Students in the Certificate IV in Mental Health and Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work now offer appointments and activities under the supervision of experienced staff at Peer Connect. They gain valuable practical experience in triaging mental health support needs, referring to the many services RMIT provides in-house, and providing resources around mental health strategies through a trauma-informed and recovery-oriented framework.
Peer Connect opened on Wednesday 9 October – and does not replace counselling or psychology, but instead operates like an intake system.
It will be open every Wednesday during semester, offering a series of student-led activities including drop-in appointments, ‘walk and talks’, art projects, storytelling and Dungeons & Dragons. The students have also created a Peer Connect website with further activities and resources to promote positive mental health and connection.
Program Coordinator, Fiona McLean, explained that the mental health sector is currently under immense pressure; it does not always have capacity to facilitate student placements.
“The newly opened Peer Connect allows us to provide a strong foundation block for students preparing for placement. They can undertake those first 20 or so placement hours on campus before entering sector placements equipped with more skills, a portfolio of professional development, and experience and familiarity working in a recovery-oriented framework,” McLean said.
“For those looking for mental health support, talking with a peer can feel less daunting. The purpose of Peer Connect is to add to the amazing networks and services RMIT already provides by adding another level of accessibility and support to students.
“Unlike other services, Peer Connect is facilitated and designed by those with living or lived experience of a mental health condition, and those in training to work in the sector. Peer Connect provides a space for students that is stigma-busting. It's a win-win for students on both sides.”
Peer Connect student peer worker, Tony Avard, explained the importance of providing a different type of support to the RMIT community.
“Peer work fits into so many different spaces in our community. It can connect with students who don’t want to engage with an institution. It can break down stigma. I am in a position to say “it happened to me, maybe it happened to you”. Suddenly there are 2 of you, then 5, then 10 and then you've broken down the stigma around a traumatic experience or mental health issue,” Avard said.
“Working with a psychologist is like following someone’s lead. Working with a peer worker is like walking alongside someone. It’s not trying to fix the person. It’s offering guidance, support, resources, information and connections to services.”
The federal health department last year released the Mental Health Workforce – Educational Institutes Review which highlighted that there are already significant difficulties in securing placements for mental health students, before any future increase of students – which is needed to grow the sector.
Mish Eastman, RMIT Deputy Vice-Chancellor Vocational Education and Vice-President, said building a strong mental health workforce is essential to ensure accessible and effective care for all.
“Vocational education plays a critical role in providing future mental health professionals with the practical, hands-on experience needed to address real-world challenges with confidence and competence, and to meet the increasing demand for these services,” Eastman said.
While Peer Connect has a dedicated space at RMIT’s City campus, it will also host pop-ups in different university locations.
Peer Connect is funded by a 2024 City North Social Innovation Precinct Activation Fund grant.
The initiative builds on a similar project involving 6 students in early 2024. It has now grown to provide placements for up to 40 students.
Story: Sarah Gates
