Mind Australia’s Lived Experience Career Compass makes it easier for people who have experienced mental health challenges, personally or as a family member or carer, to enter and build a career in the Lived and Living Experience Workforce.
It also supports the organisations employing students and graduates in lived and living experience roles.
Three early career programs are now available, funded by the Victorian Government.
Peer Cadet Program Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work students receive paid work experience at non-government community mental health services in part-time Lived and Living Experience roles. Cadets receive training, discipline-specific supervision and reflective practice as part of their placement. Host organisations include Mind Australia, Neami National, Each, Uniting Victoria Tasmania, cohealth, Wellways, Ballarat Community Health, Eating Disorders Victoria and ermha365.
Local Mental Health and Wellbeing Services Early Careers Program Full-time positions are available for Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work graduates at Victoria’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Local services. This program fosters skill development for new lived and living experience workers.
Pilot Student Placement Program – Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work There are now more placement opportunities for Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work students, enabling more people to graduate and start their career in the Lived and Living Experience Workforce. Students can access placements with the support of the Registered Training Organisation (RTO) they are studying with.
Lived Experience Career Compass will offer early career workers exciting opportunities to work in multidisciplinary teams in the lived experience workforce and be part of mental health reform in Victoria. This program is for mental health lived and living experience (consumers or family/carers). It is not designed for Alcohol and Other Drug or harm reduction roles.
Hosted by Mind, Lived Experience Career Compass is the central point of contact and support for program participants and for the organisations that employ them. Mind is a sector leader in building, supporting and delivering a lived experience-led workforce.
Mind will provide a range of capability building supports for organisations and students/graduates including:
- Strong relationships with program leads
- Support developing information sessions for prospective participants/students
- Support for program leads, peer mentors and participants/students
- Support building communities of practice.
Mind’s Lived Experience Workforce Manager Daisy Gleason said the initiative is a great opportunity to enhance the lived experience workforce in Victoria.
“It is very exciting that Mind has been entrusted to provide this coordination and support. I am looking forward to us sharing our experience and knowledge with the nine NGOs involved,” she said.
Mind CEO Gill Callister said supporting students and graduates in their early career pathways in the lived and living experience workforce was a positive step towards mental health reform.
“Mind commends the Victoria Government for making these early career opportunities available for people who want to harness their own lived experience to help others.”
“We see in so many of our services at Mind the unique impact people with lived experience can have supporting people to manage their mental health challenges. Whether they have their own experience of mental health challenges, or as a carer or family member, people with lived experience are the future of a more humane and person-centred mental health system.”
Individuals and organisations seeking more information about Lived Experience Career Compass support can email: [email protected]
Find out more about Mind’s Lived Experience Strategy (PDF 1.95 MB)