The Peer Support Team

The volunteer Peer Support Program was developed in response to client feedback that young people want to talk to 'someone who has been there', meaning another young person who has experienced a mental illness who has been a client at Orygen.
So, we developed a Peer Support Team!

 

WHO ARE THE PEER SUPPORT WORKERS?
All of our volunteer Peer Support Workers are young people who have been clients at Orygen in the past and have now been discharged.
They each have their own personal experience with mental illness including anxiety, depression, bipolar, psychosis, borderline personality disorder just to name a few.
They all have a passion for helping other young people and are here to share their stories and support you if you want someone to talk to or want to hear someone's else's experience.

 

WHAT CAN I TALK TO THEM ABOUT?
You can talk to the Peer Support Workers about pretty much anything! You might have some specific questions or want to hear how a Peer Support Worker faced a particular situation. A lot of young people just want to have a yarn about how they're feeling or hear from someone who's been through similar stuff. People talk about a range of topics like friendships, relationships, school, uni, work, stigma, managing symptoms, medications, diet, exercise, drug and alcohol use, good coping strategies, self care, discharge from Orygen, how to make a complaint or give feedback, and making the most out of Orygen's services.

 

HOW DO I ACCESS PEER SUPPORT WORKERS?
The Peer Support Workers attend regular shifts at the Inpatient Unit. They hang out and are available to chat on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, just ask the nursing staff what time they'll be coming in.

To find out how YOU can become a Peer Support Worker click here