Become a Peer Academy mentor

The Peer Academy is a supported vocational pathway that helps young people (aged 18-30) transform their lived and living experience of mental health challenges into meaningful careers as Peer Workers.

The Peer Academy equips young people with the skills, confidence and connections to enter the peer workforce and use their experiences to create hope, connection and positive change for others. 

It offers an alternative to traditional education pathways over four months of flexible, bite-sized learning including micro-credentials that contribute towards a Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work, mentoring, practical work experience and a strong community of support.

The Peer Academy is developed by COORDINARE- The South Eastern NSW Primary Health Network (PHN).

COORDINARE aims to improve the health and wellbeing of the community by helping community members to make informed choices about their health and wellbeing, funding services to address local health care needs, and supporting health professionals to provide exceptional care and deliver better consumer experiences.  

The Peer Academy is built on a simple belief: young people with lived and living experience have something essential to offer the mental health system.

This belief was reinforced when we visited a headspace Youth Reference Group camp in 2025 and heard from young people who had firsthand experience navigating mental health challenges and supporting others.

While they spoke passionately about wanting to improve systems and help future generations, many shared a deep concern that a career in the sector felt out of reach. The demands, pace and structure of traditional tertiary education pathways did not seem possible alongside the time and energy required to manage their mental health, maintain wellbeing, or fulfil caring responsibilities. 

These conversations highlighted a significant gap. Young people with invaluable lived and living experience, insight and leadership potential are often excluded from pathways into the workforce, not because they lack capability or commitment, but because conventional entry routes are not designed with their realities in mind. 

The Peer Academy is here to change that. By creating alternative pathways into the peer workforce, it aims to equip young people with the skills, confidence and connections they need to build grow a peer career. 

Peer Mentors are a core component of the Peer Academy experience. Each Academy participant will be matched with a Peer Mentor who will provide support, encouragement, and guidance as they complete the program and transition into their first work experience opportunity. 

As a mentor, you will help emerging Peer Workers build confidence, navigate new experiences, reflect on their learning, and develop their professional peer identity. You will also have the opportunity to share your own knowledge and experiences, helping to inspire and support the next generation of the peer workforce. 

Mentors will support participants throughout the three-month pilot program from January to April 2027. Participants and mentors will first come together at the Peer Academy Bootcamp in January 2027, with mentors also participating in professional development activities to strengthen their mentoring skills and connect with other Peer Workers.  

Mentor responsibilities include:

	Participating in mentor training.
	Organising and facilitating fortnightly mentoring sessions with your mentee’s.
	Hosting one lunch and learn activity in the Academy curriculum for all Peer Academy members.
	Providing verbal and written feedback to mentees.
	Logging progress and milestones across the program.
	Participating in co-design and evaluation processes.

Becoming a Peer Mentor is an opportunity to invest in the future of the peer workforce while continuing your own professional growth and development. By sharing your knowledge, experience, and insights, you can help emerging Peer Workers build confidence, strengthen their practice, and successfully transition into the workforce. 

Mentoring offers a unique opportunity for mutual learning, co-reflection, self-discovery and leadership development all while supporting the next generation of peer workers. 

Benefits of becoming a Peer Mentor include: 

• Developing and strengthening mentoring and leadership skills. 

• Deepening your own practice through co-reflection, shared learning, and new perspectives. 

• Building meaningful connections with emerging Peer Workers and supporting their career development. 

• Sharing your areas of expertise and passion through Academy learning activities. 

• Expanding your professional peer network. 

• Contributing to a future peer workforce that is connected to the values, history, and foundations of peer work.