Lived Experience Peer Cadet Program

Victoria’s Lived Experience Peer Cadet Program is a great start to a rewarding career in the community mental health sector.

The program offers people with lived and living experience part-time employment with a participating community mental health organisation while studying a Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work.

The program responds to recommendations by the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System to increase the number of entry points into the lived and living experience workforce.

Program overview

Participants undertake two days of paid work placement and one day of paid study leave per week over a 10-month cadetship period.

Peer cadets will develop knowledge, skills, and confidence in lived experience peer work in a structured and supported environment. They will receive consumer or carer lived experience supervision, training, and reflective practice opportunities.

Cadets do not undertake individual client sessions but will take on a secondary or observer role.

Fees

There are no fees to apply or undertake this program. General course costs related to the Certificate IV – Mental Health Peer Work may apply, including any background checks.

Participating organisations

There are nine participating organisations across metro and regional Victoria:

• Ballarat Community Health
• cohealth
• EACH
• Eating Disorders Victoria
• ermha365
• Mind Australia
• Neami National
• Uniting Victoria Tasmania
• Wellways Australia.

Eligibility criteria

Applications for the 2024-25 program have now closed.

For further enquiries, please contact the Lived Experience Workforce team at the Department of Health at livedexperienceworkforce@health.vic.gov.au