Peer support / lived experience position: 20- 30 hours per week

Please note the below role is to support a Tai Poutini West Coast pilot programme with strong emphasis on development of new groups and networking. For this reason it is envisioned a hybrid working from home and hot desking arrangement in Māwhera Greymouth is likely to initially be required, alongside frequent travel to Hokitika, Kawatiri Westport, and other Tai Poutini locations.

Māwhera Greymouth, Tai Poutini West Coast

$27.80 to $29.10 per hour, depending on qualification

• Passionate about connection, community and understanding?
• Want to bring your lived experience to support others?
• Understand the impact of running/walking as a vehicle for connection?

Speed Freaks Charitable Trust was established in 2021. We support recovery from addiction and mental distress through the vehicle of running and walking.

Our programme is delivered by local volunteer coaches supported by peers and staff. The Speed Freaks grow community connection, increase recovery capital and support inclusive communities.

Our kaupapa is to increase health and wellbeing, participation and inclusion, community connection, and paying it forward.

This role presents an exciting opportunity to weave pro-social relationships across a diverse population and grow community understanding of addiction and mental distress.

Peer Support role

Our Peer Support roles support individuals in early recovery to join our groups, incorporate movement and community connection as part of wellbeing. Working with the local Community Coordinator you will support whaiora in identifying and working towards their recovery goals.

The development of the Speed Freaks charity is driven by our participants, coaches and community. As a young charity we take a flexible and considered approach to issues and opportunities, as they arise.

You will need:

• Lived experience of AOD (Alcohol and other Drug) addiction, and maintaining wellbeing and recovery.
• Passion, positivity and a solution focused approach.
• Preferably a Level 4 National Certificate of Health & Wellbeing or higher qualification.
• Experience in a peer support role.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to balance multiple responsibilities and prioritise tasks effectively
• Confident use of computers / Information Technology, for documentation, reporting and communication - this includes social media and smart phone apps.
• Demonstrated commitment to ongoing personal and professional growth.
• Excellent boundaries.
• A full NZ Driver License
• Access to a vehicle & the ability to work remotely at times
• To be able to work flexibly, including some evening work, and weekend work around events.
• Knowledge of running, an understanding of running events, and to be able to comfortably run 5 kilometres (km) and walk up to 10km at a time.

The position will ordinarily be Māwhera Greymouth based but travel to Hokitika, Kawatiri Westport and other West Coast locations will be required. This is a mobile position with a base to work alongside the Group Development Coordinator in Greymouth. The base will be determined as the pilot becomes established. There is opportunity to work from home as needed.

A laptop and cellphone will be provided.

There will be a 12 month initial contract in line with position funding.

Application by CV, covering letter and an approximately one minute video introduction (can be longer) which provides an opportunity to have some fun and share why you’re applying. Please note the video is a required part of applying.

Applications can be emailed to kevin@speedfreaks.org.nz – you may choose to use a file transfer service such as https://wetransfer.com/ to send your application, if it is larger than 15 megabytes.

Closing date for applications is 11:59pm Wednesday 21 May 2025.