Psycho-social Support Worker - HOPE

Bayside Health

Bayside Health is a public health service delivering high-quality care across every stage of life for close to 1.2 million people living in metropolitan Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula, Koo Wee Rup, Bass Coast and Southern Gippsland. We have more than 15 main sites, including hospitals, centres and clinics that provide comprehensive care from welcoming newborns to supporting older people and a full range of services in between. More than 22,000 dedicated staff are focused on providing exceptional, equitable, and locally connected care through shared expertise, compassion, and a commitment to continuous growth. Education and training are central to staff development as we encourage all employees to strive and thrive. Bayside Health was formed following the merger of Alfred Health, Bass Coast Health, Gippsland Southern Health Service, Kooweerup Regional Health Service and Peninsula Health on 1 January 2026.

• Permanent, Part time 0.8 EFT (64hours)  
• Community Development Worker Grade CL 2A (years 5-10) 
• Monday to Friday with 1 evening per week required
• Based at 549 St Kilda Rd
• Great staff benefits! 5 weeks annual leave and salary packaging

The Department

Bayside Health is a public health service delivering high-quality care across every stage of life for close to 1.2 million people living in metropolitan Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula, Koo Wee Rup, Bass Coast and Southern Gippsland.

We have more than 15 main sites, including hospitals, centres and clinics that provide comprehensive care from welcoming newborns to supporting older people and a full range of services in between.

The HOPE Suicide Prevention team provide 3 months’ intensive outreach psycho-social support and brief interventions to individuals discharged from hospital post a suicide attempt or who have presented with serious suicidal ideation.

The Role

In keeping with the goals of the Victorian suicide prevention framework 2016–25, the Alfred HOPE team aims to provide support and build resilience in individuals who have experienced suicidal crisis by engaging them with intensive outreach support and holistic, flexible, individualised care. The HOPE team is a multidisciplinary team including clinicians, psychosocial support workers, and lived experience workforce. Psychosocial Support Workers work in collaboration with and under the supervision of clinicians, senior clinicians and leadership within the HOPE team.

Psychosocial Support Workers work with consumers for up to 3 months to address the stressors/gaps in their life, develop safety plans and facilitate community engagement. Referrals may be received from other AMAH teams or from external sources including individuals and other supporters. Some individuals who are identified to be at higher risk will be managed by CATT in the first instance and parallel engagement will occur until their risk has subsided.

Psychosocial Support Workers work with clients to implement the strategies developed in collaboration with the consumer and the clinical team, and promote wellbeing by supporting connectedness with the community. This is achieved by assisting clients in navigating services; providing transport to appointments if available and appropriate; ensuring linkage with appropriate health practitioners, community services and recreational groups. Psychosocial Support Workers promote a healthy lifestyle and through general problem solving assist the client to take steps in making positive changes to their lives and more effectively manage their distress.

It is expected clinicians and Psychosocial Support Workers will adopt an approach that minimises the risk of further suicide attempts by engaging clients in the ongoing assessment of their risk, develops self-awareness, and engages clients in a collaborative suicide prevention plan that is personalised and strengths based.

Experience and Qualifications Required

Essential

• Hold a qualification in a health-related field and/or engaged in further studies, OR
• Significant demonstrated work experience in a relevant field
• A current Victorian Drivers Licence

Desirable

• Other relevant qualifications (or working towards) in a relevant area such as drug and alcohol or psychosocial or therapeutic interventions.
• Experience working with individuals in crisis or with mental health issues

Staff Benefits

• Salary packaging & novated leasing through Maxxia
• Flexible health insurance coverage through HCF Health Insurance
• Onsite car (subject to availability) and bike parking opportunities, deducted pre-tax(Subject to availability)
• Fantastic onsite fitness facilities at The Alfred through ProSport health and fitness
• Childcare services at The Alfred managed by KU Children’s Services

For enquiries regarding this position, please contact HOPE team leader Juliet Thornton on 0457 451 834 or [email protected]

Advertising closes: 11pm, Thursday 29th January 2026

We embrace diversity and strive to have a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We actively encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, and people of all genders, sexualities, and cultural backgrounds.

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application materials, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad.

In accordance with the Health Services Amendment (Mandatory Vaccination of Healthcare Workers) Act 2020, health care workers in Category A or B roles (as determined by the department’s risk ratings) are required to be vaccinated against influenza or hold an acceptable medical exemption.