Senior Consumer Consultant

Job Description:

This is a Consumer Lived/Living Experience Position – you must state in your cover letter having a Lived/Living Experience of mental health challenges and of accessing mental health services and how this has changed the course of your life. 

• Excellent benefits including salary packaging 
• Hawthorn location 
• Ongoing training and development opportunities 
• Friendly and supportive environment 
• Permanent part-tiime 19 hours per week (0.5 FTE) 
• Salary Range $76,086 - $83,169 (pro-rata)

About the Role 

Under the direction of the Director of Lived Experience Workforce and Strategy, and in collaboration with the Consumer Reference Committee and the Service as a whole, the Senior Consumer Consultant will advocate for consumers of SVMH, utilising consumer perspectives and expertise to uphold the human rights of individuals. The Senior Consumer Consultant will have a thorough understanding of co-production, co-design, and consultation principles and embed these into SVMH practice to promote and enable diverse consumer perspectives to be included in service planning, design, delivery and evaluation.

The Senior Consumer Consultant will also use their own lived and living expertise, their knowledge of the consumer movement, and their understanding of the current Victorian mental health landscape to assist in the improvement of SVMH responsiveness to consumer needs, and to communicate and advocate for the diverse views of consumers as appropriate and in line with their position duties.

• Work within the recovery orientated practice using Strengths Model of Care promoting co-production, co-design and consultation principles to enable consumer engagement and participation
• Organise and chair the Consumer Reference Committee, providing appropriate information and support to Consumer Representatives and other Committee Members in all aspects of committee activities, and ensuring adequate feedback, complaints and risk mitigation strategies are in place
• Work collaboratively with the Lived Experience Workforce Coordinator to provide support to the LLE workforce, attend regular peer meetings, and contribute to the further development of the LLEW Strategy and Framework.
• Design, deliver and evaluate training and education for consumers, LLEW, non-LLEW and/or the broader community, independently or in collaboration with the Peer Educators, other LLEW or the non-LLEW Education Team. Topics may include but are not limited to, LLEW scope of practice, the consumer movement, consumer perspective topics etc
• As requested by the Director of Lived Experience Workforce and Strategy, participate in the Mental Health Quality and Risk and Operations meetings and/or other meetings relevant to the improvement of consumer mental health care
• Contribute to the planning, design, delivery and evaluation of quality improvement projects
• Support the review of SVMH policies, procedures and other relevant documentation to incorporate consumer perspectives and enhance the provision of high-quality care

The Senior Consumer Consultant will provide supervision to Level 1 and 2 Lived Experience Workers where appropriate and needed, such as the level 2 Consumer Consultant. 

Classifications for this position will range from MP36 - MP39 Lived Experience Worker Level 3 ($76,086 - $83,169 per annum pro rata)

Your Contribution 

Essential:

• Direct personal lived/living experience of mental health challenges, and of accessing and navigating public mental health services, in a way that has changed the course of your life
• At least 2 years’ experience as a Lived/Living Experience Worker in mental health
• Demonstrated ability and experience contributing to projects which support consumer engagement or quality improvement activities
• Experience participating in the design, delivery and/or evaluation of training and education
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills, including problem solving ability and conflict resolution skills, as well as sound oral and writing skills. 
• Intermediate IT skills including proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite Sound working knowledge of and a commitment to recovery-oriented practice, strengths-based models of care and co-production principles. 
• Demonstrated experience in working as part of a multidisciplinary team with influence.
• Demonstrated ability to advocate for systemic change in mental health.
• An understanding and working knowledge of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022 and other relevant legislation.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and effectively with multiple key stakeholders both internal and external to St. Vincent’s Hospital (including consumers, family-carers-supporters and community agencies).
• Ability in the provision of culturally competent services appropriate to the needs of people from diverse backgrounds including those from a CALD background.
• Current Victorian driver’s license
• A valid Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check or willing to obtain

Desirable:

• Tertiary qualification in a related area (e.g., peer work, mental health, social sciences, community development, mad studies etc)
• Intentional Peer Support Core and Advanced Training (or willingness to undertake) Consumer Perspective Supervision Training (or commitment to undertake as soon as possible)

What We Offer 

• A focus on wellbeing initiatives, with regular events and programs

• Confidential, solutions-focused employee counselling

• A healthy work/life balance encouraged.

• Ability to join Fitness Passport - Your pass to an extensive choice of fitness facilities

• Salary Packaging – Increase your take home pay!

• Discounts and Promotions always available through our Foundation

• Regular opportunities for professional development to assist you to reach your career goals

• Culture of continuous improvement

Working at St Vincent’s 

St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne (SVHM) is a leading teaching, research and tertiary health service. SVHM provides a diverse range of adult clinical services and is driven by values of Compassion, Justice, Integrity and Excellence. 

Application 

• Please attach your resume and cover letter, addressing at least the first six essential selection criteria, to your application. 

NOTE: your application as a whole should also evidence meeting all the selection criteria

Shortlisting for this position will commence immediately. We encourage you to apply promptly as the advertisement may close early should a suitable applicant be sourced. 
 
We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and abilities. Inclusion is essential to our mission and diversity reflects the community we serve. 
 

Please visit our website, for further information regarding our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment at SVHM

SVHA has a duty of care under work health and safety legislation to eliminate and/or control the risk of transmission of vaccine preventable diseases in healthcare settings. You may therefore be required to undergo mandatory immunisations/vaccinations (including flu vaccinations).

Closing Date:

11 April 2026 11:59pm

Reconciliation Action Plan:

At St Vincent's we acknowledge the importance of creating a work environment that is welcoming, safe, equitable and inclusive for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Employees. As part of our Commitment to Reconciliation and Closing the Gap in employment related outcomes, we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

For further information, visit https://www.svha.org.au/about-us/reconciliation or get in contact at indigenouscareers@svha.org.au

View Reconciliation Action Plan

Code of Conduct:

View Code of Conduct