Mind Australia’s Lived Experience Career Compass (LECC) 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 LECC offers early career workers, currently completing or who have completed the Cert IV Mental Health Peer Work, 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 LECC 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 LECC 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
Peer Cadet Program applicants are required to attend or watch an online information session on Wednesday 22 April 2026. A recording of the information session can be viewed below.
Local Mental Health and Wellbeing Services Early Careers Program
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.
Early career positions are available within nine of Victoria’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Local services for those who have recently completed the Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work.
The Locals program offers a structured, 12-month early career pathway for newly qualified lived and living experience workers (LLEW), supporting the transition from study into meaningful, paid roles within multidisciplinary teams. Early career lived and living experience workers build confidence, capability and professional identity while contributing to community based mental health care.
This program is embedded within Mental Health and Wellbeing Local services and connected statewide through the Lived Experience Career Compass. Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals hosting early career lived and living experience workers are:
- Benalla, Wangaratta & Mansfield Local (Wellways)
- East Gippsland Local (Wellways)
- Frankston Local (Wellways)
- Dandenong Local (Mind)
- Greater Geelong and Queenscliff Local (Barwon Health)
- Greater Shepparton, Strathbogie and Moira Local (Wellways)
- Mildura Local (Wellways)
- Whittlesea Local (Neami)
- Yarra Ranges Local (Wellways)
Each Local provides a unique service context, while being part of a connected, statewide learning network.
More information on the Local Mental Health and Wellbeing Services Early Careers Program can be found here.
For more information about the Lived Experience Career Compass, contact [email protected]
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 Wellways, Neami National, Orygen, Eastern Health and Uniting Victoria Tasmania.
More information on the Pilot Student Placement Program can be found here.
For more information about the Lived Experience Career Compass contact [email protected]