Peer work

“Peer work is liberating and transformative - we get to be ourselves; our true selves are recognised and valued and we use our experience and our unique set of skills to support others or to change lives, services and systems.”

On this page you will find information about:

New sections coming soon:

Moments of impact

Discover how lived experience is creating meaningful change across South Eastern NSW.

These moments of impact showcase the power of peer work in action, from building connections and strengthening communities to supporting recovery, wellbeing and hope.

Slide 1.

Intentional Peer Support training

In 2025, local peer workers and managers took part in Intentional Peer Support (IPS) training, an internationally recognised program that goes beyond skill-building to nurture the heart of peer work itself.

Interested in future IPS training opportunities? Complete our training register expression of interest form to receive updates about future training, professional development, networking events and more.

External Link Read more here

Read more about Intentional Peer Support training
Slide 2.

Regional Peer Network reflections - Vicki

"I don't know if you've ever had the privilege to sit in a room full of peer workers? But there is no experience quite like it."

Read Vicki’s reflection on how Regional Peer Networks foster connection, shared learning and a sense of belonging for peer workers across South Eastern NSW.

Interested in joining the Regional Peer Network? Learn more and sign up here!

External Link Read more here

Read more about Regional Peer Network reflections - Vicki
Slide 3.

December Letters

The December Letters initiative showcases the heart of peer work in action.

By sharing handwritten messages of encouragement and solidarity with people in inpatient wards, peer workers created meaningful moments of connection and reminded others that hope, care and community can be found even in the hardest of seasons.

Interested in learning more about the Regional Peer Network? Learn more here!

External Link Read more here

Read more about December Letters
Slide 4.

Regional Peer Network - Nan Tien temple

In a sector where peer workers are often asked to give, to hold space, to offer insight, to support others, this meeting offered something different: the chance to simply receive. Set in the peaceful surrounds of Nan Tien Temple, this Regional Peer Network gathering offered peer workers a chance to restore, reflect and deepen their practice through shared learning and connection.

Interested in joining the Regional Peer Network? Learn more and sign up here!

External Link Read more here

Read more about Regional Peer Network - Nan Tien temple
Slide 5.

Youth Reference group camp

At the annual headspace Youth Reference Group Camp, members of the South Eastern NSW peer workforce shared their personal journeys and introduced young people to the possibilities of peer work.

Their stories demonstrated how lived experience can be transformed into leadership, purpose and a rewarding career in mental health.

External Link Read more here

Read more about Youth Reference group camp

Slide 1 of 5

Join a Regional Peer Network

The Regional Peer Networks bring together peer workers from across South Eastern NSW to connect, co-reflect, access professional development and wellbeing resources and to network. These spaces are specifically for those employed in peer work positions (or training to be a peer worker) to discuss peer work practice. It's the perfect space to:

co-reflect on peer practice
access professional development opportunities
network with other peer workers
contribute to peer workforce development and advocacy projects.

Hear from our Regional Peer Network members below:

I have found the Regional Peer Network meetings to be a really valuable space which has helped facilitate my learning about peer work and the different nature of the work we do in our region. I have been able to connect and create lasting relationships with others and I have become more confident about my role and the importance of Peer Work in the community.

Hear from our Regional Peer Network members below:

Each time I leave a Peer Network Meeting, I feel like my cup has been refilled with a sense of connection, hope, and inspiration to share with the people I work with.

We are reminded why we come together, why we are in these roles in the first place and that we contribute to something bigger.

Hear from our Regional Peer Network members below:

This Regional Peer Network has been a highlight of my job. Being able to learn from and network with other peer workers and organizations has been really beneficial to me and to keeping the spark of peer work alight in my Peer Work.

Hear from our Regional Peer Network members below:

The Shoalhaven Illawarra Regional Peer Network is an invaluable resource for connection, validation and professional development.

As we continue to break down stigma and judgement around mental health, being a part of a supportive community is essential. This Regional Peer Network provides that support, fostering an environment where members can share experiences and insights, ultimately enhancing our practice.

Hear from our Regional Peer Network members below:

I have valued the opportunity to hear from the broader network, and learn from a diverse group of Peer Workers, that I wouldn't normally have access to. I have built friendships through the group, and in this a sense of togetherness, and validation in some of the challenges (and successes) we might have in our role as a Peer Worker.

News and upcoming opportunities

Stay up to date with the latest peer workforce news, training opportunities, consultations, surveys and upcoming events.

Want to be the first to hear about future peer work training opportunities? Complete our expression of interest form to receive updates about training, professional development, networking events and more.

Submit your EOI and join the training register here.

Don't miss upcoming training and events - Join our training register
Training opportunities and peer workforce development activities are regularly offered throughout South Eastern NSW.
If you'd like to be among the first to hear about:
- peer workforce training
- professional development opportunities
- workshops and events.
External Link Register your interest here!
South Eastern NSW mental health peer workforce to be showcased on global stage

27 March 2026

COORDINARE - South Eastern NSW PHN has been selected from hundreds of applications to present its work at the International Conference on Integrated Care in the United Kingdom in April 2026...

External Link Read more here
Local mental health peer workforce development program highly commended

8 September 2025

COORDINARE has been recognised at The Mental Health Service Awards of Australia and New Zealand in Brisbane this week for its work to build resilience in the region’s mental health peer workforce...

External Link Read more here
Leading Australian mental health peer workforce development

27 March 2025

South Eastern NSW continues to lead Australia in investing in the professional development and career progression of the mental health peer (lived experience) workforce...

External Link Read more here

Our Peer Work Framework

The South Eastern NSW Peer Work Framework is the only framework in Australia designed specifically to support peer workers in regional and rural areas, addressing the unique challenges of distance, isolation, and stigma.

It stands as a national example of how to create sustainable, supported peer workforces that reduce stigma, build equity, and transform services from within.

The framework provides practical tools to define, support, and strengthen peer work. It offers clear values and principles to guide everyday practice, alongside access to regional networks, professional development opportunities, and structures that enable peer work to thrive across rural and regional settings.

It is designed not only as a strategy but for everyday use; by peer workers, managers, and multidisciplinary teams alike to embed lived experience as a visible, valued, and integral part of mental health care.

Access the framework here

Coming soon - Peer Report

The Peer Report is currently being developed and celebrates the growth of the lived experience peer workforce across South Eastern NSW.

It showcases the progress and impact of the South Eastern NSW Peer Work Framework in action: from the expansion of roles across new services, to the professional development, networks, and moments of impact that are transforming lives and organisations.

This report is designed as both a record and a resource.

It can be used to understand the progress of the South Eastern NSW Peer Work Framework, learn from examples of peer workforce development and implementation, and draw inspiration from stories of impact across the region. It is intended as a tool for reflection, learning, and action.

Coming soon - Peers at the Table podcast

Peers at the Table is our lived-experience podcast where we share stories, bust myths and transform care.

This new podcast series is currently being recorded and will be available soon.

Have any questions or want to get more involved?

Email Courtney Cross, Program Lead, Regional Peer Workforce at COORDINARE - South eastern NSW PHN.

Email ccross@coordinare.org.au

Peer work

Moments of impact

Intentional Peer Support training

Regional Peer Network reflections - Vicki

December Letters

Regional Peer Network - Nan Tien temple

Youth Reference group camp

Join a Regional Peer Network

Hear from our Regional Peer Network members below:

Hear from our Regional Peer Network members below:

Hear from our Regional Peer Network members below:

Hear from our Regional Peer Network members below:

Hear from our Regional Peer Network members below:

News and upcoming opportunities

Don't miss upcoming training and events - Join our training register

South Eastern NSW mental health peer workforce to be showcased on global stage

Local mental health peer workforce development program highly commended

Leading Australian mental health peer workforce development

Our Peer Work Framework

Coming soon - Peer Report

Coming soon - Peers at the Table podcast

Have any questions or want to get more involved?