Lived Experience Peer Cadet Program - Eating Disorders Victoria
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Lived Experience Peer Cadet Program

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What is the Lived Experience Peer Cadet Program at EDV?

EDV’s Lived Experience Peer Cadet Program is for people with lived experience of eating disorders (consumer and carer) currently studying a Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work. It is paid, part-time work.

The program is an initiative of the Victorian Government in recognition of the important and growing need for lived experience peer workers in Victoria’s mental health sector. Learn more.

What to expect

The Cadetship is three days per week over 10 months, from August 2025 to May 2026. You will do two days of paid work placement and one day of paid study leave each week.  

You will develop knowledge, skills, and confidence in lived experience peer work, in a supported environment.

This can include:  

  • Growing understanding, experience, and knowledge to work in a community mental health service 
  • Gaining in-depth insight into how peer work programs operate 
  • Developing peer work skills, including understanding and communicating your story, 1:1 peer-led support, and group peer facilitation  
  • Learning from a wide variety of professionals – both clinical and non-clinical, including other peer workers, consumers, and their supporters 
  • Building your network

Who should apply?

Key criteria include: 

  • Currently studying or willing to start a Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work.
  • Strong interest in the lived experience peer led workforce.
  • Moderate understanding of eating disorders.  
  • Well-developed written and verbal communication skills.  
  • Strong interpersonal skills. 
  • Ability to establish meaningful contact with service users.
  • Ability to take responsibility for own learning.    
  • Ability to take direction and use feedback to develop own capabilities. 

For people with personal lived experience: This position requires consumers to be recovered from an eating disorder. A person who has recovered identifies as having engaged in a recovery journey from an eating disorder and is currently able to manage their own wellbeing in alignment with recovery indicators.* 

For people with carer/supporter lived experience: This position requires that carers must be in a non-active caring role. A person who is in a non-active caring role has provided active care for an individual experiencing an eating disorder and that person is now recovering or recovered. 

* What are recovery indicators?

  • Has achieved emotional distance from their experience
  • Has engaged in the process of motivated change
  • Is currently able to manage their own wellbeing
  • Can reflect on what they have been through and learnt from their experience
  • Can stand back from their experience to consider the wider range of different experiences that other people might have
  • Identifies when their own wellbeing is at risk and ask for help when they need it

Source: NEDC (2019) The Peer Work Approach- Part B, p14 

Position description

How to apply

We are now recruiting for Peer Cadets for the August 2025 to May 26 round. Apply now.

If you have any questions about the program, please reach out to the Lived Experience Peer Cadet Manager, Ruth Green, at [email protected].

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