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

The Network formed a Consortium with the National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum and the National Mental Health Commission to respond to the significant gap in Australia for a peak entity which can function as a member- based organisation to bring the peer workforce together in this exciting 18 month project which was recently completed.

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. 

Download the Literature Review - Towards Professionalisation: Exploration of best practice models in mental health peer work to inform the establishment of a national professional organisation 

Download Survey Results

Download the Project Communique for a detailed overview of the project

Activities completed during this 18 month 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