Victorians studying a Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work will soon be able to apply for the 2025/2026 intake of the Peer Cadet Program.
The Peer Cadet Program provides paid work experience opportunities in part-time lived and living experience positions at non-government community health service providers throughout Victoria.
Peer cadets undertake two days of paid work placement and one day of paid study leave per week over a 10-month cadetship where they develop knowledge, skills and confidence in lived experience work in a supported environment.
Peer Cadet Program host organisations include Mind, Neami National, Each, Uniting Victoria Tasmania, cohealth, Wellways, Ballarat Community Health, Eating Disorders Victoria and ermha365.
The first step in applying for the 2025/2026 intake of the Peer Cadet Program is to attend one of the two online information sessions on Monday 12 May 2025. Follow the links below to register for an information session.
- Peer Cadet Program information session #1 – Monday 12 May at 9.30am
- Peer Cadet Program information session #2 – Monday 12 May at 2.30pm
The Peer Cadet Program is coordinated by the Lived Experience Career Compass, which is making it easier for people who have experienced mental health challenges to enter and build a career in the lived and living experience workforce in Victoria.
Mind Lived Experience Workforce Manager Daisy Gleeson says the Peer Cadet Program is making a career in mental health more attainable for people with a lived and living experience of mental health challenges.
“We have seen the value of the Peer Cadet Program over three years now, and a number of cadets have successfully progressed to permanent employment with host organisations or within the sector.
“All participating host organisations see the unique impact people with lived experience can have supporting people to manage their mental health challenges. Whether they have their own experience of mental health challenges, or lived experience as a carer or family member, people with lived experience are the future of a more humane and person-centred mental health system.”
Applications for this year’s Peer Cadet Program will open on Tuesday 13 May. To be eligible, applicants must be currently undertaking a Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work, or be enrolled to begin the course at the commencement of the cadetship period, and meet the selection criteria defined by Peer Cadet Program host organisations.
Successful cadets will commence their placement in July/August 2025.
For more information visit Peer Cadet Program or email [email protected]
Pictured above: Some participants from the 2023/2024 intake of the Peer Cadet Program with Mind Lived Experience Project Lead Timothy McGregor.