Peer Support: The Power of Students Helping Students

Peer Support: The Power of Students Helping Students

RMIT University and Scape by The Living Company have co-created a peer support program which allows RMIT social work students to complete their placement and work as peer support workers within Scape residencies.

The unique program has been designed by students, for students with guidance from RMIT academics and the Student Wellbeing manager at Scape – a major Australian student housing provider. 

Through the program, peer support workers help fellow students find meaningful and supportive connections at home, university and in the community.  

They also assist students in better understanding mental health and wellbeing by sharing their own lived experience and helping remove barriers and stigma around seeking help.  

Professor of Field Education in Social Work, Dr Ronnie Egan said the Scape Peer Support Program came about from challenges both RMIT and Scape faced.  

“From Scape’s perspective it was around their residents’ wellbeing and access to services, and from an RMIT perspective it was about the international student experience and placement opportunities,” she said.  

The program began in January 2026 with five RMIT Bachelor of Social Work students from India, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Vietnam and Melbourne commencing placement. These students co-designed the program and delivered a range of intercultural initiatives and events.  

The program continued in semester two, with seven Bachelor and Masters of Social Work students from Malaysia, India, China, New Zealand, America and Melbourne commencing placement in July.  

Within just four weeks, peer support self-referrals more than doubled compared with the previous placement period, demonstrating the success of the program’s implementation and co-design.  

Scape’s Wellbeing Manager Lisa Wright said that a co-designed model was important, as was having support embedded in a familiar and accessible environment.  

“Resilience starts at home, and Scape is home for students living here. This initiative brings support into the home through someone who is familiar, relatable and accessible,” Wright said.

a group of students sit together with the text "meet your peer support team" "come say hi!"

RMIT peer support workers currently work across five Scape properties in Melbourne, with the aim to have peer support workers at all 15 Victorian properties by 2028.   

In 2027, the program will continue with a new cohort of peer workers offering the successful range of services including one-on-one and group wellbeing activities and events; trauma-informed and culturally responsive non-clinical peer support; help navigating support services; and importantly, fostering a sense of community and connection to enhance their student experience while at university.  

The Scape Peer Support program further builds RMIT’s growing collaboration with Scape by The Living Company, which includes the highly successful Franklin Street partnership where RMIT’s University Pathways (RMIT UP) students live and learn under the one roof, and the recently announced multi-million dollar co-investment to establish the State Library Exchange. 

26 October 2026

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26 October 2026

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