Are you currently working in or have previously worked in a peer-to-peer support role in the APS? A peer-to-peer support role is a role such as Mental Health First Aid Officer, Indigenous or disability liaison officer experience (or similar).
A flagship initiative between the APS Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Unit (the Unit) and the Department of Home Affairs will examine, at the micro-skill level, what kind of peer-to-peer capabilities the APS should develop to build the overall mental health and wellbeing capability of its workforce.
Commonwealth staff with peer support officer roles are invited to complete a short survey before Monday 15 August 2022. Feedback will help inform the discovery phase of the initiative, which will adopt a human-centred design approach, and will culminate in a foundational eLearning program focused on building peer support capability within the APS.
Connie Galati, the Unit’s Senior Clinical Psychologist and lead for the project says, “Most people that experience an emotionally impactful event do not need to immediately seek the support of psychologists or counsellors. They seek out their peers, colleagues, friends and family for support and validation. That is why this work is so important.”