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Mental Health Rights Manual

An online guide to help explain your legal and human rights in the mental health and human services systems in New South Wales.

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Words are important. The language we use and the stories we tell have great significance to all involved.

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Training

All Courses

Certificate IV in Mental Health

The Certificate IV in Mental Health is an opportunity to build on your on-the-job experience and receive a nationally recognised qualification in mental health. 

Course overview

Certificate IV in Mental Health (CHC43315) is an ideal entry for anyone looking to develop specialist skills to work supporting people living with a mental health condition. The course covers a range of skills and practical experience, including:

  • establishing self-directed recovery relationships
  • providing recovery oriented mental health services
  • working effectively in trauma-informed care,
  • promoting and facilitating self-advocacy
  • assessing and promoting social
  • emotional and physical wellbeing
  • assessing co-existing needs
  • providing interventions for people with alcohol and other drugs issues.

This course aims to build understanding as well as develop strategies and practical skills for working in mental health.

Successful completion of the Certificate IV in Mental Health can lead to a range of potential career opportunities, including community support worker and mental health worker.

Our courses are delivered by experienced mental health workers.

To find out if you are eligible for a fee reduction or exemption, please contact us on training@mhcc.org.au

What you will learn

Through a blend of theory, practical coursework, and discussions with other support workers the course covers:

  • Working with people with mental health and alcohol and other drug issues
  • Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
  • Recovery approaches and working with care networks and other services
  • Trauma-informed care
  • Understanding and responding to suicide
  • Understand the interrelationship between medical, social, and psychological health
  • Working legally and ethically
  • Develop your critical thinking, problem-solving and communication skills.
Who should enrol?

Anyone with qualifications, work experience or volunteer experience in community-based non-government organisations, home-based programs, respite care, residential services, clinical settings and more.

“This training was a very good way to build a basis for working in the mental health field, from a community perspective,” Course participant 

Entry requirements

  • Applicants must be currently working in a community mental health role where you work with people with mental health conditions to address their needs, set goals and provide rehabilitation services on an ongoing basis.
  • An online Language Literacy and Numeracy skills assessment is required before enrolment can be confirmed in this course.
  • A workplace supervisor or manager is required to provide evidence of the participants competency in the units/qualification. For further information download the Supervisors Handbook
  • Must be over 18 years of age
  • Students will be required to have regular access to a computer and internet access to complete this course

See Learner Handbook for further details

Units of competence

This qualification consists of 15 units of competency. Please find below the 11 core units as well as the 4 elective units we will be offering in this course:

Core Units

CHCMHS002 Establish self-directed recovery relationships
CHCMHS003 Provide recovery oriented mental health services
CHCMHS004 Work collaboratively with the care network and other services
CHCLEG001 Work legally and ethically
CHCMHS005 Provide services to people with co-existing mental health and alcohol and other drugs issues
CHCDIV002 Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety
CHCMHS007 Work effectively in trauma informed care
CHCMHS008 Promote and facilitate self-advocacy
CHCMHS011 Assess and promote social, emotional and physical wellbeing
CHCDIV001 Work with diverse people
HLTWHS001 Participate in workplace health and safety

 

Electives 

CHCCCS003 Increase the safety of individuals at risk of suicide
CHCCCS023 Support independence and wellbeing
HLTWHS006 Manage personal stressors in the work environment
CHCPRP003 Reflect on and improve own professional practice

Completion options

If you have on-the-job experience or workforce training, you may be closer to a qualification than you think! MHCC offers a variety of course completion options for you to undertake the Certificate IV in Mental Health.

Course Pathway
Undertake the full qualification in just 12 months.

The course pathway is suited to students with no prior qualification and little work experience or someone who has more on-the-job experience and would like to consolidate it through formal learning.

This option requires attendance at all 16 face-to-face training days as well as completion of an online module. You will also need to undertake a variety of assessments, including at least 80 hours of workplace activities, to attain this qualification.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) – full recognition
This option is most suited to workers with current industry experience of 5 or more years and with extensive specific knowledge and skill in the competence contained in the Certificate IV in Mental Health . Students are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Learn more about RPL.

Partial recognition/blended pathway
This option is most suited to workers with current industry experience of 2 or more years with knowledge and skill in the competencies contained in the CHC43315 Certificate IV in Mental Health.Students will complete some units by recognition, some by assessment and may also need to attend some face to face training days in order to attain the full qualification.

Fast Track
Our Fast Track option supports workers with at least two years’ professional experience to complete the nationally recognised qualification. It draws on students’ lived and on-the-job experience to consolidate and build their skills. Fast Track approach requires attendance at all six face-to-face training days delivered in two-day blocks over a three-month period. Evidence of prior learning and on-the-job experience will be required in addition to course participation and completion of assessment activities.

Learn more about fast track

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