Job No: 26546

Location: Tamworth, NSW

• Be part of an exciting new joint venture between two leading non-government organisations that specialise in the promotion of mental health in the community!
• Contract position with minimum 2 hours work per month plus the possibility of other paid activities!

About the Organisations

The Richmond Fellowship of NSW (RFNSW) is a rapidly growing Non Government Organisation (NGO). For over 40 years the organisation has provided community based mental health support and rehabilitation services throughout metropolitan, regional, rural and remote NSW.

RFNSW is recognised as a leading provider of mental health services and promotes the rights of those living with mental illness. RFNSW is committed to providing high quality services and is looking for insightful, innovative and adaptable individuals dedicated to making a difference in mental health.

Psychiatric Rehabilitation Australia (PRA) is a specialist provider of community based services to individuals with psychosocial disadvantage or psychiatric disability. Based in Sydney, PRA provides services in over two dozen locations throughout New South Wales and an additional support service in Queensland. 

PRA provide non-clinical rehabilitation aimed at reducing people's dependence and increasing self-esteem and satisfaction, with a strong commitment to recovery orientation approaches for people who experience mental health problems or disorders.

About the Opportunity

Do you have a lived personal experience of a mental health problem or disorder, and would you like to support people in your community with similar problems by being an active member of a Steering Committee?

The Richmond Fellowship of NSW (RFNSW) and Psychiatric Rehabilitation Australia (PRA) have an exciting opportunity for a qualified Consumer Representative to join and participate on a monthly Steering Committee for the Tamworth Linkages project. This is a contract position working 2 - 8 hours per month, depending on requirements with the possibility of other paid activities.

The Tamworth Linkages project aims to support clients with a mental illness, or mental illness and drug and alcohol problems who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. It is based on a partnership between Housing NSW, The Richmond Fellowship of NSW, Psychiatric Rehabilitation Australia and Hunter New England Local Health District Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Services. 

More specifically, some of your duties will include, but not be limited to:

• Attending a minimum of 1 hour long monthly meetings in Tamworth;
• Understanding the aims and objectives of the Tamworth Linkages program;
• Assist in problem solving any issues that may arise;
• Assist with the promotion and supporting positive partnerships; and
• Maintaining existing links and establishing new relationships with local consumer groups.

The successful applicant will be an enthusiastic person with personal experience of mental illness and recovery, as a consumer of mental health services. Above all you will be empathetic with a strong commitment to consumer driven recovery and community partnership.

You will also need to have an understanding of local consumer groups, the community and other services, and you will have intermediate administration skills including time management and reporting.

On a personal level, you must be able to demonstrate a positive attitude towards people living with mental illness, and be willing and able to provide a high level of support and advocacy.

About the Benefits

This is an extremely satisfying role, where you can use your lived personal experience with mental illness and related programs and services to contribute to the development of a new program to benefit homeless consumers in the Tamworth area.

Your involvement as a Consumer Representative will provide RFNSW and PRA with invaluable information and insight into mental illness programs, current support services and potential changes.

For your involvement, you will be rewarded with competitive remuneration, based on qualifications and experience. Working a minimum of 2 hours per month, there is the possibility of further paid activities for the right candidate as they arise.

This is a great opportunity for you to give back to the community and use your personal experiences to help others with a mental health problem or disorder.

Successful applicants will be appointed subject to a national criminal record and referee checks.

For more information please contact Doris Kluge, HR Coordinator on 02 9701 3600