The Australian Association of Peer Workers (AAPW) is a peer-led professional membership body for mental health and suicide prevention peer workers. It is a national entity, auspiced by the National Mental Health Consumer Alliance (the Alliance), in partnership with the Indigenous Australian Lived Experience Centre and Mental Health Carers Australia.
A membership body dedicated to strengthening, supporting and advocating for the mental health and suicide prevention peer workforce across Australia.
The Role
The First Nations Lead plays a central role in shaping the future of the First Nations peer workforce nationally. This position leads the development of the AAPW’s national First Nations Peer Workforce Strategy and ensures Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peer workers are meaningfully represented, included, and supported across all AAPW activities.
Working in deep partnership with First Nations lived experience organisations, peak bodies, peer workers, community leaders, academics, and employers, the role co‑designs culturally grounded approaches to workforce development. This includes embedding First Nations knowledges, perspectives, and Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) frameworks across workforce standards, training initiatives, capability frameworks, and member services.
The role exists to ensure First Nations peer workers are not only consulted but are central in shaping the systems, policies, and supports that influence their practice and wellbeing. By championing cultural safety, lived experience leadership, and community‑driven design, the First Nations Lead helps build a strong, sustainable, and culturally safe peer workforce.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the development and implementation of the national First Nations Peer Workforce Strategy, ensuring meaningful inclusion and leadership of First Nations peer workers across all AAPW activities.
- Research and synthesise existing and emerging evidence, frameworks, and models relating to First Nations peer work, cultural safety, and Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB).
- Build and maintain strong national relationships with First Nations peer workers, community leaders, academics, and peer work employers, including close collaboration with IALEC and Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia.
- Facilitate culturally safe co‑design and consultation processes with First Nations stakeholders across all project streams and deliverables.
- Embed SEWB frameworks, cultural knowledge, and First Nations perspectives across AAPW workforce development resources, standards, frameworks, and member services.
- Advocate for the recognition, rights, safety, and sustainability of the First Nations peer workforce, including culturally appropriate workplace standards and supports.
- Provide strategic cultural advice, guidance, and engagement support to AAPW members and project teams on First Nations workforce development and cultural safety.
- Tertiary qualifications in a relevant field (project work, Employment Relations/Industrial Relations peer work, community development, social science, public health, public policy) and/or equivalent experience.
- Demonstrated knowledge of Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) principles and the ability to apply culturally grounded ways of working in engagement, co-design, advocacy, and workforce development activities.
- Ability to work collaboratively within a national team environment and contribute to the delivery of strategic projects, co-design activities, and organisational objectives.
- Understanding of systemic advocacy principles, and the ability to advocate for the needs, rights, and priorities of First Nations peer workers.
- Experience facilitating or supporting co-design, consultation, governance, or stakeholder engagement processes involving First Nations communities and organisations.
- Demonstrated communication and relationship management skills, including the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders across a national and virtual work environment.
- The role is national in scope and operates as a remote / virtual workplace . Willingness and ability to undertake regular interstate travel is essential.
- Reliable internet connection and work from home resources are essential.
Designated First Nations Identified Position
Being an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person is a genuine occupational requirement for this position under the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth).
It is also a genuine occupational qualification of this position have a lived experience, in accordance with section 66(s)(c) of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984.
A lived experience for the purpose of this role recognises the effects of ongoing negative historical impacts and or specific events on the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It encompasses the cultural, spiritual, physical, emotional and mental wellbeing of the individual, family or community.
The successful applicant will bring both personal lived experience knowledge and a commitment to collective advocacy, peer leadership, and strengthening the First Nations lived-experience-led peer workforce nationally.
Beaumont People uses a trauma-informed recruitment approach. Applicants will not be asked to disclose personal details of their experiences. A simple self-declaration will be used to confirm eligibility, with optional opportunities to reflect on how lived experience informs leadership practice.
Application Process
To be considered for this position please apply now with your resume and submit your Expression of Interest via the online EOI Link https://forms.office.com/r/4b3WMSQmW5 – Copy and paste this link into the browser to access and fill out form.
If you have any further questions, please contact Holly at holly.mccann@beaumontpeople.com.au Beaumont People is exclusively partnering with NMHCA on this recruitment, so please send all enquiries to the above email. There is no closing date for this role, please apply as soon as possible as all applications will be reviewed as they are received.
At Beaumont People, we are committed to creating a recruitment experience where people feel welcomed, respected, and supported. We value diverse perspectives and life experiences, and we focus on what people can bring, not where they come from or how their journey has unfolded.
Beaumont People uses a trauma-informed recruitment approach. Applicants will not be asked to disclose personal details of their experiences. A simple self-declaration will be used to confirm eligibility, with optional opportunities to reflect on how lived experience informs leadership practice.
We encourage open conversations about support needs. If adjustments or accommodations would help you engage fully in the application or assessment process, we are very happy to discuss what might be helpful.
