Peer Worker - Safe Spaces

• Inner Melbourne Community Hub - North Melbourne
• Part Time - 38 hours per fortnight 
• Maximum Term 30/06/2029  
• SCHADS – Level 3 $38.65 to $41.45 per hour + Superannuation + NFP Salary Packaging 

About Vincentcare Victoria

VincentCare Victoria is an award-winning organisation established to provide a range of accommodation and support services to people that are facing disadvantage throughout metropolitan and regional Victoria.

Our aspiration is to be the leader in providing care, hope and advocacy for those facing disadvantage. Our purpose is to create opportunities and lasting change for the most marginalised. VincentCare is well equipped to provide a continuum of services that effectively meet the needs of people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

The Safe Space Program

The Safe Space program is a place-based, low-barrier rough sleeper support model anchored at the Ozanam House - Homelessness Resource Centre (HRC) based in North Melbourne. The program is deliberately designed to meet people where they are at both in terms of time of day and readiness for change by operating from 7:00am to 3:00pm, Monday to Friday.

Ozanam House and the HRC provides an established, trusted “front door” into integrated homelessness, health and wellbeing supports. The Safe Space team will operate in close coordination with existing HRC functions and the broader Ozanam House service framework, creating a single, coherent participant experience where people can move seamlessly between immediate support (food, showers, laundry, rest), brief interventions, health access, and structured housing pathways.

Little bit about the role

The Peer Support Worker role is informed by the International Peer Support (IPS) practice model, which is underpinned by four principles: connection, worldview, mutuality and moving towards goals. The IPS model is very much focused on relationships and doing with not doing for.  

The functions and activities undertaken by the Peer Support Worker relate to stabilisation for people experiencing chronic homelessness. The Peer Support Worker will have a lived experience of homelessness and actively work as part of the Safe Spaces Team to provide practical support to clients to achieve their goals.  The Peer Support Worker will report to the Engagement Team Leader. 

Key Responsibilities

• Engage and support clients within the Safe Spaces team using a strengths-based, recovery-oriented approach.
• Provide practical support to build independent living, social and employment skills.
• Support client referrals and connections to internal and external services.
• Use sound judgement to manage risk and complex client interactions safely.
• Promote wellbeing activities and encourage community participation.
• Draw on lived experience to support client engagement and recovery.
• Work collaboratively with case managers and the broader team.
• Maintain accurate records, reporting and compliance with organisational requirements.
• Participate in supervision, training, and service improvement activities.
• Work in line with policies, procedures, and VincentCare values.

 Why work for us?  We offer

• Salary packaging, sometimes called salary sacrificing is a huge attraction here! It is a popular way of providing employees in the community sector with tax benefits over and above their salary. It means the real value of a salary package can be significantly higher than the nominal value.
• Career Development opportunities
• Employee Assistance Program
• Salary Packaging
• Choice of Superannuation fund
• Family friendly and flexibility
• We offer a place where you know you are contributing to a firm committed to helping others. We are passionate about #SocialJustice.

How to apply:

If this opportunity sounds perfect to you and you meet our essential requirements, we can’t wait to hear from you! Please send us your updated CV and a cover letter telling us a little bit more about you and how your skills meet our key selection criteria in the position description available here.

Applications close: 14th June 2026 at 12.00 am.

Please note: Candidates may be reviewed and progressed as applications are received. VCV reserves the right to close the advertisement at any time. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible to ensure you don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity.

Phone enquiries may be made to Danny Tilkeridis, Manager – Inner Melbourne Community Hub Manager on 0419 523 051.

Prior to any commencement to employment, pre-employment checks must be completed. This will include reference checking, a national criminal history and right to work check and a working with children check.

VincentCare Victoria is an accredited Rainbow Tick organisation.

We are committed to the principles of social justice and aim to ensure every individual is treated with dignity and respect regardless of their cultural background, ability, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation or religion.