Family Peer Support Worker

The Hospital:

The Royal Children’s Hospital’s (RCH) Vision is “A world where all kids thrive”.

RCH is a cornerstone member of the Melbourne Children’s Campus, partnering with Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, The University of Melbourne Department of Paediatrics and The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation.

RCH has cared for the children and young people of Victoria for more than 150 years since it was founded in 1870. A full range of paediatrics and adolescent health services are provided plus tertiary and quaternary care for the most critically ill and medically complex patients in Victoria, Tasmania, southern NSW and other states around Australia and overseas. The Hospital has more than 6,000 staff, a budget of $850M, 12 wards and 350 beds. Annually, the RCH has 300,000+ Specialist Clinic appointments, 90,000+ Emergency Department presentations and 20,000 elective surgeries.

The RCH is committed to the Child Safe Standards. 

RCH enjoys high employee engagement and is committed to staff safety and a positive culture through enactment of our Compact.

For further Information on RCH is available here.

We are seeking 2 Family Peer Support Workers to respecitvely join our Mental Health Department at our St Albans clinic (0.4EFT) or at our Travancore clinic (0.6EFT).

These are part-time ongoing roles; 1 role with our St Albans team (0.4EFT) and 1 role with our Travancore team (0.6EFT). 

The RCH’s Infant, Child and Family Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Service (RCH Mental Health) provides treatment, care and support to infants and children with the greatest support needs in the North and West Metropolitan Area of Melbourne, as well as their families.  As a result of the Final Report from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, the service is currently undergoing an exciting period of transformation that will enable us to help more infants and children and deliver a best practice, person-centred contemporary model of care.At the heart of this transformation is valuing the preferences, insights and expertise of people with a living or lived experience of mental health challenges and recovery, as well as families, carers and supporters who have cared for them.  People with a lived experience will be valued in our service in leadership, strategy and service planning and service delivery roles.

The Role: 

These Family Peer Support Worker roles will be a key part of the transformation at our service. Working as an equal and valued member of a multi-disciplinary team, these workers will provide direct service delivery to families receiving treatment, care and support from one of the three teams that are based out in the community.

The successful applicants will work alongside other members of the team to best support the family including in orientating them to the service, understanding the challenges being experienced and their needs, preferences and strengths, consulting with other people in the infant’s and child’s learning and social environment and working with the family and individual family members on their own wellbeing and future strategies for hope and recovery. 

Family Peer Support Workers will use their own lived experience and professional expertise to share their skills and learning, increase problem solving capabilities and provide emotional support, information and practical assistance to families in a way that is tailored to meet the needs of each family.  Within a relationship of mutuality and information sharing, the Family Peer Support Workers will promote choice, self-determination and greater opportunities for families to be heard and be active participants in the treatment, care and support provided.

Please note: These are designated lived experience roles and are only open to people who have a lived experience of caring for an infant or child who is or has experienced a mental health challenge (specific disclosure is not required).  The successful applicants are expected to utilise their own lived experience and professional expertise in lived experience in the direct service delivery to the families we are supporting.  Ideal candidates will have completed a Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work and have previous experience in peer support work with families (although candidates that do not have this qualification and/or experience are very welcome to apply, and training and development opportunities can be discussed).

To view the position description please click here.

For more information about our Mental Health career pathway click here 

What we offer: 

• Salary Packaging – Increase your take home pay!  
• Employee Assistance Program 
• Ability to join Fitness Passport - Your pass to an extensive choice of fitness facilities 

Other requirements: 

• Current National Criminal Record Check, or willing to obtain 
• Valid Working with Children Check 
• Compliance with RCHs “Staff Immunisation - Prevention of Vaccine Preventable Diseases” procedure 

Application process  

To apply, you will need a resume and a tailored cover letter outlining your skills, experience, and suitability for the position in line with the requirements of the position description.

Please identify which location(s) you are interested in working in.  

Shortlisting for this position will commence immediately, we encourage you to apply promptly!  

For more information about this position (for either location), please contact Dr Hui Yi Wong (Hui), Team and Site Coordinator for St Albans team on 03 9345 4877 or huiyi.wong@rch.org.au

Why work at the RCH?

RCH enjoys high employee engagement and is committed to staff safety and a positive culture through enactment of our Compact. We offer the opportunity to work in world-class facilities, surrounded by Royal Park and only a short tram trip from the heart of Melbourne city.

We also offer discounted staff parking, salary packaging, and an award-winning health and wellbeing program.

The RCH is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally and/or linguistically diverse background, all members of the LGBTQI community and people with disability.

It is a requirement of your employment that you be vaccinated against Influenza annually for Category A and B roles, in compliance with any public health orders in place at the relevant time, unless you have a medical exception in line with those public health orders, which has been accepted by The Royal Children’s Hospital.  Applicants will be required to provide their Australian Government Immunisation History Statement, it is a requirement of the RCH to collect, record and hold vaccination information.

It is also a requirement of your employment that you comply with any direction given by The Royal Children’s Hospital that you be vaccinated against, or prove immunity to, any other disease, unless you have a relevant exemption

Are you ready to join our team? 

 Apply online by clicking on the “Apply” button

Applications close 17 July 2025