Connect with people who understand what you are going through, seek advice and surround yourself with support. We're free, anonymous, and professionally moderated 24/7.
OaktreeSenior Contributor
@tyme @MJG017 @ArraDreaming @Rockdog @Shaz51
Please tag any others I have missed Shaz.
This thread is following on from a Sunday Hangout chat tonight on which we discovered that we were all pretty interested in the possibility of becoming peer support workers. Please leave any advice, interesting articles or resources here.
@tyme gave out this link to help find applicable jobs
In response to: So you want to be a Peer Support Worker?
OaktreeSenior Contributor
@tyme
So I clicked on Jora and typed in Lived experience mental health and searched in my state. Up popped an add for fee free cert 4 in mental health. I downloaded the brochure. Definitely a good place to start because it won’t cost me anything
In response to: So you want to be a Peer Support Worker?
tymeModerator
Thanks @Oaktree 🙂
So with jora, I put in key words about what I'm interested in and they send me jobs every night related to the key words I've chosen e.g. mental health, peer work, lived experience, counselling
Just to be clear, I'm not looking for another job, but I like to know what's out there and the direction mental health vacancies are heading.
This includes both government and non-government jobs. I tend to look Australia wide, but you can filter it to just the state you live in.
You can also look for scholarship opportunities
@MJG017 @Shaz51 @Glisten @Rockdog @Ainjoule @ArraDreaming @Oaktree .
In response to: Re: So you want to be a Peer Support Worker?
OaktreeSenior Contributor
@tyme
Cert 4 in Mental Health requirements
plus 80 hours practical placement
In response to: Re: So you want to be a Peer Support Worker?
tymeModerator
Cool! Yes, look into it. If it is a private organisation, have a read of any reviews to make sure they don't give you grief later @Oaktree When I mean grief, there are some people who start a course, but the organisation closes, or they don't return assignments, don't give you a proper transcript etc.
It also needs to be a Registered Training Organisation (RTO)
In response to: Re: So you want to be a Peer Support Worker?
tymeModerator
In the past, we have signed off placement for students who are CGs at SANE. I can't promise we still do this, but if it pops up, I can ask @Oaktree
In response to: Re: So you want to be a Peer Support Worker?
OaktreeSenior Contributor
@tyme
Thanks for the advice, I will check all that.
In response to: Re: So you want to be a Peer Support Worker?
tymeModerator
Totally. I look forward to hearing how it goes. It may also guide others @Oaktree
The course is not too taxing. We can also support each other if you have questions etc.
For my Peer Work course, the placement up to a year prior was counted.
In response to: Re: So you want to be a Peer Support Worker?
OaktreeSenior Contributor
@tyme
They are an RTO and they have a location 15 minutes from me.
In response to: Re: So you want to be a Peer Support Worker?
tymeModerator
Do all the research you can for the organisation 'in case' they are not very good. @Oaktree Once you get one certificate subsidised, you can't get another funded in the future (or not without a lot of effort anyway)
In response to: Re: So you want to be a Peer Support Worker?
GlistenSenior Contributor
I’m not sure @tyme 🤔 I’ve been a social activist most of my life.
But no one has ever suggested that I would be good at type of work.
G
Help us push aside the stigma and discrimination surrounding complex mental health and change the way people talk about, and care for, mental illness.
SANE acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.
SANE values diversity. We are committed to providing a safe, culturally appropriate, and inclusive service for all people, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, disability, sexuality, or gender identity.
Help us push aside the stigma and discrimination surrounding complex mental health and change the way people talk about, and care for, mental illness.
SANE acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.
SANE values diversity. We are committed to providing a safe, culturally appropriate, and inclusive service for all people, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, disability, sexuality, or gender identity.
You’ll soon be able to use one secure login to access all SANE services.
For added security, members are now required to log in with their email address and password - member names are no longer supported for logging in.
If you had a Forums account before 19 May 2026 and haven’t set up your new login yet, you'll be prompted to set up your new secure login when you sign-in.
Fields marked * are required
