Open Arms is Australia’s leading provider of mental health services for Australian current and former serving military members and their families. Open Arms is committed to embedding Lived Experience Peer work as an integral part of our service delivery environment. It recognises the importance of a culture where Lived Experience Peer work is supported and respected as a part of the way all mental health services are delivered. This role will work in a multidisciplinary team alongside clinical teams in delivering an efficacious service and will report to an Assistant Director.

The Lived Experienced team leader Greater NSW manages a Lived Experience Peer workforce team located in offices around NSW. This work includes managing waitlist for peer allocations and referrals, supporting peers to provide one to one peer work and community engagement activities and supporting and enhancing relationships between the Lived Experience Peer workforce and other stakeholders.

Under the direction of an Assistant Director, the position requires the ability to leverage knowledge and experience gained from their own Lived Experience journey to lead and support a Lived Experience team. They will utilise their personal experience of military service or military family life, and of a mental health journey, which may include as a relative/carer of an ex Australian Defence Force (ADF) member who has experienced a mental health journey to inform best practice. Communication and interpersonal skills are paramount, and the Team Leader must demonstrate high levels of integrity and emotional intelligence.

The key duties of the position include:

- Manage a Lived Experience Peer Workforce inclusive of providing operational supervision and performance management of Lived Experience staff to ensure their ability to meet service delivery requirements, including utilising knowledge and providing direction from Open Arms Model of Care, evidence-based process, and relevant procedures.
- Manage more sensitive and difficult problems relating to the Lived Experience practice and Open Arms Model of Care. Including managing complex client relationships and escalated enquiries/cases and issues.
- Articulate Open Arms vision, strategic and operational goals to staff, including Lived Experience led values of support, hope and connection, and translate this into practice and ensure all Lived Experience work undertaken in the region is conducted in accordance with the governance requirements of Open Arms.
- Provide guidance and workload management to Lived Experience Peer Workforce to undertake their roles efficiently and professionally to meet expected standards of service and quality.




- Under direction of Assistant Director, participate and analyse in Open Arms program evaluation, data and research activities. Contribute to project management activities that implement strategic directions and quality improvement recommendations and provide feedback for ongoing development of Lived Experience policies and procedures.
- Implement, role model and support changes based on client feedback to maintain and improve Lived Experience service delivery standards and outcomes to align with Open Arms Model of Care, procedures and Lived Experience principles.
- Provide expertise and knowledge of the wider Lived Experience movement and concepts including Lived Experience-led research and training to promote contemporary, strengths-based, recovery-oriented, person-directed service delivery to staff, colleagues, and in broader activities for Open Arms.
- Promote leadership and championing of Lived Experience at all levels and support and guide the development of the Lived Experience workforce, including setting priorities, strategic planning, maintain team cohesion, building capacity and fostering self-care practices and wellbeing.
- Build and maintain meaningful relationships based upon shared Lived Experience and support by the Assistant Director to maintain strategic alliances and community engagement with other business areas of DVA, ADF, Ex-Service organisations, community services and networks to break down barriers to care and increase awareness and visibility of Open Arms services.
- Support participative workplace practices in line with policies of WHS, Workplace Diversity and the Australian Public Service values, Employment Principles, and the APS Values and Code of Conduct.

Eligibility

- Under section 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999, employees must be Australian citizens to be employed in the Australian Public Service (APS).
- Any successful candidate external to DVA offered employment will be required to undergo a pre-engagement screening check, even if they have a security clearance. The screening check is conducted in accordance with the Australian Government Protective Security Policy Framework requirements.
- Any successful candidate will also be required to obtain and/or maintain, a baseline Vetting (AGSVA) security clearance as a minimum.





Mandatory Requirements

- Working with Children (WWC) and/or Vulnerable People Checks/Clearance must be obtained prior to commencing in the position.
- Lived Experience, including personal lived experience of military service or military family life, and of a mental health journey, which may include as a relative/carer of an ex-ADF member who has experienced a mental health journey.

Desirable Requirements

- Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work or equivalent, or a willingness to obtain certification and other relevant training.

Notes

This recruitment process may be used to fill ongoing and/or non-ongoing position/s. For more information about the role, please see the Candidate Information Pack.

A merit pool of suitable applicants may be created which may be used to fill future ongoing and non-ongoing vacancies should they become available over the next 18 months.

Successful applicants engaged into the APS will be subject to a probation period.

We welcome people with diverse skills, experiences and perspectives. DVA is committed to building a workforce that reflects the community we serve and encourages applications from:

- Veterans and former Australian Defence Force members, whose skills and experience are highly valued across the APS
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- People with disability
- People who identify as LGBTQIA+
- People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds

We are a Veteran Employer of Choice! This means you benefit from a workplace actively supporting veterans and families of veterans – one that understands and values military experience. You’re joining an organisation publicly recognised for its commitment to fostering veteran-friendly employment pathways and long-term career success.

Getting to know the Department of Veterans' Affairs

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) exists to fulfil the nation’s duty to support our serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force members and their families. We do this through programs of care, compensation, commemoration, income and Defence support services. Our aim is to enhance self-sufficiency, quality of life, financial wellbeing and community recognition for those we support. DVA is both a policy and service delivery agency. We have solid relationships with Australian ex-service organisations, Federal and State Government agencies and the veteran community. DVA’s vision is to honour veterans, and empower them and their families to continue life after service, within a society that understands and values their military service and their ongoing contribution to the community.

📌 Lived Experience Peer Team Leader (Sydney)
🏢 Australian Department of Veterans' Affairs
📍 Sydney