A couple of years ago, the Mental Health Coalition of SA (MHCSA) held consultations with non-Government mental health organisations (NGOs) in SA to learn about the challenges they were experiencing in recruiting effective, work-ready Peer workers. Through a targeted project, LEWP was able to explore these in more detail with our sector, people studying to become Peer workers, people seeking Peer work employment and people already working in NGO Peer work roles. We approached the Department for Innovation and Skills (DIS) with an idea for a project that would address these challenges by building quality pathways to Peer work study and NGO employment from a number of entry points.

At the same time, Centacare Catholic Family Services’ Registered Training Organisation (RTO) was holding their own discussions with DIS, about ways to address the barriers Centacare was experiencing first-hand to the recruitment of effective, work-ready mental health support workers. 

Realising the correlation of our issues, ideas and our position as mental health NGO peak, DIS (now Skills SA) brought the MHCSA and Centacare together. We quickly recognised the opportunity for a strategic project that while primarily aimed at supporting the NGO sector, could have benefits more broadly in expanding the Peer workforce as per state and national plans. And thus, the Pathways to Peer Work Project was born. 

The MHCSA’s Lived Experience Workforce Program (LEWP) has been working with Centacare’s Registered Training Organisation as project partner. This has allowed us to connect with, listen to and learn from students and NGOs, then test co-designed innovations that contribute to building pathways into Peer work study and employment.

One great example is our Tri-partisan Support Model as a component of quality delivery of the Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work. The model requires a high level of collaboration between the RTO and LEWP to provide wrap-around support to the student and their employing NGO/work placement provider, ensuring effective transfer of learning to practice, building shared understanding of Peer work best practice and of the support mechanisms required in order for the role to operate with integrity and effectively, and to thrive and grow. The project team is building evidence for this model to become a sustainable, fundamental aspect of the Peer work qualification through any RTO that delivers within SA.

Through our support of students, it has become evident to LEWP that they value a high-quality work placement experience in preparing them for the realities of Peer work and of being an employee. This is especially important to students who are not yet working in Lived Experience/Peer work roles and those who work in organisations that do not have a Lived Experience workforce. As well as exposure to Peer work in action, students are able to observe people’s Lived Experience skill set at work: the application of learning from personal or carer/family experiences to practice, and self-management skills to support work/life balance and wellbeing in order to fulfill the obligations of the role and being an employee.

There are also enormous benefits to NGOs who host work placement, as the team from Centacare’s RTO point out:

“Work placement is an integral part of student learning. It is both a requirement of the qualification and an opportunity for our learners to put theory into practice, gain confidence and experience in a real-life workplace setting. The benefits of hosting work placement for students of the CHC43515 Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work are twofold.  It supports us all to produce capable, confident and work-ready peer work graduates as well as supports your organisation to upskill your employees regarding emerging peer work best practice standards. 

Further to this, host employers will be supported by Centacare before and during the work placement, to ensure the best possible outcomes for both the host organisation and learner. It is an opportunity to network and partner with Centacare as well as numerous other stakeholders who are the leaders in the mental health sector.  It will support your organisation to raise the quality of those coming into your industry in a peer work role, and most importantly your team may benefit from learner input: new learnings, fresh ideas and enthusiasm.”

In addition to this, taking on a work placement student can provide NGOs with an opportunity to recruit mental health workers who are undertaking/nearing completion of the qualification and prepare them for a Peer work role upon successful completion. This can simplify the recruitment process for NGOs, while giving students a sense of security, motivation to successfully complete what is a very comprehensive and challenging course, opportunity to connect with experienced Peer workers, access to practice support and the potential to earn an income at the same time as studying. Under the current Pathways to Peer Work Project arrangement, the Tri-partisan Model which includes LEWP’s regular learning-to-practice support sessions for students, can support both the organisation and the worker as they settle into their new role. It’s a great way for organisations to build their quality Peer workforce!

Centacare’s RTO would love to hear from NGOs who would like to know more about hosting work placement and discuss the benefits in greater detail. To arrange a time to chat contact Lana Dulic, Team Leader – Centacare RTO at ldulic@centacare.org.au

LEWP also offers the following to NGOs, people in Lived Experience/Peer work roles and people thinking about Peer work as a career option:

  • A free, 6 weekly online Community of  Practice for people who line manage and lead people in designated Lived Experience roles
  • A 2-day fee-for-service training program for people who line manage and lead people in designated Lived Experience roles
  • Support to implement the LEWP Mental Health Lived Experience Workforce Standards and Guidelines (organisational self-assessment; a great tool for implementing the National Lived Experience (Peer) Workforce Development Guidelines)
  • 6 weekly online practice support for all people in designated Lived Experience roles in the NGO mental health sector – currently being co-designed by NGO Lived Experience workers
  • Fee-for-service external Peer practice Supervision (group and individual)
  • Free 4-day Orientation to Mental Health Peer Work Program for people to safely explore Peer work as a career and to self-determine their readiness for the study and employment

Contact Senior Project Officer, Lizzie Graham for more information about the work of LEWP and our Pathways to Peer Work lizzie.graham@mhcsa.org.au

Belinda Brown

Program Manager, Lived Experience Workforce Program (LEWP)

Image: Learning by Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0Pix4free