Five years of Peers - Rob

When Rob left the military in 2011 with significant lower leg injuries, peer work wasn’t on his radar when it came to his dream job.

“I didn’t know what being a Community and Peer Worker was. I wanted to be a police officer, a firefighter or a paramedic,’ he said.

“After doing some career counselling, peer work actually came in 10th on my list.”

Fast forward to 2019 and after seeing an advertisement to join the new Open Arms’ Community and Peer Program, he knew instantly this was the role he had been looking for.

“I felt that the job description was written for me. After I transitioned from the army, I went through some mental health challenges along the way and really did struggle.

“I knew I could use my experiences to support veterans and family members to overcome challenges in their lives. I understood what they were going through and felt I could draw on those experiences to ensure their journey didn’t have to be as difficult as mine.”

Rob joined Open Arms on Remembrance Day in 2019. While he and his fellow Community and Peer Workers  were at times in unfamiliar territory in their new roles, three months down the track he knew he had made the right decision.

“At that point I had a really heartfelt, deep moment with a client where I had supported him to make a drastic life change,’ he explained.

“I knew then that it was going to be a very rewarding career for the soul.

“I can honestly say for the first time, post service, I was genuinely happy. I felt like I had a purpose again.”

Rob said that in the four years he was a Community and Peer Worker  he came to understand the importance of empowering veterans and families to make positive changes in their lives.

“I did some amazing courses when I was a Community and Peer Worker in Open Arms, courses that helped me realise it was not my role to fix people, rather to help them along their journey to make changes if that is what they wanted to do, and to identify what recovery could look like for them,’ he explained.

“One of the key benefits of a peer-to-peer relationship is the fact we can use shared experiences and stories to help each other understand what might be happening in the client’s life.

“Being intentional in how I share my recovery story allows the client to connect to elements and see that recovery is possible. The way they think, feel and act today doesn’t have to be their reality of tomorrow.”

The mutually beneficial relationships he developed with clients had a significant impact on Rob’s own wellbeing.

In fact, he credits one of his veteran clients who suffered from physical and emotional challenges for changing his life for the better.

“A client and I started going to lawn bowling every Wednesday to help him connect with people and to be part of a group,” he said.

“It made such a difference to both our lives, we actually started a bowls group in WA for veterans, families and first responders, which has gone on to make a positive impact in so many other peoples’ lives.  

“I now play competition bowls (and) it is something I do for me. Having that community connection and social engagement fills my cup. I get a chance to recharge and that makes me a better husband and father in the long run.”

While Rob eventually left the Community and Peer Program to seek new challenges within the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, he has since returned to Open Arms in the Community Engagement team.

“I feel very fortunate to be able to continue supporting veterans and family members,’ he explained.

“Whilst my current role is less hands on in the delivery of Community and Peer support services, I oversee a team of equally dedicated and enthusiastic Community and Peer Workers  who role model recovery-oriented practices to build hope and encourage self-advocacy in the people they are privileged to support.”

And how does he reflect on his time as a Community and Peer Worker?

“It changed me as a person, for the better,’ he admits.  

“It helped me to understand who I am and how I could use my experiences to help others. There are times when I miss the people and the work and being invited into someone’s life to help them with their personal growth.

“The Open Arms Community and Peer Program has changed the lives of many, and I genuinely believe that the multi-disciplinary approach to recovery, including both clinical and lived experience perspectives can be instrumental in providing the best possible care to our clients.

“I love what I do.”