Parkville Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Service (PYMHWS) is a new, dedicated public youth mental health service and is the first of its kind in Australia. We are looking for a passionate and dedicated individual to join our team.

YOUTH PEER WORK PROJECT OFFICER

Parkville Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Service (PYMHWS)

12 months Fixed Term | Part-Time 0.5 EFT | 📍 Parkville

Lead a project to consult, design, and strengthen youth peer work across PYMHWS continuing care teams.

• Join Victoria’s newest Public Mental Health Service dedicated to youth
• 12 months Fixed Term | Part-Time 0.5 EFT | Parkville based
• Salary Packaging | Wellbeing and EAP programs

About Us:

Parkville Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Service (PYMHWS) is Victoria’s newest public mental health service dedicated to the care of young people aged 12 to 25 experiencing complex mental health challenges. 

PYMHWS is leading a bold and values-driven transformation in youth mental health care across Melbourne’s north and west. We exist to walk alongside young people, their families, carers, supporters and kin delivering care that is accessible, inclusive, developmentally appropriate, evidence-informed, and grounded in lived experience. Our service model is shaped by the voices of young people and their communities, and underpinned by a commitment to safety, equity, and continuous learning.

At PYMHWS, we are working with our community and partners to build in a future where all young people can access world-class mental health support, close to home. As we grow, we are looking for passionate, skilled, and visionary professionals to join us in shaping a new era of youth mental health in Victoria.  

The Opportunity:

This fixed-term project role will guide the development and implementation of youth peer work roles in PYMWHS continuing care teams at Parkville, Sunshine and Werribee.  Youth peer work Project Officer will consult with youth peer workers, family peer workers, Managers and senior clinicians, to develop an operational model of youth peer work in CCT.

Our service is made up of compassionate, curious, and committed people. As we continue to grow, we are looking for a passionate, thoughtful and experienced youth peer work professional who can lead this important project.

Why Join PYMHWS?

• Be part of building a legacy for youth mental health in Victoria
• Work alongside passionate, visionary leaders in a values-led organisation
• Salary packaging options, up to $11,600 tax free earnings
• 4/5 weeks annual leave plus monthly ADO for full time employees
• Flexible working arrangements including remote work options where possible
• Employee wellbeing focused, access to EAP
• Fitness Passport membership
• Flexible, inclusive, and supportive workplace culture
• Opportunities for professional growth and development

About the Role:

PYMHWS has established roles for youth peer work in acute and subacute services, and in psychosocial recovery, but has not yet established youth peer work roles in Continuing Care Teams.  PYMHWS has identified the need for additional funded youth peer work positions in Continuing Care Teams, but has not developed an operational model. The youth peer work Project Officer will work with others to develop and trial an operational model that will enable role clarity, staff recruitment, retention and safety, to increase young people’s access to high quality youth peer work interventions aligned with the Intentional Peer Support framework.

The youth peer work Project Officer will lead consultation, and development of an operational model of youth peer work in continuing care teams. 

The Project Officer will work alongside the Manager, Youth Lived Experience and the Youth Peer Work Specialist to identify workforce training and development needs, and strategies to meet these.  Additionally, through consultation, the Project Officer will develop proposed measures of success for the CCT youth peer work program.

What You'll Do:

• Review existing approaches to peer work referral at PYMHWS
• Consult with young people, youth peer workers, and other staff, about needs from a youth peer work program in CCT
• Develop a pilot operational model for youth peer work in CCT
• In partnership with operational Managers, and the Youth Peer Work Specialist, support the establishment of youth peer work at two outpatient sites
• Oversee the review of the youth peer work pilot

About You:

You will be a passionate youth lived experience professional, ideally with your own experience of engaging young people in IPS peer work.

✔️ Knowledge of the Intentional Peer Support framework

✔️ Well-developed administrative and organisational skills

✔️ Ability to synthesise a range of perspectives and generate practical solutions to problems

✔️ Keen desire to continue to grow the youth peer workforce

Ready to Make a Difference?
If you're looking to be part of something truly meaningful—we’d love to hear from you.

For a confidential discussion, contact Kyle Edwards on 9966 9100

Interested applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Recruitment is ongoing, with interviews commencing as soon as suitable candidates are received. Advertising may cease prior to the closing date.

To view the full Position Description, please click HERE

All appointments are made subject to a satisfactory Criminal History Record Check and a Working with Children Check. Successful applicants will be required to provide evidence of an immunisation assessment prior to commencement.

PYMHWS stands in solidarity with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in work and care. We are proud to be a workplace that champions diversity, inclusion and equality for our staff and our community.  Our goal is for our people to feel safe, included and supported so that they can be at their best every single day. We encourage talented people from all backgrounds, abilities, and identities to apply to our vacancies, and will consider adjustments to support such applications.