By Rachael McMahon, APSC
Connections: Core capabilities for workplace peer supporters, is a ground-breaking new initiative from the APS Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Unit (the Unit) in partnership with the Department of Home Affairs – developed by and for peer supporters in the Australian Public Service (APS). The program is focused on building the peer-to-peer relational capability of individual peer supporters as well as investing in the governance systems that support the operation of these types of programs more generally.
“Peer support networks serve an important role within APS culture. They create and harness valuable opportunities for connection, conversation and coming together. And there is a growing contingent of APS staff who, in addition to their regular roles, are choosing to put their hand up to support the mental health and wellbeing of their co-workers.”
Rachael McMahon, APS Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Unit Principal Psychologist and Director
Connie Galati, Senior Clinical Psychologist from the Unit and project lead, says a key feature of Connections is its promotion of a collective learning approach and the integration of reflective points for peer supporters to consider how they will integrate skills in a peer support context.
“Collective learning empowers peer supporters to broaden their learning circle and build relationships by forming connections with other peer supporters and discussing and sharing their reflections. At an individual level, peers can really hone their skills and perfect their craft. At a macro level, these collaborative efforts reinforce the capability of the cohort and contribute to its collective success.”
In August, Connie coordinated peer supporters from across the APS to participate in a number of facilitated workshops – including a First Nations specific workshop. Participants were empowered to share their experiences, challenges and pain points, and aspirations for peer support in the APS. A key high-level theme of the workshops was the need to embed cultural wisdom in everything ‘we do as a service’, including the development of the APS’s peer support capability.
“There is a groundswell of enthusiasm from peer supporters across the APS towards building our capability as a service.”Connie Galati, Senior Clinical Psychologist
“What we are hearing from those in peer support roles – which include mental health first aid, Indigenous liaison, disability, diversity contact, and bullying, harassment and discrimination contact officers – is that they see the real difference their role makes to their colleagues. This cohort has invested in supporting their co-workers, and we as a service need to invest in them."
Connie continues that everyone in a peer support role needs to develop a core set of skills. That is why Connections has been co-developed by psychologists, peer supporters and human resource practitioners coming together.
“We’re aiming for Connections to be ‘a key step’ in every peer supporter’s journey, providing them with foundational knowledge and skills for their role.”
Course material explores key mental health wellbeing theories, including First Nations perspectives on wellbeing. First Nations wisdom has been weaved throughout the course to provide a holistic perspective on wellbeing and connection.
Peer supporters are provided with practical ways they can nurture meaningful connections with co-workers. This includes genuine listening, storytelling, validating and making relationship repairs.
Rachael says it is definitely time for current and prospective peer supporters to get excited – Connections will be launched early 2023 via the APS Academy, APSLearn platform.
“Peer supporters are a vital part of our APS ecosystem. In the workplace, we value peer support because our peers are ‘one of us’, someone who is our equal, someone we feel we can trust because of shared common experiences, including an understanding of the workplace and its specific challenges.
“Connections is the ‘level-up’ our APS peer supporters need to build their capability – teaching them how to set up safe spaces that support their peers to connect, share their story, and feel heard, while also keeping themselves safe and well.”
Explore more
Are you keen to find out more about the APS Peer Support Capability Project? Contact the Unit to answer your queries.
