Community Mental Health Worker

Skylight Mental Health is recruiting a Lived Experienced Community Mental Health Worker to work within their Carer Services program. The role will be based at Skylight’s Elizabeth office.

The Community Mental Health Worker will ideally have a lived or living experience of caring for someone who has, or is, experiencing mental health challenges. The Community Mental Health Worker will work closely with participants to promote recovery, inspire hope, and facilitate a process wherein participants can work toward personalised goals that will improve their mental health and wellbeing.

The program provides in-person, short term 1:1 Coaching support and facilitates Carer Peer Groups across Metropolitan Adelaide. The Community Mental Health Worker will:

• Work alongside carers to identify their strengths, capabilities, and existing support networks, using a strengths-based approach that recognises their resilience, experience, and capacity for growth.
• Build carers' confidence, resilience, and self-advocacy skills, empowering them to manage challenges, make informed decisions, and maintain their wellbeing alongside their caring responsibilities.
• Support carers to identify, develop, and achieve meaningful personal goals, creating practical action plans that enhance independence, wellbeing, and quality of life.
• Collaborate closely with our valued partner, Carers SA, to deliver coordinated, person-centred, and best-practice services that achieve positive outcomes for carers across South Australia.
• Provide warm, informed, and timely referrals to a range of internal and external services, including mental health, housing, legal, financial, health, and community supports, ensuring carers can access the assistance they need when they need it.
• Facilitate meaningful connections with community groups, services, and peer networks, reducing social isolation and fostering a sense of belonging and support.
• Assist carers to explore, understand, and access relevant supports and entitlements, including the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Carer Payment, Carer Allowance, Disability Support Pension (DSP), and other government-funded programs.
• Support carers to improve their overall quality of life by promoting self-care, wellbeing, social participation, and opportunities that help them maintain balance between their caring role and personal aspirations.
• Plan and facilitate peer support groups, workshops, activities, and community events that strengthen social connections, promote mental health and wellbeing, and create opportunities for shared learning and mutual support.
• Guide carers through complex service systems and pathways, helping them navigate health, disability, aged care, mental health, and social support services while building their confidence to advocate for their own needs and rights.
• Develop relationships with carers, creating a safe, trauma-informed, respectful, and inclusive environment where individuals feel heard, valued, and supported.
• Maintain accurate records, participate in collaborative case discussions, and contribute to continuous service improvement, ensuring high-quality, accountable, and evidence-informed service delivery.

Requirements for Success

• Qualifications or experience relevant to Community Mental Health
• Lived or living experience in a mental health-related caring role is highly desirable
• Sound knowledge and awareness of mental health challenges
• Capacity to work both autonomously and within team environments
• Experience with Person Centred and Recovery-Oriented frameworks
• Proficient knowledge of Microsoft programs and relevant software
• DHS Working with Children Check and NDIS Worker Check – Apply Here
• Understanding of NDIS application processes highly desirable
• Full Driver’s License and ability to work across sites
• Some out-of-hours work may be required (with prior negotiation)

This role is classified at SCHADS Level 4, 20-22 hours per week. The role will be based at Skylight Elizabeth, servicing multiple areas of the South Australian metropolitan region.

For queries, please contact Nicole Brookes via email at: nicoleb@skylight.org.au using the subject line: Community Mental Health Worker enquiry via EthicalJobs.

If you are interested in applying, please click 'Apply now' and attach a current CV, a cover letter and answer the following questions (limit 75 words per question) by 5pm (ACST) on the closing date.

1. What do you believe are the key considerations when supporting carers whose mental health may be impacted by their caring responsibilities?
2. Describe a situation where you had to establish or maintain professional boundaries. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?
3. The Carer Services program is a short-term, goal-focused service. What does capacity building mean to you, and how would you work with a carer to identify and achieve their goals within a limited timeframe?

Skylight Mental Health is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workforce including people from all abilities, genders, ages, sexualities, cultures, and backgrounds.

We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and culturally and linguistically diverse people and people with mental health lived experience.