Community of Peers Project

A Project to undertake a feasibility study into the establishment of a member based organisation for the peer workforce in Australia 

Under an MoU, the Department of Health provided funding to the National Mental Health Commission to engage us, the Network, to undertake work to investigate the feasibility of establishing a member based organisation for the peer workforce in Australia. Our Final Report explores potential governance structures and models of a national organisation. The Report also explored gaps and opportunities for training of peer workers and data on the peer workforce.

Towards Professionalisation: A Project to undertake a feasibility study into the establishment of a member based organisation for the peer workforce in Australia

The summary report outlines the key messages and topics from the final report.

Towards Professionalisation Summary Report: A Project to undertake a feasibility study into the establishment of a member based organisation for the peer workforce in Australia

Peer workers bring their valuable lived experience and unique skills to the mental health workforce and are able to establish valuable connections to assist others in the recovery journey.  Building our peer workforce is essential. Having a dedicated organisation or association to support mental health peer workers is the next vital step. 

Additional downloads from the project include:

  • Literature Review : Towards Professionalisation: Exploration of best practice models in mental health peer work to inform the establishment of a national professional organisation 
  • Survey Results
  • Project Communique for a detailed overview of the project

Activities completed during the project included:

  • Completing an Australian and International review
  • Scoping for a better understand of the peer workforce
  • Conducting workshops in all Australian capital cities
  • Collaborating and communicating with other organisations engaged in supporting peer workers.
  • Developing a model for a National Peer Organisation
  • Having a booth at the TheMHS 2017 Conference
  • Supporting the development of educational material focused on the employer

The Commission will continue to liaise with the Department around potential next steps, including in the context of the Commission’s existing work under the Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan.