Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
22/07/2026 8:29 PM AWST
22/07/2026 8:29 PM AWST
Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.
Work effectively in carer mental health peer work
Work effectively in carer mental health peer work
Unit of competency
National Code
CHCPW408A
CHCPW408A
State Code
WC992
WC992
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Replaced
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
10/09/2013
Field of Education
120505 - Work Practices Programmes
Original Release Date
10/09/2013
Nominal Hours
40
Description
This unit describes the knowledge and skills required to be effective as a mental health carer peer worker
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
Establish and maintain effective carer peer work relationships
- 1.1 Use lived experience to establish and maintain a safe and positive working relationship with other carers
- 1.2 Clarify role of carer peer worker at initial engagement to clarify role expectations and define appropriate relationship guidelines
- 1.3 Build effective communication strategies to clarify meaning and build aworking relationship based on shared understanding
- 1.4 Discuss carer needs and goals using a strengths based approach to address their own needs and identify required carer support
- 1.5 Collaborate with the carer to establish a carer support plan
Facilitate access to resources and information
- 2.1 Provide information about opportunities and strategies for carers to achieve their preferred support
- 2.2 Provide appropriate information and education on a range of matters relating to carer support
- 2.3 Maintain accurate information and regularly review for currency and relevance
- 2.4 Compile carer developed resources and literature for access to service users and staff
Provide support and services
- 3.1 Use strategies to ensure all interactions with carers uphold the principles and practices of peer work
- 3.2 Collaborate with carers and relevant others to ensure that individual and cultural needs are addressed
- 3.3 Collaborate with carers to ensure appropriate levels and opportunities for carer consultation
- 3.4 Facilitate and support carer networks and represent carer perspectives
- 3.5 Respond promptly and supportively to carers in distress or crisis, in accordance with duty of care and organisation policies and procedures
- 3.6 Complete documentation, records of service and reports as this applies to carer peer work
- 3.7 Follow organisation’s policy and procedures particularly in relation to code of conduct, ethics, duty of care, record keeping, confidentiality and privacy, as this applies to carer peer work
- 3.8 Identify and minimise role strain, role conflict and role confusion issues in a timely way
- 3.9 Maintain boundaries appropriate to the delivery of peer delivered services
Work collaboratively with other staff
- 4.1 Discuss limits of own knowledge, abilities and work role and make appropriate referral as required in accordance with organisation’s policy and procedures
- 4.2 Work collaboratively with other service staff and mental health workers to support holistic and seamless services
- 4.3 Contribute to policy development about peer issues
- 4.4 Promote the service and peer work to other workers
The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.
Lived experience in this context as a Carer is defined as:
The personal experience of being in a carer role with a person who is living with mental illness. This experience includes the carer’s mental, physical, emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing and may have significant social and economic impacts
Maintain a safe and positive working relationship includes:
appropriate use of lived experience as a carer
defining carer peer work relationship
clarifying expectations
maintaining self-care strategies
accessing self-care strategies
awareness of own vulnerabilities and that of the carer
honest and trusting communications
Clarify role of carer peer worker which may include but is not limited to:
providing information about services and opportunities for carer support services and participation in service delivery
community and service educator
facilitator of carer support groups
carer representative at local and national level
independent carer consultants
appropriate sharing of lived experience as a carer
referral to internal and/or external services
advocate for carers
Effective communication strategies may include:
Appropriate disclosure and use of lived experience as a carer
Collaborative consultation
Empathy
Engagement
Giving hope
Listening and responding to the person verbal and nonverbal communication
Non-judgemental and sensitive approach
Rapport building
Respect
Valuing and responding to the uniqueness of each person
Working with the person’s own understanding of their experience
Carer needs may include:
Culturally sensitive services and resources
Disability services
Emotional support and resilience strategies
Financial and economic opportunities relevant to care provisions
Grief and loss counselling and support services
Health services for social and emotional wellbeing
Access to information on affordable housing options
Legal information and support services
Mental health services providing support to carers
Social and recreational belonging and inclusion
Spiritual connectedness
Information on trauma informed care
Information on recovery oriented practices and principles
Lived experience in this context as a Carer is defined as:
The personal experience of being in a carer role with a person who is living with mental illness. This experience includes the carer’s mental, physical, emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing and may have significant social and economic impacts
Maintain a safe and positive working relationship includes:
appropriate use of lived experience as a carer
defining carer peer work relationship
clarifying expectations
maintaining self-care strategies
accessing self-care strategies
awareness of own vulnerabilities and that of the carer
honest and trusting communications
Clarify role of carer peer worker which may include but is not limited to:
providing information about services and opportunities for carer support services and participation in service delivery
community and service educator
facilitator of carer support groups
carer representative at local and national level
independent carer consultants
appropriate sharing of lived experience as a carer
referral to internal and/or external services
advocate for carers
Effective communication strategies may include:
Appropriate disclosure and use of lived experience as a carer
Collaborative consultation
Empathy
Engagement
Giving hope
Listening and responding to the person verbal and nonverbal communication
Non-judgemental and sensitive approach
Rapport building
Respect
Valuing and responding to the uniqueness of each person
Working with the person’s own understanding of their experience
Carer needs may include:
Culturally sensitive services and resources
Disability services
Emotional support and resilience strategies
Financial and economic opportunities relevant to care provisions
Grief and loss counselling and support services
Health services for social and emotional wellbeing
Access to information on affordable housing options
Legal information and support services
Mental health services providing support to carers
Social and recreational belonging and inclusion
Spiritual connectedness
Information on trauma informed care
Information on recovery oriented practices and principles
EVIDENCE GUIDE
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate this unit of competency:
The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills
This unit is best assessed on the job or in a simulated workplace under the normal range of conditions
Consistency in performance should consider the requirements of the particular workplace context
The candidate must show evidence that they have used their lived experience to work effectively in a mental health carer peer worker role
Conditions of assessment:
This unit includes skills and knowledge specific to mental health peer work
Assessment must be undertaken by a qualified Assessor [as determined by the Australian Quality Training Framework] who has lived experience and holds this unit of competency or demonstrated equivalent competencies
OR
A carer him/herself who has lived experience as a carer and demonstrated experience in a carer peer worker role
accompanied by a qualified Assessor who has the necessary assessment competencies [as determined by the Australian Quality Training Framework]
Access and equity considerations:
All workers in community services should be aware of access, equity and human rights issues in relation to their own area of work
All workers should develop their ability to work in a culturally and linguistically diverse environment
In recognition of particular issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, workers should be aware of cultural, historical and current issues impacting on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
In recognition of particular issues facing culturally and linguistically [CALD] diverse communities, workers should be aware of cultural and current issues impacting on CALD groups
Context of and specific resources for assessment:
This unit can be assessed independently, however holistic assessment practice with other community services units of competency is encouraged
Resources required for assessment of this unit include access to a workplace or simulated workplace where assessment may occur
Method of assessment:
In cases where the learner does not have the opportunity to cover all relevant aspects in the work environment, the remainder should be assessed through realistic simulations, projects, previous relevant experience or oral questioning on ‘What if?’ scenarios
Assessment of this unit of competence will usually include observation of processes and procedures, oral and/or written questioning on Essential knowledge and skills and consideration of required attitudes
Where performance is not directly observed and/or is required to be demonstrated over a ‘period of time’ and/or in a ‘number of locations’, any evidence should be authenticated by colleagues, supervisors, or other appropriate persons
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate this unit of competency:
The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills
This unit is best assessed on the job or in a simulated workplace under the normal range of conditions
Consistency in performance should consider the requirements of the particular workplace context
The candidate must show evidence that they have used their lived experience to work effectively in a mental health carer peer worker role
Conditions of assessment:
This unit includes skills and knowledge specific to mental health peer work
Assessment must be undertaken by a qualified Assessor [as determined by the Australian Quality Training Framework] who has lived experience and holds this unit of competency or demonstrated equivalent competencies
OR
A carer him/herself who has lived experience as a carer and demonstrated experience in a carer peer worker role
accompanied by a qualified Assessor who has the necessary assessment competencies [as determined by the Australian Quality Training Framework]
Access and equity considerations:
All workers in community services should be aware of access, equity and human rights issues in relation to their own area of work
All workers should develop their ability to work in a culturally and linguistically diverse environment
In recognition of particular issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, workers should be aware of cultural, historical and current issues impacting on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
In recognition of particular issues facing culturally and linguistically [CALD] diverse communities, workers should be aware of cultural and current issues impacting on CALD groups
Context of and specific resources for assessment:
This unit can be assessed independently, however holistic assessment practice with other community services units of competency is encouraged
Resources required for assessment of this unit include access to a workplace or simulated workplace where assessment may occur
Method of assessment:
In cases where the learner does not have the opportunity to cover all relevant aspects in the work environment, the remainder should be assessed through realistic simulations, projects, previous relevant experience or oral questioning on ‘What if?’ scenarios
Assessment of this unit of competence will usually include observation of processes and procedures, oral and/or written questioning on Essential knowledge and skills and consideration of required attitudes
Where performance is not directly observed and/or is required to be demonstrated over a ‘period of time’ and/or in a ‘number of locations’, any evidence should be authenticated by colleagues, supervisors, or other appropriate persons
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVB39 | CHCPWK005 | Work effectively with carers as a mental health peer worker | Unit of competency |
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| J033 | CHC42912 | Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work | Qualification |