The AAPW is leading a national program of workforce development, advocacy and systems reform to strengthen mental health and suicide prevention peer work across Australia. This work focuses on advancing recognition, respect, and workplace rights while supporting a safe, sustainable, and thriving peer workforce.
Peer Workforce Advocacy
Peer Workforce Advocacy
The Australian Association of Peer Workers was established to strengthen recognition, standards, rights and working conditions for peer workers across Australia's mental health and suicide prevention systems.
Peer work is a growing and increasingly recognised profession that brings unique lived experience expertise to individuals, services and communities. While peer work can be incredibly rewarding for those who offer it and life-changing for those who receive support, peer workers continue to face significant challenges that impact their ability to work safely, effectively and sustainably.
Many peer workers experience a lack of role clarity, with employers and colleagues not always understanding the distinct contribution of peer work or the unique expertise and practice approaches of different peer workforce streams, such as consumer, family carer, First Nations and suicide prevention peer work. Peer workers may be asked to undertake tasks outside the scope of peer practice or expected to participate in approaches that conflict with peer work values.
Access to training, qualifications, professional development and specialist supervision remains inconsistent across Australia, creating barriers to workforce growth and career development. Peer workers also face workplace challenges, including psychosocial risks, moral injury, vicarious trauma, isolation, stigma, and discrimination. Many report feeling unsupported as the only peer worker on a team or in an organisation, while others experience limited autonomy and recognition within multidisciplinary environments. Low pay, insecure employment and inconsistent career pathways continue to affect peer workers across Australia.
The AAPW is working to address these challenges through a national program of workforce development, advocacy and systems reform.
National Training Plan
National Training Plan
The AAPW is developing a National Training Plan to strengthen the growth of the peer workforce across Australia.
This work includes the development of a national competency framework, a Peer Workforce Credential Register that recognises both formal qualifications and experience-based learning, and clear education pathways from entry-level peer work through to leadership and supervision roles. The Plan will support diverse training options, including vocational and higher education pathways, while promoting culturally safe and inclusive learning opportunities, including dedicated First Nations Social and Emotional Wellbeing streams.
The AAPW will also work with Registered Training Organisations, universities and employers to strengthen access to high-quality peer workforce training, placements and professional development opportunities.
Scope of Practice and Role Definitions
Scope of Practice and Role Definitions
The AAPW is developing nationally consistent role definitions and a Scope of Practice for peer workers across Australia's mental health and suicide prevention systems.
A Scope of Practice defines the unique contribution of a profession, outlining its purpose, roles, core functions, ways of working, knowledge and skills. It establishes the standards and expectations that underpin safe, ethical and high-quality practice, providing greater clarity for peer workers, employers, educators and other professionals about what peer workers do, how they practise, and the value they bring to services and communities.
By establishing nationally consistent guidance, this work will help strengthen a shared understanding of peer work, reduce role confusion and role drift, and support peer workers to work within clearly defined and respected areas of practice. It will also help employers design, recruit to and support peer work roles that are aligned with the Scope of Practice, strengthening role integrity and the quality and safety of peer work services. In addition, it will support career development by identifying pathways for growth, specialisation and leadership across the peer workforce.
National Supervision Framework
National Supervision Framework
Quality supervision is essential to safe, ethical, and effective peer practice.
The AAPW is developing a National Supervision Framework that recognises the different forms of supervision required to support peer workers, including:
-
Peer practice supervision
-
Line management supervision
-
Cultural supervision
-
Group and peer supervision
-
External supervision
The Framework will support organisations in implementing supervision approaches that strengthen peer practice, wellbeing, accountability, and professional development.
Career Pathway Resource
Career Pathway Resource
The AAPW is developing nationally consistent guidance on peer work roles, progression, and professional development opportunities.
The Career Pathway Resource will help peer workers, employers and educators better understand how people can enter, develop, specialise and progress within the profession, supporting a stronger and more sustainable workforce across Australia.
The resource will highlight the diverse range of career opportunities available within peer work and support peer workers to navigate pathways between different roles and areas of practice. This includes pathways from frontline service delivery into supervision, workforce development, education and training, advocacy, research, policy, service design, management, and leadership roles.
By increasing the visibility of career opportunities and progression pathways, the resource will help strengthen workforce retention, support professional growth and recognise the breadth of expertise and contributions that peer workers bring across services, organisations and systems.
National Workplace Standards
National Workplace Standards
The AAPW is developing National Workplace Standards to promote safe, sustainable and effective peer work environments.
The Standards will support organisations to:
-
Protect peer workers from psychosocial harm
-
Strengthen workplace wellbeing and safety
-
Integrate psychosocial risk management into governance and leadership
-
Embed trauma-informed, recovery-oriented and culturally safe practice
-
Improve outcomes for consumers, carers and communities through a well-supported peer workforce
Workplace Standards will also address issues frequently reported by peer workers, including workplace isolation, role confusion, stigma and discrimination, lack of career progression, and exposure to practices that may contribute to moral injury or conflict with peer work values.
First Nations Peer Workforce Development Strategy
First Nations Peer Workforce Development Strategy
The AAPW is committed to embedding First Nations leadership and perspectives across all areas of its work.
A First Nations Peer Workforce Development Strategy will guide workforce development activities and ensure that approaches to training, supervision, career development, workplace standards and peer practice are culturally safe, responsive, and informed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges, cultures and Social and Emotional Wellbeing frameworks.
The Strategy will be developed in partnership with First Nations peer workers, leaders and organisations and will recognise the leadership, cultural authority and expertise of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It will support First Nations-led approaches to peer workforce development and ensure that First Nations perspectives are embedded across all AAPW workforce development initiatives.
Peer Workforce Advocacy
The Australian Association of Peer Workers was established to strengthen recognition, standards, rights and working conditions for peer workers across Australia's mental health and suicide prevention systems.
Peer work is a growing and increasingly recognised profession that brings unique lived experience expertise to individuals, services and communities. While peer work can be incredibly rewarding for those who offer it and life-changing for those who receive support, peer workers continue to face significant challenges that impact their ability to work safely, effectively and sustainably.
Many peer workers experience a lack of role clarity, with employers and colleagues not always understanding the distinct contribution of peer work or the unique expertise and practice approaches of different peer workforce streams, such as consumer, family carer, First Nations and suicide prevention peer work. Peer workers may be asked to undertake tasks outside the scope of peer practice or expected to participate in approaches that conflict with peer work values.
Access to training, qualifications, professional development and specialist supervision remains inconsistent across Australia, creating barriers to workforce growth and career development. Peer workers also face workplace challenges, including psychosocial risks, moral injury, vicarious trauma, isolation, stigma, and discrimination. Many report feeling unsupported as the only peer worker on a team or in an organisation, while others experience limited autonomy and recognition within multidisciplinary environments. Low pay, insecure employment and inconsistent career pathways continue to affect peer workers across Australia.
The AAPW is working to address these challenges through a national program of workforce development, advocacy and systems reform.
National Training Plan
The AAPW is developing a National Training Plan to strengthen the growth of the peer workforce across Australia.
This work includes the development of a national competency framework, a Peer Workforce Credential Register that recognises both formal qualifications and experience-based learning, and clear education pathways from entry-level peer work through to leadership and supervision roles. The Plan will support diverse training options, including vocational and higher education pathways, while promoting culturally safe and inclusive learning opportunities, including dedicated First Nations Social and Emotional Wellbeing streams.
The AAPW will also work with Registered Training Organisations, universities and employers to strengthen access to high-quality peer workforce training, placements and professional development opportunities.
Scope of Practice and Role Definitions
The AAPW is developing nationally consistent role definitions and a Scope of Practice for peer workers across Australia's mental health and suicide prevention systems.
A Scope of Practice defines the unique contribution of a profession, outlining its purpose, roles, core functions, ways of working, knowledge and skills. It establishes the standards and expectations that underpin safe, ethical and high-quality practice, providing greater clarity for peer workers, employers, educators and other professionals about what peer workers do, how they practise, and the value they bring to services and communities.
By establishing nationally consistent guidance, this work will help strengthen a shared understanding of peer work, reduce role confusion and role drift, and support peer workers to work within clearly defined and respected areas of practice. It will also help employers design, recruit to and support peer work roles that are aligned with the Scope of Practice, strengthening role integrity and the quality and safety of peer work services. In addition, it will support career development by identifying pathways for growth, specialisation and leadership across the peer workforce.
National Supervision Framework
Quality supervision is essential to safe, ethical, and effective peer practice.
The AAPW is developing a National Supervision Framework that recognises the different forms of supervision required to support peer workers, including:
-
Peer practice supervision
-
Line management supervision
-
Cultural supervision
-
Group and peer supervision
-
External supervision
The Framework will support organisations in implementing supervision approaches that strengthen peer practice, wellbeing, accountability, and professional development.
Career Pathway Resource
The AAPW is developing nationally consistent guidance on peer work roles, progression, and professional development opportunities.
The Career Pathway Resource will help peer workers, employers and educators better understand how people can enter, develop, specialise and progress within the profession, supporting a stronger and more sustainable workforce across Australia.
The resource will highlight the diverse range of career opportunities available within peer work and support peer workers to navigate pathways between different roles and areas of practice. This includes pathways from frontline service delivery into supervision, workforce development, education and training, advocacy, research, policy, service design, management, and leadership roles.
By increasing the visibility of career opportunities and progression pathways, the resource will help strengthen workforce retention, support professional growth and recognise the breadth of expertise and contributions that peer workers bring across services, organisations and systems.
National Workplace Standards
The AAPW is developing National Workplace Standards to promote safe, sustainable and effective peer work environments.
The Standards will support organisations to:
-
Protect peer workers from psychosocial harm
-
Strengthen workplace wellbeing and safety
-
Integrate psychosocial risk management into governance and leadership
-
Embed trauma-informed, recovery-oriented and culturally safe practice
-
Improve outcomes for consumers, carers and communities through a well-supported peer workforce
Workplace Standards will also address issues frequently reported by peer workers, including workplace isolation, role confusion, stigma and discrimination, lack of career progression, and exposure to practices that may contribute to moral injury or conflict with peer work values.
First Nations Peer Workforce Development Strategy
The AAPW is committed to embedding First Nations leadership and perspectives across all areas of its work.
A First Nations Peer Workforce Development Strategy will guide workforce development activities and ensure that approaches to training, supervision, career development, workplace standards and peer practice are culturally safe, responsive, and informed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges, cultures and Social and Emotional Wellbeing frameworks.
The Strategy will be developed in partnership with First Nations peer workers, leaders and organisations and will recognise the leadership, cultural authority and expertise of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It will support First Nations-led approaches to peer workforce development and ensure that First Nations perspectives are embedded across all AAPW workforce development initiatives.
Become a Member!
Join the Australian Association of Peer Workers
A national peer-led membership body, built by peer workers, for peer workers.
