Connections: Core capabilities for workplace peer supporters

This course is available anytime and is delivered by Virtual Self-Directed.

Connections is a key step in your workplace peer support journey, providing you with foundational knowledge and skills for the role. Connections deliberately focuses on the wellbeing aspects of workplace peer support, teaching you interpersonal skills that can be used for any type of peer support interaction.

Connections will assist you to develop or build upon core peer support skills by teaching you how to set up safe spaces that support your peers to connect, share their story, and feel heard, while also keeping you safe and well. The content for this course was co-developed by psychologists, peer supporters, and human resources practitioners across the Commonwealth.

This content has been provided by the APS Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Unit, Australian Public Service Commission. © Commonwealth of Australia 2023.

Participant benefits

Communicate the purpose and importance of peer support.
Describe theories of wellbeing, barriers to connection, and identify cultural influences.
Use Look, Listen, Link skills to support people.
Use storytelling, validation, relationship repair, and relaxation/grounding skills.
Communicate privacy and limits to confidentiality and plan to manage boundary blurs.

Suitable for

All staff.

Category and User Level

This learning experience aligns with Health and Wellbeing under APS People at the Foundation level.

Considerations

While anyone is welcome to complete this eLearning course, it has been primarily developed for Commonwealth staff in formal workplace peer supporter roles.
Not all workplace peer supporter roles will have an emphasis on wellbeing as outlined in this course.
Talk to your agency’s peer support program coordinator or human resources area about role expectations for your peer supporter role.

This course contains discussion on mental health, wellbeing, and psychological distress. If you are emotionally impacted by the information presented, please seek support and speak with your peer support program coordinator (where available), human resources area, team leader and/or manager. Support is also available from:

your agency’s Employee Assistance Program
Lifeline on 13 11 14 or by text on 0477 13 11 14 (available 24/7)
13YARN on 13 92 76 (available 24/7) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.