Young man plans peer support work after battling mental health crisis
Ethen Blakeney, 21, plans to train as a peer support worker after mental health struggles.
Ethen Blakeney, 21, is signing up for a new program that trains young people to become peer support workers. When his own anxiety and depression spiralled during school, a friend who'd been through similar struggles helped him find solid ground.
Now he wants to pass that on. The Peer Academy, run by COORDINARE (a primary health network), offers flexible online learning, mentoring, work experience, and recognised credentials.
It's designed for people aged 18 to 30 who have lived experience of mental health challenges. The course includes optional in-person days and check-ins for people falling behind.
It's the first program of its kind in Australia. Participants will gain micro-credentials that count as prior learning for formal mental health training courses.
- 21
- Ethen's age
- 18 to 30
- Target age range
- Early 2027
- Launch timing
- Zoe Hinge
- Coordinator
Why it mattersYoung people often struggle to stay in traditional education while managing mental health. This program removes those barriers while turning lived experience into real career skills.
AustraliaThe Peer Academy opens to NSW and southern NSW residents in early 2027, offering a new pathway into mental health work for young Australians who'd normally find formal education too hard to balance with their own wellbeing.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
Open this story in InSnip →
