E-Newsletter 2nd Edition

Subject: Progress Update and Recruitment Opportunities

Hi everyone,

The establishment of the Australian Association of Peer Workers (AAPW) is continuing to gather momentum, and we wanted to provide an update on progress to date and upcoming activities.

Firstly, thank you. The response so far has been incredibly encouraging. We now have 293 people on our mailing list, with people signing up from every jurisdiction in Australia!

Of those who joined:

• 66.8% identified as peer workers
• 85% identified as people with lived experience of mental health challenges and/or emotional distress
• 41% identified as caring for someone who experiences mental health challenges and/or distress
• 19% identified as an ally

We’re also really encouraged by the diversity and intersectionality represented within the growing AAPW community:

• 3.2% identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
• 30% identified as LGBTIQA+
• 10% identified as living with disability
• 43% identified as neurodivergent
• 11% identified as culturally and racially marginalised

It’s exciting to see such broad and diverse interest in a national peer-led association built by peer workers, for peer workers.

What have we been doing in the establishment phase?

Over the past few weeks, a lot of behind-the-scenes work has been underway to help lay the foundations for the AAPW.

We’ve been gearing up to establish our online presence, with:

• the AAPW website currently being built
• a member portal in development
• getting ready to launch our own socials pages

Regular partnership meetings have also commenced with Indigenous Australian Lived Experience Centre and Mental Health Carers Australia.

We have also been recruiting the initial AAPW team. Applications for the General Manager position are now closed and currently being shortlisted.

We’re also recruiting for four additional AAPW Lead Project roles:

1. Membership and Advocacy Lead - Find out more and apply here.

2. First Nations Strategy Lead - Find out more and apply here.

3. Practice Standards Lead - Find out more and apply here.

4. Workplace Standards Lead - Find out more and apply here.

We will be recruiting consumer peer workers, carer peer workers, First Nations peer workers and suicide prevention peer workers for these roles. Please apply if you’re interested in joining the team, or share these opportunities with your networks.

We’ve also been spending time connecting with other peer work peak bodies and lived experience organisations to explore how the AAPW can collaborate, connect with and support their peer work and lived experience members.

What have we heard so far?

One of the strongest messages we’ve heard so far is the desire for improved workplace standards and conditions for peer workers, alongside stronger connection, collective voice and national representation for the mental health and suicide prevention peer workforce.

We’ve also heard from peer workers outside of the mental health and suicide prevention sectors who are interested in being included in the Association and are looking for greater collaboration and recognition across the broader peer workforce.

We recognise the important contribution of peer workers across many sectors and the strong alignment in values, practice approaches and workforce experiences shared across peer work disciplines.

The current AAPW establishment project is funded through a Department of Health, Disability and Ageing grant specifically scoped to establish a national association for mental health and suicide prevention peer workers. As the Association is established over the next two and a half years, there will be opportunities to explore how the AAPW may evolve over time, including consideration of broader peer workforce inclusion.

We’ve also heard strong interest in the development of training pathways for peer workers, including the current review of the Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work and recent changes in the way Intentional Peer Support is being delivered in Australia. We recognise these are important issues for many peer workers, and we are listening closely to the perspectives and experiences being shared across the workforce and engaging with those leading this work.

What’s coming up?

There’s lots happening over the next few weeks and months. We will be:

• launching AAPW social media channels to keep you up to date on our activities,
• launching our website and opening membership applications,
• holding online forums for people interested in learning more about the AAPW and upcoming membership opportunities, and to hear directly from peer workers across Australia about the issues and priorities that matter most to them.

We’re also pleased to have been invited to present at the WA Peer Supporters’ Network Conference in mid-June and are looking forward to connecting with peer workers there, hearing more about the opportunities, challenges and priorities emerging across the workforce, and learning what peer workers in WA want from a national association.

There is strong momentum building, and we’re grateful to everyone who has shown support so far. This is only the beginning, and we look forward to continuing to build the AAPW alongside peer workers and lived experience communities across Australia.

More updates soon!

Warmly,

The AAPW Establishment Team