.au, or phone: 02 6455 3307.