Peer Support Worker jobs in Cairns, QLD

Peer Support Worker work in Cairns, QLD

Peer Support Worker roles in Cairns, QLD sit within significant and ongoing workforce shortages across all disciplines. Cultural competency is essential. Rural outreach, remote community, and ATSI-specific roles are particularly active. Incentives including accommodation assistance are commonly offered. peer support worker positions are found across public health services, community organisations, and private practice in the region.

Peer Support Workers occupy a unique and valued role in the mental health sector — their personal experience of mental illness and recovery is the core qualification for the role. They provide one-to-one and group support, model recovery, share coping strategies, and help people navigate the mental health system from a position of genuine empathy.

Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service (CHHHS) delivers public mental health services across Far North Queensland, including inpatient care at Cairns Hospital, community mental health teams, and specialist services. The CHHHS catchment extends to remote communities across Cape York, the Torres Strait, and the Gulf Country, with significant outreach and fly-in fly-out service delivery roles.

Qualifications typically required

• Lived experience of mental illness and recovery (essential)
• Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work (or equivalent)
• NDIS Worker Screening Check for community roles
• Working with Children Check where applicable

Key employers in Cairns, QLD

• Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service
• Cairns Hospital
• headspace Cairns
• North Queensland PHN
• Lives Lived Well
• UnitingCare Queensland
• Queensland Health
• Apunipima Cape York Health Council