Peer Support Volunteer

About this opportunity

PANDA is seeking Peer Support Volunteers to work on its National Helpline. The National Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Helpline provides support, information, counselling and referral to people experiencing perinatal anxiety and depression.

PANDA recruits and trains Peer Support Volunteers who work alongside professional counselling staff to deliver our National Perinatal and Anxiety Helpline service. Volunteers must be parents or grandparents who have had a lived experience of perinatal anxiety and depression (self or carer) or have faced other significant challenges in the perinatal period.

All volunteers must be at a point in their personal recovery where they can sufficiently support others. As our training program and Helpline is currently based in North Fitzroy, we can only recruit volunteers who live in Victoria. Peer Support Volunteers provide counselling and peer support to expectant parents, new parents, concerned family members and friends and health professionals. Following a supportive 8 week training program, volunteers are required to undertake a three hour shift once per week from either 10am to 1:00pm or 1:30 to 4:30pm for a minimum of 12 months.

PANDA runs two training programs which are usually held at the start and end of the year. Peer Support volunteers are supported by a team of caring professionals who provide ongoing supervision, support and de-briefing. Professional development opportunities are also available through ongoing seminars and workshops. All applicants will need to attend an individual interview and undertake a Police check.

Additional requirements

National Police Certificate ^*.

• Counselling & Help Line