The inclusion, in The Fifth Plan, of a key indicator for the growth of the Peer Workforce within the domain of 'Effective support, care and treatment' supports this central role: 'Indicator 18 - Proportion of total mental health workforce accounted for by consumer and peer 4 workers. (NOTE: Indicator potentially available subject to investment and data development.)'

### Stepped Care

PHNs are well placed to support the development of the Peer Workforce Development Guidelines. As identified in the draft PHN Primary Mental Health Care Flexible Funding Pool Implementation Guidance, Peer Workforce Role in Mental Health and Suicide Prevention the peer workforce is a priority activity for PHNs. 'The mental health peer workforce is an important and growing element of the wider mental health workforce and of the multi-disciplinary team, recognised in the Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan. Increasing and developing the mental health peer workforce will support a clinical and community services staffing mix to improve recovery awareness and more positive 5 experiences of services and outcomes for people experiencing men tal health issues.' The role of PHNs in developing the peer workforce as an integral part of the 'Stepped Care' approach to mental health was earlier articulated in the Australian Government Response to Recommendations to the Review of Mental Health Programmes and Services . To reduce stigma the Government felt that, 'more use of the peer workforce, including through more flexible funding arrangements for Primary 6 Health Networks (PHNs), will also contribute to stigma reduction efforts.' To improve supply, productivity and access for the mentalhealth peer workforce, 'The Commonwealth also recognises the value of a mental health peer workforce, and will explore the inclusion of peer workers and other low intensity service providers as part of the development and trial of a stepped care approach. The National Mental Health Commission has also progressed important work in this area and will be looked to in building upon existing work and further promoting the mental health 7 peer workforce as an important component of quality, recovery- focused mental health services.' A number of PHNs have already commissioned the peer workforce to support the stepped care model of service delivery. They are working in multi-disciplinary teams with nurses and allied health professional in complex care, with psychologists and nurses in aftercare suicide prevention, with psychiatrists in general practice psychiatric liaison and with general practice in the delivery of low intensity services as coaches and mentors. The growing utilisation of the peer workforce highlights the need for greater planning and structure to support the workforce. In South Eastern NSW the PHN COORDINARE created my identified lived experience position to support and develop the peer workforce. The main structural way of doing this over such a vast geography has been to create three physical networks - Illawarra Shoalhaven, South Coast and Southern Tablelands who hold half day meetings on a quarterly basis since 2017. These meetings are highly valued by peer workers and include all peer workers across the region - those employed in LHS's, by NGOs and by Commissioned services. They allow us to move beyond the traditional

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