Foundations of Peer Work

Audience

• Consumers or carers currently working as peer workers
• People whose organisations have identified them as prospective peer workers
• Students wanting to sample the Cert IV of Mental Health Peer Work

Aims

At completion of this course, students should be able to:

• Understand a range of frameworks and approaches applicable to peer work
• Understand the diversity of roles and skills required by a peer worker
• Explore consumer and carer preferences, values, needs and goals
• Work within international, national and state legislative frameworks including the Mental Health Act 2014 and the National Mental Health Standards
• Navigate the mental health system in order to facilitate access to resources, information and services
• Have a thorough understanding of ethical decision making, boundaries, duty of care and dignity of risk and how these impact consumers, workers and organisations
• Use their lived experience in meaningful and purposeful ways
• Manage risk in sharing stories
• Understand trauma, vicarious trauma, re-traumatisation and the importance of self-care
• Be able to plan, resource, facilitate and evaluate groups common to peer work.

Outline

Workshop content will include:

Day 1 – Approaches and frameworks of peer work practice

Day 2 – Understanding the role of the peer worker

Day 3 – Legal and ethical considerations

Day 4 – Using lived experience effectively

Day 5 – Developing and facilitating groups