Ask us anything about Peer Support Work

Most definitely @Oaktree - and, it’s so rewarding too! If anything, it has helped me become more stable.

@Oaktree , love to see you more involved here and my co community guide

Lovely @Oaktree, I was only thinking the other day what a wonderful community guide you'd make! So, I just wanted to pop in and encourage you to go for it when the opportunity come up again 😊

Thank you @TideisTurning

What a sweet thing to say.

I will definitely apply when it comes up.

Meggle

@Boppa Here is some info on Peer Support Work that may help answer some of your questions 😀

I am looking to study before I sell my business as I would like to work in the mental health space. My business is a home care business and we provide non medical care to older people wanting to stay at home rather than go into residential care.

Although I have been in business for 13+ years I have no formal qualifications.

I have lived with CPTSD for decades.

I was looking at the Diploma in Mental Health as it seems to take the same amount of time as a Cert IV course and cost a similar amount. Without the peer support elements in this course I am wondering if I would still be able to do peer support roles?

@hanami that is def something I can see me wanting to work in but finding getting started in peer work especially in my area really hard to break into even though I have lots of lived experience in various areas and hold a number of qualifications, its still an uphill battle, even with carer experience, and having worked in nsw health previously for 14 years.

Any entry level positions are swamped with people with degrees and lots of experience going for entry level jobs in those advertised in the govt health sector.

All the feedback I have gotten was I would be a perfect candidate and can answer all the selection criteria there are just so many people applying for roles in my area.

So trying to keep my spirits up and to keep plugging away

great question @wellwellwellnez .

I worked voluntarily at a mental health centre in my country town, not as a peer support worker but i did many things, cooking, teaching art .i have been interested in peer support on a non, professional basis. I have not found a peer support course which is totally online and free. Also I have felt that I am not well enough to be a support to other people my own mental health is up and down. Recently I got angry at a member of our centre and felt very ashamed and guilty, I was not given a fair opportunity to have support on this occasion and was asked to leave and never come back. How do you handle your own mental health when other people rely on your support. Do you have feelings of being an impostor and unworthyness.