Peer Support Worker

Peer Support Worker

• Permanent, Full-time (40 hours per week)

• Normal working hours are between 7.30am and 8.00pm 7 days per week

• Service is located in central Rotorua

• Ember Support Worker Pay Rates: $25.00 - $30.00 per hour (depending on qualification held and its equivalence to the NZ Certificate in Health and Wellbeing L4, with stepped increases based on tenure)

Ember Korowai Takitini | Nga Matapono

Ember Korowai Takitini blends professional expertise and lived experience to offer a range of services and supports for anyone with mental health, addiction or intellectual disability needs

At Ember we support people to live the lives they choose and we challenge the systems that hold them back.

We desire a society that better understands and responds to mental distress, addiction and intellectual disability.

Ember offers:

• Additional leave, including recreation days and study leave.

• A comprehensive Health & Wellbeing programme, including wellbeing cards loaded with money to spend on your health needs, flu vaccinations, and Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), and more.

• Training opportunities for upskilling, personal & professional development, and career progression.

• The opportunity to make a meaningful impact every day in a values-led organisation.

The Service | Ko Te Whare O Rotorua Community Team

Our Rotorua Community Support Service supports people experiencing mental health and wellbeing challenges to live well in their communities. Through practical, person-centred support, we help people build independence, develop everyday living skills, strengthen community connections, and work towards their personal goals. Our team works alongside tāngata whai ora, whānau, clinical services, and other community supports to empower people to build confidence, enhance wellbeing, and create meaningful lives in the communities they call home.

Role | Nga mahi

Peer support is a challenging and deeply meaningful role that requires resilience, self-awareness, and the ability to genuinely connect with others. What makes this role unique is that you will draw directly on your own lived experience of mental health and/or alcohol and other drug (AOD) challenges — including your journey of recovery — to support and inspire the people you work alongside.

As a Peer Support Worker, you will build authentic, trusting relationships and use your personal story to offer hope, understanding, and practical insight. Together with the people you support, you will explore new perspectives, recognise patterns, and strengthen self-belief. You will walk alongside them as they try new approaches, discover their own strengths, and move toward the life they want.

You will have | Nga Pukenga

• Your own personal lived experience of mental distress and/or AOD challenges. By “lived experience” we mean that you have the experiential knowledge — the learning, wisdom, and insight — that comes from having personally faced your own mental health distress and/or addiction, and worked toward recovery. This is required for this role.

• A New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing Level 4, or equivalent qualification is preferred, but we welcome applications from those working toward this qualification or from those who are eager and willing to complete the qualification if they are the successful candidate

• A current Full New Zealand Driver’s license (required)

• A valid/current work visa, residency, or NZ citizenship (required)

• Experience working in the area of mental health and/or addictions with a client-centered, recovery-focused approach

• A passion for walking along side those in need, supporting on-going goals on the pathway to recovery (required)

When applying please include | Kia Whakauru

• An up-to-date CV

• A Cover Letter detailing

• Why you’re interested in the role?

• Any skills, competencies and experience (both professional and personal, if relevant) that you would bring to this role?

“He aha te mea nui o te ao? Maku e ki atu, he tangata, he tangata, he tangata”What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people.

Ember is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and embrace diversity and inclusion in the workplace and are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all. We particularly welcome applications from our Māori, Pacific and Rainbow communities.

We will interview candidates as applications come through rather than waiting until the advertisement closes. The vacancy may be filled earlier if a suitable candidate is identified.