- [Marty] We're here today to go through some of the key questions that parents and carers have about peer work. Hi, my name's Marty. I'm a parent. My partner and I have a tribe of kids, all the way from teens down to a preschooler.

- Hello, I'm Emily and I am the Peer Work Team Leader at ReachOut.

- [Marty] So Em, firstly, what is a peer worker?

- Yeah, like a peer worker is like a professional, like mental health like role. It is also like a trained role, and you know, I guess like peer workers use their own journeys of like mental health, around helping, I guess, like other people, like feel heard, validated, and they can help you around just like promoting like recovery as well.

- [Marty] So what sort of things might a young person talk to a peer worker about?

- Like peer workers have their own, you know, like journeys of, you know, like mental health, as you can probably hear I do have a stutter and I'm quite open around, you know, my life and my, I guess, like mental health challenges. So peer workers are quite, you know usually open about, I guess just talking about all areas. It could be around school, like mental health, work, study, home life, like, relationships as well. But I guess also like heavier like topics around self-harm, suicide, like drugs and alcohol.

- [Marty] What kind of training do peer workers have?

- Every peer worker will be trained around, you know, just like duty of care and around you like risk of harm. There also is like an optional certificate in peer work. All the peer workers learn how to use their, you know, I guess, like journey in a safe way.

- [Marty] When would my teen see a peer worker and when might they see a GP or psychologist?

- Your teen is able to link in like with a peer worker, could be like before, during, or after, you know, like linking in with another like mental health professional. I think to answer the other half of your question, some areas may be out of the scope of the peer worker role, you know. Like we don't provide, you know, I guess, advice around just like diagnoses or you know, like medical advice and we're also not here to do counselling either.

- [Marty] So can I find out what a peer worker's talking to my teen about?

- Confidentiality is like a big, I guess part of that, I guess, like peer worker and a young person relationship. But if like there is like risk of harm, you know, I guess, the peer worker will have, like a duty of care to let someone else like know. Like whether it is emergency services or like a parent or like a guardian or someone else. I guess just like depending on the age of your teen.

- [Marty] So if my teen's in an emergency or crisis can a peer worker help them?

- A peer worker role is not like a crisis role. Like we cannot like provide immediate medical care or help. However, if there is like a risk of harm like we can escalate up if needed.

- [Marty] So Em, last question. How can I help my teen to find a peer worker to chat with?

- Peer workers can be like a part of other organisations, like a part of, you know, like a clinical service and maybe online options, you know, just like telehealth or you know, even just like a part of your local health district.

- That's really interesting, Em, and so helpful. I'm sure it'll be helpful for our parents and carers who've sent in some questions for us today. Thanks.

- Thanks everyone. It was awesome, you just like talking about it and helping everyone learn. So, have a good day.