Mind Australia’s Lived Experience Career Compass makes it easier for people who have experienced mental health challenges, personally or as a family member or carer, to enter and build a career in the lived and living experience workforce in Victoria.

The Lived Experience Career Compass offers early career workers exciting opportunities to work in multidisciplinary teams in the lived experience workforce and be part of mental health reform in Victoria.

Hosted by Mind, the Lived Experience Career Compass is the central point of contact and support for program participants and for the organisations that employ them. Mind is a sector leader in building, supporting and delivering a truly lived experience-led workforce.

The Lived Experience Career Compass includes three early career programs funded by the Victorian Government.

Peer Cadet Program

Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work students receive paid work experience at non-government community mental health services in part-time lived and living experience roles. Cadets receive training, discipline-specific supervision and reflective practice as part of their placement.

Peer Cadet Program host organisations include Mind Australia, Neami National, Each, Uniting Victoria Tasmania, cohealth, Wellways, Ballarat Community Health, Eating Disorders Victoria and ermha365.

Read our Peer Cadet Program FAQs (PDF 169 KB) to find out more

Upcoming information sessions for Peer Cadet Program intake:

  • There are no upcoming information sessions, however, a recording of an information session for the 2025/2026 intake can be found below.

Local Mental Health and Wellbeing Services Early Careers Program

Full-time positions are available for Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work graduates at Victoria’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Local services. This program fosters skill development for new lived and living experience workers.

Pilot Student Placement Program – Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work

Placement opportunities for Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work students are now available throughout Victoria, enabling more people to graduate and start their career in the lived and living experience workforce.

Students can access placements with the support of the Registered Training Organisation (RTO) they are studying with. Pilot Student Placement Program organisations include Mind Australia, Wellways, Neami National, Orygen, Eastern Health and Uniting Victoria Tasmania.

More information on the Pilot Student Placement Program will be available in the near future.

For more information about the Lived Experience Career Compass contact [email protected]