What is peer work and how can it help me?

Peer work is a form of mental health support provided by people who have had their own experience with life and mental health challenges. Peer workers use their experience to help others and are trained to facilitate safe and respectful conversations.

We spoke with members of our PeerChat team to learn more about what peer work is and how peer workers can support you.

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What is peer work?

Also known as peer support, peer work is a form of mental health support. A professional who uses peer work to support others is known as a peer worker.

Peer workers have had their own experience with life and mental health challenges. They’re trained to facilitate safe and respectful conversations, and to use their experience to support others.

What kinds of experiences have peer workers faced?

A peer worker’s experience might include things like:

• work or school stress

• issues with friendships, family and other relationships

• gender and sexuality

• cultural identity

• alcohol, drug or other substance use

• trauma

• loss

• mental health diagnoses such as anxiety or depression.

Free 1:1 chat

Anonymous online support

Need to talk? Try PeerChat, a safe and secure space to talk to a trained peer worker about what’s going on for you.

Go to PeerChat

What are the benefits of talking to a peer worker?

• Chats with a peer worker are guided by you based on what you need.

• When you’re going through a tough time, it’s easy to feel isolated. Talking to someone who's been through a similar experience can help you to feel less alone, and give you hope that you can also get through the tough times – and even grow from them.

• Many people find it helpful to speak with someone they don’t know personally. A peer worker can be a listening ear and offer an objective view. Because they aren’t a parent, teacher, or friend, you can speak completely honestly without worrying about their reaction.

• Many peer services (like PeerChat) are completely free, making them an easy, low-pressure first step if you aren't sure what kind of help you need yet.

Check out our evidence for online peer support as an effective measure for supporting youth mental health.

Can peer workers help in an emergency?

A peer worker can’t provide emergency support. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 000.

If you need immediate support, call a 24/7 crisis helpline such as:

• Lifeline – 13 11 14

• Kids Helpline for young people aged 5–25 – 1800 55 1800

• Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467

• 13YARN for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – 13 92 76

• 1800RESPECT for support for sexual assault and domestic and family violence – 1800 737 732.

Are chats with a peer worker confidential?

Peer workers will keep what you tell them confidential. They have a legal responsibility to keep everything you say private. Read more in our guide to confidentiality.

The only exception to confidentiality is if you or someone else is at risk of serious harm. In this case, a peer worker might have to share information with a family member or emergency services. If a peer worker decides they have to report something about you, it doesn’t mean they don’t care about you or don’t respect you. It’s actually the opposite: they will only do this to protect you or stop things from getting worse.

Where can I find a peer worker?

Peer workers often work in:

• community health centres

• hospitals

• local health clinics

• mental health organisations.

Depending on the organisation, you can chat with a peer worker online, over the phone or in person.

Want to chat with a peer worker?

ReachOut PeerChat connects you with a peer worker who can listen to you and provide support. Our peer workers have had their own experience with mental health challenges as young people. They are on their own journey to recovery and use their personal experience to support others.

All our peer workers have undergone ReachOut training (including Youth Mental Health First Aid) and have expertise in facilitating safe, respectful, non-judgemental conversations. You can chat about whatever’s on your mind – no issue is too big or too small.

• Who it’s for: Anyone aged 16–25 living, studying, or working in Australia. No clinical diagnosis or professional referral needed.

• When it's available: PeerChat is available Mon–Thurs 3.00pm–8.00pm, Fri 11:30am–4:30pm AET.

• How it works: It’s a free, anonymous, one-on-one text-based chat. Sessions last for up to 45 minutes, and you can take things completely at your own pace.

• How to start chatting: Just head to PeerChat, enter your age and mobile number (just to verify you're a real person and to keep things safe), and jump straight into the queue.

If the platform is currently offline or you need support right away, please head straight to our urgent help page.