Are you passionate about caring for people living with mental health issues? If so, the Certificate of Mental Health Care is a professional development program that will give you the knowledge and skills to work in an industry that improves people’s lives using recovery-oriented support. You’ll gain an insight into the issues surrounding drug and alcohol abuse, homelessness, ethical and legal obligations, advocacy, assessment, planning and the recovery approach.
In this online mental health course, you will learn how to establish self-directed recovery relationships, work effectively in trauma-informed care, increase the safety of individuals at risk of suicide and assess and promote the social, emotional and physical well-being of your clients.
As a mental health worker, you can make a real difference in the life of people with mental health issues. This course is designed to be flexible, practical and easy to follow so you can start your fulfilling career sooner.
Course Structure
Unit 1 - Work with people with mental health issues
- Communication
- Relationship building
- Listening skills
- Care plans
- Client autonomy
- Social, cultural differences
- Spiritual differences
- Client rights
- Confidentiality and privacy
- Compliance and sharing
- Mental health issues
- Recovery model
- Values and attitudes
- Foreseeable harm
- Dignity of risk
- Service plans
- Self-management strategies
- Family-sensitive approaches
- Community development
- Community education
- Mental health promotion
- Case management
- Psychosocial rehabilitation
- Supported employment
- Early intervention/prevention
- Documentation and records
Unit 2 - Establish self-directed recovery relationships
- Medical recovery
- Progress and recovery
- Mental health assessment
- Develop case plans
- Autonomy
- Client rights
- Client service plan
- Mutual respect
- Law and Ethics
- Multiculturalism
- Positive working relationship
- Communication strategies
- Building rapport
- Active listening
- Effective questioning
- Inviting client to tell their story
- Facilitating healing
- Reflective skills
- Impacts of mental illness
- Financial wellbeing of client
- Employment / disclosing mental illness
- Eligibility and priority for service
- Community education
- Mental health promotion
- Psychosocial rehabilitation
- Supported employment
- Early intervention and prevention
- Readiness for rehabilitation
- Goal setting
Unit 3 - Provide recovery-oriented mental health services
- Predict medical recovery
- Sensitive approaches
- Community education
- Intervention and prevention
- Mental health promotion strategies
- Collaborative processes
- Crisis situations
- Consent/informed consent
- Client needs and preferences
- Relationship issues
- Goals and objectives
- Community-based assessment
- Inpatient care
- Client rights
- Building rapport
- Active listening
- Effective questioning
- Self-efficacy
- Cultural requirements
- Meaning and purpose in life
- Self-advocacy strategies
- Risk management
- Wellness plan
- Timelines for action
- Readiness for recovery plan
- Environmental factors
- Internal motivation
- Medical issues
- Addiction
- Positive risk taking / resilience
- Care support network
- Family care giver burdens
- Support services
- Suicidal ideation
- Client obstacles, challenges
- Public and private health care
- Monitor recovery plan
- Identify new directions
Unit 4 - Work effectively in trauma informed care
- Trauma informed care
- Gender responsive
- Safe environments
- Preventing traumatisation
- Forms of abuse
- Stalking / domestic violence
- Past and current trauma or abuse
- Mandatory reporting’s
- Behaviours related to trauma
- Symptoms of trauma
- Coping strategies
- Community resources
- Self-care strategies
- Managing re-traumatisation
- Breathing control exercises
- Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)
- Vicarious trauma
- Self-care strategies
- Continuous improvement
- Trauma checklist
- Self-reflection and evaluation
- Barriers to implementing trauma
- Fragmented service delivery
- Failure to identify trauma
- Misunderstanding behaviour
- Seclusion and restraint
- Delivery of trauma care
Unit 5 - Provide services to people with coexisting mental health and alcohol and other drugs issues
- Co-existing mental health
- AOD issues
- Dual diagnosis
- Substance abuse
- Alcohol and drug dependence
- Normal and abnormal behaviour
- Behaviours of mental illness
- Drug use and psychological illness
- Service provision
- Agency programs
- Service delivery models
- Dual diagnosis treatment models
- Treatment phases
- Motivational interventions
- Medication
- The shared care model
- Four-step programs
- Treatment for individual disorders
- Best practice model
- Client assessment
- Impact of AOD and psychological issues
- Physical conditions
- Societal impact
- Readiness for recovery
- Research specialist services
- Effective working relationships
- Recovery plans
- 5 stages of change
- Facilitate further care
- Addressing AOD addiction
- Treatment services
- Eligibility criteria
- Support and referral processes
- Informed consent
- Suicidal ideation
- De-escalation techniques
- Conflict resolution
- Reporting incidents
- Emergency situations
- Response strategies
- Records management
- Communication
- Assessment and self-evaluation
- Achievement of goals
- Advice, supervision and debriefing
- Burnout prevention
- Client risk assessment
- Law and Ethics
Unit 6 - Work with people experiencing or at risk of homelessness
- Homelessness
- Personal values/ attitudes
- Stereotyping
- Identify barriers
- Safe, secure housing
- Risk of homelessness
- Low income
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol abuse
- Refugees and asylum seekers
- Mental illness
- Employment services
- Case management
- Referral procedures
- Rental subsidies
- Early intervention
- Mandatory reporting
- Physical abuse
- Psychological /emotional abuse
- Recognising neglect
- Confidentiality
- Domestic violence
- Interventionist strategies
- Crisis housing
- Advocacy
Unit 7 - Increase the safety of individuals at risk of suicide
- Recognise signs of suicide
- Triggers and warning signs
- Grounds for concern
- SOLER acronym
- Questioning techniques
- Suicide risk factors
- Facilitate intervention
- Building empathic relationships
- Chronic pain
- Self-harm
- Suicidal feelings
- Safety plans
- Aggressive clients
- Responding to emergencies
- Foreseeable harm
- Empower the person at risk
- Encourage discussion
- Develop rapport
- Coping strategies
- Mental health issues
- Previous attempts
- Develop support plan
- 6 step referral process
- Document suicide safety plan
- Debriefing
- Supervision and peer support
Unit 8 - Assess and promote social, emotional and physical wellbeing
- Assessing client health and wellbeing
- Home help programs
- Holistic health
- Wellbeing programs
- Law and Ethics
- Strength strategies
- Respecting choices
- Defining boundaries
- Motivational interviewing
- Stigma response management
- Community service providers
- Types of support roles
- Client care network
- Obtaining consent
- Health dimensions
- Sexual health strategies
- Fitness and nutrition
- Regular health checks
- Facilitate referrals
- Risk factors to physical health
- Support networks / workers
- Social isolation
- Demographic statistics
- Community participation
- Social based activity checklist
- Social inclusion strategies
- Loneliness and isolation
- Emotional strengths / challenges
- Ability to self-care
- Healthy relationships
- Stress and anxiety
- Self-advocacy
- Mental health advocacy
- Development of self-efficacy
- Resilience / coping strategies
- Diversity management
- Contingency plans
- Risk assessment plans
- Plan for improved practice
- Collaborative record keeping
Study Hours
Estimated duration 120 Hours
Course Delivery and Start
Start anytime, self-paced and 100% Online
Assessment
Assessment will be comprised of written exercises, including short-answer questions, reflective tasks, short reports and/or projects. There are no examinations or due dates for assessment. As a result, you can complete training in your own time and at your own pace with the assistance of unlimited tutor support.
Testimonials
I found this course to be interesting and it gave me insight into a variety of mental health issues and situations I had never previously considered. I feel more confident supporting people – both adults and teenagers – with their complex mental health needs. The course is logically set out and easy to follow.
L. Bellamy, Tamworth, NSW | Certificate of Mental Health Care
The whole experience was great. Working from home made the whole experience so much easier and better. I am not one who does well at school and for the for the first time I found it easy to do.
H. Okeefe, Quarry Hill, VIC | Certificate of Mental Health Care
I enjoyed this course very much and gained new knowledge and skills that I can apply in my life experiences
Y. Toras, Maroubra, NSW | Certificate of Mental Health Care
I found my study experience very beneficial and the course gave me the knowledge and skills I needed to pursue my career change. Being able to study 100% online was also extremely helpful
A.Simmonds, Para Vista, SA | Certificate of Mental Health Care
Graduation
A Certificate of Attainment and Statement of Results will be issued upon successful completion of this course.
How to Enrol
Enrol Online: Click Add to Cart/View Cart on the course page.
Enrol via Live Chat (Business Hours)
Enrol via Telephone 1300 76 2221 (Business Hours)
Enrol via Purchase Order/Tax Invoice
Enrolling Multiple Staff?
To enrol multiple staff, please complete the Employer Enrolment Form. We’ll be in touch within 60 minutes during business hours!
Payment Options
Visa, Mastercard, BPAY and Direct Deposit.
Course FAQs
Why Choose Australian Online Courses?
- Professional development that is widely recognised and respected;
- Improve your employment opportunities;
- Study online, anywhere via our elearning system;
- High-quality professional development programs written by industry experts;
- All course materials provided online – no textbooks to buy;
- Unlimited tutor support via email;
- We offer twelve (12) months’ access, with extensions available upon application (fees apply);
- Course may be tax deductible; see your tax advisor.
Are there any entry requirements or pre-requisites?
There are no course or subject pre-requisites for entry into our programs. However, our professional development programs are generally intended for people over the age of 18. In some circumstances, enrolments from younger people may be considered. Please complete the AOC Parent Guardian Consent Form prior to enrolling and submit here.
When can I start this course?
You can start within 60 minutes during business hours when you enrol and pay in full with a credit card!
Credit card: Within 60 mins during business hours.
BPAY: Within 1-2 working days.
Internet Banking: Within 1-2 working days.
Cheque/Money Order: Upon receipt of mailed cheque.
How is this course delivered?
This course is delivered online via our easy-to-navigate Learning Management System (LMS), where you will discover interactive online learning/written content, resources and assessment.
Do I need to attend classes or undertake any work placements?
No. All courses are delivered online via our LMS and there are no work placement requirements in this course.
What support can I expect from Australian Online Courses?
Unlimited tutor support is available throughout your studies via email only during business hours Monday to Friday. Our Administrative team are available Monday to Friday via email, live chat and telephone.
I am an international student. Can I enrol into this course?
Yes! We accept enrolments from individuals both within Australia and internationally; location is no barrier to entry into our programs.
Career Pathways
Future growth
Strong
Unemployment
Low
- Mental Health Support Worker
- Mental Health Counsellor
- Mental Health Professional
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