Alex Vlahos was told to ‘jog it off’ and ‘toughen up’ to manage struggles in early childhood.

‘’This created an ongoing emotional challenge for me going into my adolescent years because I had all of these emotions but didn’t know how to express them,’’ he says.

A Dads and Fatherhood Worker at Centacare, Alex is now helping to break down the stigma around men’s mental health so that fathers feel comfortable to share their own struggles and seek the parenting supports they need.

Part of Alex’s role is to oversee Dad’s Business, a program which provides dads in the north with a designated safe space to seek parenting guidance, referrals to services, parenting education, advocacy and other supports.

Fathers engaged with Dad’s Business say they feel more confident as dads and have grown as people since they started visiting the program’s base, which opened at Elizabeth Rise Shopping Centre in 2019.

‘’I work with fathers in an honest and transparent manner,’’ says Alex, who shares his reflections on father-inclusive practices in new research released by Centacare and the University of South Australia.

‘’This creates a trust and will lead them to feeling comfortable with sharing their thoughts and feelings.’’

Many of the fathers Alex meets are impacted by inter-generational trauma and their parenting templates provide limited emotional responses and coping mechanisms.

Through a strengths-based and child-focused approach, Alex uses fatherhood as a motivator to address challenges such as financial distress, alcohol and drug use.

‘’The most satisfying part of my role is supporting fathers to be reflective around their parenting and the type of father they want to be for their children,’’ he says.

‘’When given a chance, most fathers can be incredibly insightful regarding their hopes and dreams for their children and how they want their children to think of them.

‘’One of the major themes at Dad’s Business is encouraging men to open up about their mental health, something that is generally seen as feminine.

‘’Supporting dads to identify and then verbalise when they are struggling has been huge.’’

Alex highlights the role of Dad’s Business in connecting fathers to supports such as Circle of Security.  

‘’The program encourages a lot of self-reflection, which supports fathers to identify how they are currently parenting and the changes they would like to make,’’ he says.

‘’I am currently supporting a father who has had his children returned to his care full-time.

‘’We meet regularly and he provides me with his good news stories of the week. I am proud that Dad’s Business provides this father with a space to share his successes and challenges.

‘’Another father has been able to reflect on the impact prioritising his work ahead of his children has on his relationship with them.

‘‘The father has expressed wanting to be more present for his children. I strongly believe that these conversations wouldn’t be possible without Dad’s Business.’’

Alex would like to see more men pursue a career in social work and notes the difference male peers and role models can make when engaging male clients.

‘’Being able to work with families to influence positive change is an extremely rewarding experience,’’ he says.

‘’Men bring unique perspectives and skills to social work. Breaking down traditional masculine norms, particularly around showing vulnerability and the need to appear strong, is central to our work.

‘’Being a male worker is an opportunity to be a positive example of masculinity, which is beneficial in building rapport, challenging gender norms, modelling emotion and share personal experiences as appropriate.’’

For decades, men have been comparatively absent on the frontline of social services, but a band of brothers at Centacare is changing that.

When Stuart Andary entered the workforce, he did as he was expected and forged a career in the male-dominated world of commerce.

‘’I come from a generally privileged upbringing and almost the default from that was go out and be a professional that makes a lot of money,’’ he said.

‘’I found myself uncomfortable and disenfranchised by that world but didn’t really feel there was an alternative so kept ploughing away.

‘’I spent a number of years being fairly unhappy about working in a space I assumed would bring me joy and some sort of personal sense of satisfaction, but not to be.’’

As Stuart (pictured, right) grew more frustrated by the masculine sense of privilege and entitlement he saw in play each day, he made the switch to social work.

Now he is among a group of men’s and fatherhood workers at Centacare who are challenging the social norms which have shaped workforces across society. 

Within community services, this has impacted not only ‘who’ does the work, but ‘how’ the work has been done.

Stuart’s journey is part of a wider shift that rethinks professional career pathways for men and, in doing so, invites males, in particular fathers, to access much-needed supports.

‘’As a male social worker, we are very much embraced and valued and I’m not sure that’s necessarily mirrored for women in male-dominated industries,’’ said Stuart, who works with RESTORE Intensive Family Services – South.

‘’The great benefit men can bring to this sector is to face the community they live in. Currently, social work shows a female face to the people 85 per cent of the time and that can make men feel family services are not targeted at them because they don’t see themselves in them.

‘’If more men are working in frontline social work roles, then the hope is more men will be inclined to reach out for help, and that can have an early intervention ripple effect.’’

New research reveals the reflections of seven dedicated men’s workers at Centacare, including Stuart.

The paper explores how father-inclusive practice can improve wellbeing outcomes for children and families engaged with child protection services.

Father-inclusive interventions provide an opportunity for clients to look at their experiences of childhood and fatherhood, and the impact of trauma and shame, while offering wraparound supports to assist with parenting and other challenges such as domestic violence.

‘’I am far from some sort of perfect pin-up of masculinity or what it is to be a man, but I can perhaps support the dads I work with to discover a different side of their masculine identity,’’ Stuart said.

‘’That can be done through offering empathy, deep listening, and understanding and kindness.

‘’My role is not to come at men in a critical, punitive way, but to help them see in a gentle, empathetic way, the factors and forces that have impacted their lives and led them to where they are now.

‘’I feel lucky to have the opportunity to do that.’’

RESTORE uses a multidisciplinary model that promotes strengthening and restoring parental capacity to improve family functioning and child safety.

Case Manager Alex Haines joined the service last year. He brings a background in psychology and experience working with male perpetrators of family violence.

‘’There is a belief that the work we do is specialist in a sense, but it is the same work our female colleagues are doing with their families,’’ he said.

‘’Our role is unique in that we are mandated to work with other men and provide them with an opportunity of contributing and realizing their worth within the family unit.’’

Alex (pictured, right) said the way young boys are often raised within their families to be a ‘man’, a father, and member of society, rarely supports them to develop the coping mechanisms needed for healthy partner relationships or to manage the responsibility and challenges of being an emotionally available father.

‘’Some of the men we work alongside can be quite overt in their beliefs about what it is to be a man – the idea that men don’t ask for help or show emotion has literally been beaten into them.

‘’So, it’s an exciting opportunity to show them a different way of still being able to survive and in fact thrive in society through being a different type of man.

‘’These guys allow us into their homes. You forget how much of an ask that is sometimes – to have someone come into your home, on a weekly basis, and talk to you about your parenting – yet they continue to come to us for support.

‘’In the broader sense, that’s something I’m quite proud of.’’

In the week of World Social Worker Day (March 21), Alex is encouraging other men to follow his lead into community services.

‘‘’I have always been quite interested in helping people and I think the profession of social work is the best way to do that,’’ he said.

‘’It is so well rounded and holistic and gives you a chance to help in every area of someone’s life rather than just one specific subset.’’

Meet Stuart and Alex here: https://youtu.be/lCXl5XujZCs

Read the paper here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/anzf.1517

Centacare has created an environment that fosters opportunity for women – in operational practice and leadership.

Of our 500 staff, 410 are female.

Led by Director Leanne Haddad and Deputy Director Pauline Connelly, we are honoured to follow in the footsteps of Centacare’s founding female executive, Hannah Buckley.

Hannah was a young graduate from the then newly-formed School of Social Work at the University of Adelaide when she was appointed to head up the Catholic Family Welfare Bureau in 1942.

Unafraid to fight for social justice, Hannah worked to reform children’s institutions with a focus on wellbeing of the child, and she was committed to reaching families and individuals facing complex challenges on the peripheries.

Today we celebrate women’s achievement. We celebrate Hannah, the highly-skilled staff who today uphold her values at Centacare, and the resilience, strength and courage of the female clients we support across generations.

In 2021-2022, Centacare supported 11,761 women.

International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks the call for a gender equal world.

A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women’s equality. Collectively we can all #EmbraceEquity.

The aim of the IWD 2023 #EmbraceEquity campaign theme is to get the world talking about Why equal opportunities aren’t enough. People start from different places, so true inclusion and belonging require equitable action. Read more about this here.

The back garden at Carlow Place will be in colour all year round after a visit from Habitat for Humanity this month.

The not-for-profit housing provider recently took its Brush with Kindness program to Elizabeth, enlisting the help of volunteers from accounting firm Grant Thornton to transform Carlow’s exterior with art.

Downing office tools for paint, the team of ten created a series of bold murals and rejuvenated tired outdoor furniture to inspire hope and happiness in young people.

Carlow Place provides emergency and 24-hour supported accommodation for up to eight clients aged 15 to 18 years who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

‘’Now, when we go outside, we see colour, nature and pictures that bring joy,’’ Manager Tracy Ingram said.

‘’It’s not easy for the young people when they first come here, with new faces, a new environment and new independent living skills to learn, so the bright outlook, paint boards and colourful seating helps lift to their spirits.’’

Brush with Kindness supports families and individuals to remain safely in their homes by mobilising small teams of volunteers to undertake minor repairs, landscaping and other small projects that can be completed in a day.

Habitat for Humanity Executive Officer Louise Hay said community and corporate volunteers relished the opportunity to give back through the program.

‘’The fact they are able to give back during work time is significant because often places they would like to volunteer are not open on the weekend,’’ Louise said.

‘’For the employer, it’s an opportunity to meet their corporate responsibility in a meaningful way and make a big difference to a large group of people in just one day.

”We believe proper shelter is the basis for helping families and individuals build strength, stability and self-reliance.’’

Habitat for Humanity first engaged Centacare in early 2022 when it led a garden blitz at Coolock House, Morphett Vale. Projects at Louise Place, Fullarton, and Malvern Place, at Blair Athol, followed.

The sites are part of the Young Families Support Program which provides onsite and outreach supports, and crisis and transitional housing, across metropolitan Adelaide.

‘’I have been working for Habitat for 13 years, and the first house we built was for a young woman who came to us through Malvern Place,’’ Louise said.

‘’She had been through horrific domestic violence, so to see her in her own home was something I’ll never forget.’’

Habitat for Humanity Australia is part of Habitat for Humanity, an international not-for-profit that originated in Georgia, United States in 1976. It began as a grassroots effort driven by the vision of a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live.

The housing organisation has since grown to become a leading global non-profit working in more than 70 countries. 

For more information about Habitat for Humanity’s work in South Australia, visit habitat.org.au

A sea of faces beam down from the walls at Hannah Place.

The collage of pictures, polaroids and ultrasound images begins in the hallway and wraps around the corner into the kitchen and living room.

Young mums cradle their newborns proudly. Others show off their growing baby bump and blow out candles on their little one’s birthday.

The pictures tell the story of the young women who are aged up to 18 years, and under Guardianship of the Chief Executive, who find a home at Hannah Place.

Still children themselves, they may be pregnant or parenting and require support to bond with and care for their baby.

“If they have been in care for a while, the young women often find it hard to trust as they are used to a high turnover of people in their life and have commonly experienced a lot of grief and loss,’’ says Tania Williams (pictured), Acting Social Worker.

‘’We work on building that rapport and we never give up on them. That’s what makes Hannah Place different. We consider this their home and often it’s the first place the young mums feel like they truly belong.’’

Making a difference

Many of the young women Tania meets have spent their whole life in care due to unresolved family crisis and complex trauma such as sexual abuse, domestic violence and mental distress.

Homelessness, exposure to domestic and family violence, and substance misuse are reoccurring themes.

Under a therapeutic, trauma-informed and culturally safe case management framework, clients are supported to develop their parenting capacity and mother/child attachment and, if their child has been removed from their care, to work towards reunification.

In 2021/2022, Hannah Place supported 11 young women and eight children.

‘’Even clients who haven’t lived here for years will still call us or come back to visit when they have an accomplishment or they are in a crisis, because they have that trust – they remember that we were the ones that cared and the sense of belonging they felt here,’’ Tania says.

‘’It doesn’t matter who answers the door, even if that young person doesn’t recognise the worker, she will still want to come in and share her story: she’s had another baby, she saved for a car or she got a job…

‘’That’s a measure of success because we have made a difference to how someone feels. I focus on that because the outcomes aren’t always a tick box.’’

The young women can stay at Hannah Place until they reach 18 when they are supported to transition to long-term housing. While some clients leave with a set of clear goals, for others the future is less certain.

‘’Some success stories are young mums moving on with their children in their care, parenting, getting employment and a house and a car – all those things that some of us take for granted or assume just happens for everyone,’’ Tania says.

‘’Others may not have their children with them, but their mental health might have improved, or they have a sense of belonging and they have learnt something about themselves.’’

Tania highlights Binny* who was placed in care as a young child and came to Hannah Place aged 16 and four months pregnant.

‘’Things hadn’t always gone well for her,’’ Tania says.

‘’She displayed all the characteristics of a young person in care and gave us plenty of challenges along the way, but as it got closer to birthing, she accepted our support and worked really hard on relationship building.

‘’She went from Hannah Place into a private rental. She took a photo of herself and her son and penned a letter to the real estate agent saying she needed a place that was stable, because she hadn’t had that as kid, and outlined what she had done with her life to get to that point.

‘’It was bittersweet when she left. She’s had another baby since and is going great guns.’’

Tania highlights the strides taken by another young woman whose child was removed and placed on a long-term care order.

‘’She was so resilient and did all the things required to focus on her child and she eventually had the order overturned and she has her child back in her care now.’’

World Care Day

On World Care Day, Tania is encouraging the wider community to look beyond the surface and take a less judgmental view of young people in all types of care who are living away from their family.

‘’I’d like the community to understand that there are feelings under certain behaviours,’’ Tania says.

‘’These girls are resourceful and resilient. Is life perfect for them? No. But considering their trauma and history, they are doing an absolutely remarkable job.’’

*Not her real name

Pictured: Tania Williams is Acting Social Worker at Hannah Place which supports young women in care who are pregnant or parenting.

Today is bittersweet for Brigitte Goepfert.

On one hand, February 13, the anniversary of the National Apology, will always be the day she found freedom.

On the other, it is a painful reminder that her identity was stolen at birth.

Brigitte has spent a lifetime picking up the pieces as one of the last forced adoptions in Australia – the past practice of taking babies from unmarried mothers, against their will.

Born in 1972, Brigitte grew up in a French-German household. At the age of 19, when her adoptive mother passed away, she applied for her adoption papers.

‘’That’s when I found out I am a First Nations person,’’ Brigitte says.

“My birth mother was 23. She didn’t have the capability to care for me and because my father was Aboriginal, her family basically said, ‘you can’t keep the baby’.

“I am a secret to that family. When I reached out to her, I had it in my head that I was going to have this great reunion, but I got a very cold, typed letter back saying `yes, I am that person and, no, I don’t want anything to do with you’.

“That was another hit because that also then stopped me being able to find out more about my paternal side.’’

All Brigitte knows is that she is a descendant of the Yirrganydji people, the traditional custodians of the land that runs northwards from Cairns, Queensland, to Port Douglas.

“I kept that hidden a lot because I didn’t know how to deal with it,’’ she says.

“I am fair skinned and blue eyed, so it was easy for me to slip through. I lived overseas for years, spoke French, spoke German, but when I went to work in Coober Pedy (Arabana country), I started connecting more with my culture.

“A lot of my friends there would call me kungka (woman in Pitjantjatjara) and say, ‘you’re Aboriginal, aren’t you?’

“It was the day of the Apology which gave me the freedom to go, you know what, yes I am; I might be fair skinned and blue eyed, but this is actually the reason why.’’

Brigitte, an Aboriginal Cultural Consultant with Centacare Foster Care and RESTORE Intensive Family Services, will never forget that day in 2008.

She was sitting in a conference room at the Department for Child Protection’s Murray Bridge office when Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made a formal apology to ​Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly to the Stolen Generations whose lives had been blighted by past government policies of forced child removal and assimilation.

”It was a significant turning point,” Brigitte says.

“For me, it gave me the freedom to be open and honest about who I am.

“I remember crying – I still get teary about it – because I feel like I was robbed of a lot.

“I don’t have a lot of information, so there are still parts of me that feel very disconnected. Sometimes I feel like a fraud because I didn’t grow up in community.’’

While the anniversary of the Apology is a milestone all Australians can be proud of, Brigitte says Stolen Generation survivors and families are still hurting.

“At the time, there was a lot of relief, a lot of joy that someone in Federal Parliament had acknowledged there had been assimilation and that policies were around,’’ she adds.

“I think people thought it would be the beginning of a big, big change and that we would be further along now, 15 years later, than what we are.

“The reality is, kids are coming into care at a higher rate, families are still highly dysfunctional, and the trauma and pain is still there.’’

In her role at Centacare, Brigitte supports foster households and families facing complex challenges to connect Aboriginal children in their care to culture.

Figures released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) in 2022 reveal that Indigenous children are now 11.5 times more likely to be placed in care than their non-Indigenous counterparts.

Highlighting this over-representation, 20 per cent of the children placed in the Centacare Foster Care program are Aboriginal.

“My job is to help the carers give children in care a different perspective because a lot of them are just like me – they haven’t been brought up in community, many are with non-aboriginal carers, and they are fair skinned,’’ she says.

“For me, it’s about supporting the carers to really help these kids to be proud of who they are.’’

Brigitte’s message today for people is to pause, reflect and continue the national conversation that Rudd began.

“The anniversary keeps it at the forefront of people’s minds and whether they think it’s a good or a bad thing, it does create debate and debate creates education,’’ she says.

“It is important we acknowledge the wrongs of the past while reflecting on the work that still needs to be done to address the impact of unresolved trauma.

“While the Apology was great, you have to have action as well to keep that healing going.’’

With so much of our time spent on devices, it has never been more important for parents to maintain a strong and positive connection with their children offline.

Centacare counsellors say being engaged, open and supportive is one of the best ways to give young people the confidence to make good decisions online and seek help when they need it.

”We can’t influence them if we are irrelevant in their life,’’ said Annette Flanagan, Family Relationships Counsellor.

”As a parent or carer, you’re a safe haven and a secure base for your kids, and we must be the same thing for them around this issue.

”It comes down to simple moments: being there for them and with them when you can; having things you like to do together; filling that bucket of relationship for the days when they withdraw from it.

”If you have that strong relationship, and they are coming to you when things go wrong, that’s the best we can hope for in many ways.”

Annette said it is important to keep lines of communication open, including talking to young people about their online experiences, the platforms they are on and how different apps work.

”It is important to be a part of their virtual worlds when we can, perhaps even paying online games with them at times,” she said.

Annette warns this should not be at the expense of setting boundaries and expectations around online activity and social media, as difficult as they are to enforce.

”Time online shouldn’t just be assumed as a given,’’ she said. “Some parents find it helpful to use media as a privilege children can have after they help about the house or spend time outside.

“Parents fear if they have too many boundaries they’ll lose connection with their child, but they should not be scared to parent this issue as they do any other.

“It is so much a part of young people’s lives, and it will be for a long time, so we must help them navigate it safely – not just from a punitive point of view but by taking an understanding and scaffolding approach.

“As humans, we are wired to connect, but if that only happens online there can be ramifications socially for young people.”

Annette said online activity, and the impact this has on family relationships, is among the most common challenges facing clients.

“Parents are often at a loss about what to do,’’ she said.

“I try and say to put it in perspective of any parenting decision they make because there are no hard and fast rules about things – what I do in my house might be different to your house – but think about it, be consistent and trust yourself.’’

*Online safety is a national focus this week, with Safer Internet Day bringing together communities, families, schools and organisations to encourage everyone to Connect. Reflect. Protect. The eSafetyCommissioner

Picture: Priscilla Du Preez

Four years ago, Centacare introduced 10 days paid domestic and family violence leave in the belief no one should have to choose between their job or their safety.

From today, employees across Australia can access the same entitlement, as new laws come into effect to empower at-risk workers’ decision-making and help-seeking capabilities.

The legislation aims to give full-time, part-time and casual employees the time and space to escape unsafe relationships, without risking their financial security.

Centacare Director Leanne Haddad welcomed the change, saying it will allow employees nationwide to “hold onto their jobs’’ while creating “space and time’’ for them to make informed decisions, navigate the criminal justice system and access specialist support services.

‘’In recent years, Centacare has supported a number of people through this process, not only with paid leave but with flexible workplace arrangements,’’ Leanne said.

‘’I’ve seen how the 10 days can be quite lifechanging for individuals in the workplace.’’

Previously, under Fair Work legislation, employees were entitled to a minimum five days unpaid leave.

Centacare went a step further in mid-2019 and introduced the additional 10-day paid leave to assist workers to access vital resources, support and safety planning.

Leanne said while the workplace is the “safest place for many’’, people in violent relationships are often reluctant to disclose they are experiencing violence to an employer, due to fear and shame.

‘’People may not want to tell their workplace about what they are going through, so they will come to work at the expense of safety in their home or for their families,’’ she said.

‘’An understanding workplace is a key enabler for victims to leave violent relationships because it can empower them to seek support.’’

Under the new leave entitlements, employees can take paid leave to: make arrangements for their safety or the safety of a close relation; attend court hearings; access police services; and attend counselling and other appointments such as legal or medical consultations.

Leanne encouraged at-risk workers to reach out to their employer for support.

‘’Find a trusted person within your workplace, whether that’s through HR or your Employee Assistance Programs, because it’s really important that your workplace understands you and supports you through this process,’’ she said.

Centacare Catholic Family Services is the biggest regional provider of specialist domestic violence and homelessness support in South Australia.

Southern Country Domestic Violence Service Regional Manager Susie Smith said paid leave can prevent victims and survivors from falling into poverty and unemployment.

 ‘’Financial difficulties are often the main issues that keeps women in unsafe relationships,’’ Susie said.

‘’Domestic and family violence leave supports her to get the professional support she needs to leave that relationship safely.

‘’The 10-day leave also supports a broader understanding of the issues people face when they experience gender-based abuse.’’

A groundbreaking report released by Anne Summers last year sets out the financial challenges women encounter when leaving abusive relationships which leaves them with an impossible choice between violence and poverty.

Eight self-contained units in Adelaide’s north will become temporary emergency accommodation for homeless families as part of a new initiative to help find pathways into permanent housing.

Peppertree Place will provide an alternative for families who would otherwise be in hotel rooms, and is a partnership between the Adelaide North West Homelessness Alliance (ANWHA) and the South
Australian Housing Authority (SAHA).

Alliance Senior Manager ANWHA Orla Matthews said the accommodation would provide homeless
families with a more suitable alternative to emergency hotel accommodation.

“While some families are able to access emergency hotel accommodation, it’s really not an ideal
environment, with families large and small often living and sleeping in one room, with limited access
to cooking facilities, and limited access for pets.

“Peppertree Place will be a much better alternative for families, with our support services then able
to walk them through the entire process of finding a new, more permanent home.

“With fully equipped kitchens, renovated bathrooms, separate bedrooms and a family living area,
these units will provide a safer, more suitable environment for families while we help them to secure
longer term options.”

The units were previously part of a youth housing initiative, and have more recently been used as
offices for community services which have since relocated.

Human Services Minister, the Hon. Nat Cook MP, will officially launch the project at a special event
today.

“While so many organisations do amazing work to support those requiring crisis accommodation, we
know that families experiencing the stress of homelessness aren’t best served in motel rooms,”
Minister Cook said.

“The reasons for this are many, including the fact that space is limited, facilities are not designed for
families and crowding can increase an already highly stressful situation for parents and kids,” she
said.

“Our vulnerable families need their own space to stabilise, to enhance dignity and prepare
themselves for longer-term accommodation.

“Peppertree Place provides an opportunity to trial a residential crisis accommodation model for
families. It’s a remarkable place made possible by the State Government in partnership with the
Adelaide North-West Homelessness Alliance.”

ANWHA supports people experiencing or at risk of homelessness across Adelaide’s north-west and is
a collaboration between Aboriginal Sobriety Group, AnglicareSA, Centacare, SA Housing Authority, St
John’s Youth Services, The Salvation Army, Uniting Communities and UnitingSA.

Find out more at www.anwhahome.org.au

Over the past two years, Centacare’s Registered Training Organisation, in partnership with Mental Health Coalition of South Australia’s Lived Experience Workforce Program (LEWP), has been delivering CHC43515 Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work.

With the continued support of Country SA Primary Health Network (CSAPHN), Centacare in collaboration with LEWP, is now delivering the qualification in regional South Australia across the Limestone Coast, Flinders Upper North, Yorke and northern regions.

Information sessions

Learn more at upcoming online information sessions:

> January 18 – for potential learners not currently working (hosted by Mental Health Coalition of South Australia)

> January 25 – for those currently in the workforce (facilitated by Centacare)

Why study with us?

CHC43515 Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work is the national qualification that is required to work as a qualified Lived Experience (Peer) worker.

By offering this nationally recognised training in regional SA, we hope to address current workforce shortages that exist within the mental health, suicide prevention and disability sectors in rural and remote communities.

> Gain nationally recognised qualification

> Learn how to use your lived experience in mental health distress to support others

> Develop skills and confidence to respond to people who need support

> Become an advocate for lived experience workforce and consumers and carers accessing services

> Receive ongoing and individual support while you study

> Grow on a personal and professional level

With learner retention rates of over 80% in the last cohort, and 75% employment outcomes, we are well on our way to continue paving the path for a highly skilled and responsive peer workforce.