Peer Work Scholarships

The Peer Work Scholarships Program is an initiative of the Australian Government Department of Health. The Program aims to strengthen and grow the mental health and suicide prevention Lived Experience workforce by funding scholarships to support people to undertake the Certificate IV Mental Health Peer Work.

The Queensland Alliance for Mental Health (QAMH) has been contracted by the Queensland Mental Health Commission (QMHC) to lead the project to deliver the scholarships in Queensland.

Scholarship applications have now closed.  There are 178 scholarship packages available over 2023-2024.

The Scholarship Package Includes:

  • Payment of up to $4000 (via invoice directly to your chosen Training Organisation) towards the course fees of a full time or part time course

  • Payment of up to $1000 to support attendance and study material for the full duration of the course

  • The opportunity to participate in additional mentoring and co-reflection sessions

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible to apply for a scholarship you must:

  1. be 17 years or older and no longer in school, and a resident of Queensland
  2. be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, or a holder of a permanent residence visa, or a migrant, refugee or asylum seeker holding a temporary or bridging visa providing work and/or study rights
  3. have a lived experience of mental health challenges and /or suicidality as a consumer, carer, family member and
    • be employed with a mental health or suicide prevention service provider in a Peer Worker role or
    • wishing to seek employment in a Peer Worker role
  4. be able to meet the attendance and study requirements to complete the Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work course

While there are a large number of scholarships available priority will be given to:

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
  • people living in rural and remote locations
  • people not employed by the state or federal government and
  • people who are not currently receiving another government bursary or scholarship.

Why Apply?

There has been a recent increase in funding for Lived Experience positions across Australia and there is a commitment from government to maintain this growth. The Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work will gives you the opportunity to build on your lived experience or on-the-job experience and receive the nationally recognised qualification desired by employers for most Peer Worker roles

The scholarship package not only removes the financial barriers to completing the course but also provides additional mentoring to enhance your study journey and connect you with other Peers and local organisations who employ Peer Workers.

  • Be part of a rapidly developing workforce in mental health

  • Upskill your credentials to broaden your career opportunities

  • Receive a nationally recognised qualification in mental health

Check out the many career pathways that Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work can take you!

  • Peer worker (mental health peer worker; peer support worker; peer recovery worker; peer recovery support worker; peer rehabilitation worker)
  • Consumer peer support worker
  • Carer peer support worker
  • Recovery worker
  • Recovery assistant
  • Peer mentor/ recovery mentor
  • Consumer rehabilitation support worker
  • Wellbeing coach
  • Lived expertise coach
  • Peer artist
  • Lifestyle facilitator
  • Lived expertise connection worker
  • Lived expertise resource worker
  • Lived expertise group facilitator.
  • Work opportunities are available in public, private or community managed services.

Next Steps

  • Make sure you have read all of the information about the Scholarships Program

  • Make sure you meet all the eligibility criteria to apply for a scholarship

  • Choose the training provider you would like to study with

  • Contact us for more information

  • Now you are ready to apply!