To support our people, Northern Health is committed to strengthening employee wellbeing and our culture of care. We acknowledge that our staff have different preferences and needs for how they wish to support their wellbeing, and our staff can access a variety of internal and external supports. Our people have told us that having access to peer support is essential, where staff can feel they are not alone, and be understood by a peer who shares their experience of working in health.
We are pleased to re-launch our expanded Staff Peer Support Program in 2026!
The Northern Health Staff Peer Support Program is now bigger and better, ensuring that all staff across different disciplines, campuses, teams and shifts can access Peer Support.
The Program provides staff and volunteers with access to trained colleagues who can offer a listening ear, brief emotional support, practical guidance and referral to long term, professional support after challenging or distressing events at work or home. It is a confidential support option provided to our people, by our people. Whether you’ve experienced a critical incident, a difficult patient interaction, a personal struggle at home, or simply need someone to talk to who understands the challenges of working in healthcare, Peer Supporters are here for you.
Connect with the Northern Health Staff Peer Supporters
Click on the profile photos below to meet Northern Health Staff Peer Supporters, including their biographies and contact details.
You may also connect with a Staff Peer Supporter by contacting the Wellbeing Team at staffwellbeing@nh.org.au or 8468 6027.
Please note: Whilst Staff Peer Supporters may support critical incident responses, it is not a debrief, counselling or emergency response service. If you require urgent or out-of-hours support, please contact Converge, our Employee Mental Health and Wellbeing Program which provides 24/7 counselling and rapid response. Further details can be found here.
Staff will be able to contact Staff Peer Supporters between 7.30am and 5.30 pm, Monday to Friday (dependent upon Staff Peer Supporters shifts). Staff Peer Supporters who work shift work (indicated in their profiles) may also be contacted outside of business hours, during their shifts. Staff Peer Supporters will respond as soon as possible within their working days. Staff can contact individual Staff Peer Supporters in one of the following ways:
via their contact details in their profiles which can be found here
approach a Staff Peer Supporter directly if you see them during the course of a working day, to enquire about availability for support
contact the Wellbeing Team at staffwellbeing@nh.org.au to request a Peer Supporter’s contact details
Staff Peer Supporters will offer support within their working days/hours which will vary across the Staff Peer Supporter group. Hours of availability will be listed in Staff Peer Supporter profiles here.
Whilst Staff Peer Supporters may support critical incident responses, the Staff Peer Support Program is not an emergency response or debriefing service. If out of hours support is required please see our existing resources such as our EAP Converge for 24/hour support or call 000 or Lifeline in an emergency.
Confidentiality is at the heart of the Staff Peer Support Program so our staff can feel safe and trust that their personal information will be protected. As such, Staff Peer Supporters are required to maintain the confidentiality of matters discussed within the confines of Staff Peer Support contact. Information will only be disclosed if the Peer believes there is serious and immediate risk of harm to the individual or others, or where Northern Health is mandated as a result of a legal or other requirement. In these cases, only relevant information will be shared with personnel strictly required to manage the risk and ensure safety.
Only de-identified statistics and general themes are collected, for the purpose of program monitoring and improvement. Northern Health will take all necessary steps to protect the confidentiality and privacy of those seeking support.
Our Staff Peer Supporters represent a range of roles, departments, and campuses across Northern Health. We have Staff Peer Supporters from medical, operational, nursing, administration, allied health, disability, mental health, education, digital health, aged care, subacute, midwifery, radiology, pastoral care and other areas of the health service.
All Staff Peer Supporters have completed mandatory training in the Staff Peer Support role and have committed to ongoing training to improve the quality of support they provide our staff.
We know there are many staff who are passionate about wellbeing and supporting our culture of care and we thank you for your interest in this program.
Recruitment for the 2026 Peer Support Program Expansion has closed. If you have already made a nomination (for Managers) or you are involved in the recruitment process already, visit the Staff Peer Supporter Recruitment page here for more information.
If you would like to express interest in becoming a Staff Peer Supporter, contact staffwellbeing@nh.org.au.
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