Vacancies

Life Matters Suicide Prevention Trust | Te Whare Oranga Ngākau is looking for an experienced Peer Supporter with lived experience of mental distress or addiction for a permanent, full-time role with our peer support services in Ōtepoti | Dunedin.

Who are we?

Life Matters Suicide Prevention Trust is an organisation that provides peer support to tākata whaiora (people seeking health) who are experiencing mental distress, suicidality, or are bereaved by suicide. The Trust works towards all three areas of suicide reduction: prevention, intervention, and postvention.  

Our drop-in peer service, based at Te Whare Tūmanako | the Hope Centre in central Ōtepoti | Dunedin, is open Tuesday-Sunday (60 hours/week). We also provide a peer service within the Dunedin Hospital Emergency Department, providing non-clinical support and guidance to tākata whaiora and whānau presenting with mental distress, addiction, or substance abuse crises.  

As part of this role, you will be expected to:

• Provide manaakitanga and peer support to people experiencing mental distress and/or assist them to navigate other supports in the community.  This involves building trusting authentic relationships whilst supporting them to identify their own goals and connecting them to community networks and resources.

• Maintain a peer support caseload

• Lead and mentor other peer supporters

• Work across different contexts e.g., The Hope Centre and Emergency Department

• Be a reliable and responsible member of the team with a high level of professionalism

• Contribute to general administration tasks and housekeeping

• Contribute to events including our annual street appeal and World Suicide Prevention Day

Role requirements:

Must have:

• Lived experience of mental distress, addiction, and/or bereavement by suicide and an ability to use this to support others on their journey

• Be reliable, empathetic, responsible, compassionate, a good listener, a good communicator, and have a genuine desire to help others

• The ability to work in a team environment and from a culturally inclusive perspective

• Previous experience of working in the mental health, wellbeing, and/or addictions space

• Experience working in, or a solid understanding of peer practice

• Availability for shift work (hours will vary from Tue to Sun, from 8.30am to 9pm)

• Valid /current work visa, residency, or citizenship

Preferable:

• Leadership experience

• Level 4 National Certificate of Health & Wellbeing or an equivalent or higher qualification (or working towards this).

• Ability to work in high pressure environments while juggling multiple responsibilities

What we can offer you:

• A competitive salary based on your experience and qualifications

• Foundational training in Intentional Peer Support (IPS)

• Upskilling and professional development opportunities

• Two wellbeing days/year alongside regular entitlements

• Monthly co-reflection/professional supervision

• Funded training in suicide prevention and crisis work

• Comprehensive service induction

• A supportive and inclusive work environment, fostering personal growth and work-life balance

We welcome diversity and people with experience of tikanga Māori, disability, lived experience of mental distress and/or addiction, neurodivergency, and/or LGBTQIA+ community.

Note: To be considered for this role you must contact us at hr@lifematters.org.nz for a full job description and a specific application pack

Applications close 5pm Wednesday 11 March 2026

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