Mental Health Courses

A 2017-18 National Health Survey found that one-in-five Australians have suffered from mental health issues, with a large majority (26%) being in the 15-24 year age bracket. As such, mental health awareness is becoming increasingly important to the Australian public, with demand for more mental health services, outreach programs and community services growing each year. 

For these reasons, Australia needs more mental health support workers and mental health trained community support workers. People in these roles provide support, care and advice for those struggling in a range of circumstances. 

Support workers can work for non-government organisations, clinics, youth service groups, hospitals, government welfare clinics and many more institutions.

With a very wide variety of roles in specialised areas such as drug and alcohol, rehabilitation and welfare support, support workers can work for a wide range of institutions, including: 

• Non-government organisations
• Public and private health clinics
• Youth and social work service groups
• Hospitals
• Government welfare clinics
• Rehabilitation centres

Due to how broad the mental health services industry is, there is a huge variety of career paths that you can pursue after undertaking a course in mental health. Some of the careers in this sector include:

• Welfare Support Worker
• Community Rehabilitation Coordinator
• Public Health Assistant
• Mental Health Nurse
• Social Worker
• Youth Worker
• Family Support Officer
• Disabilities Services Officer
• Health and Welfare Professional
• Mental Health Counsellor

In areas such as social work, health and welfare services and counselling, industry growth is expected to increase quickly by 2024. As many as 30,000 new employment opportunities are expected to open up during this time.

Salaries in the mental health sector are usually determined by the level of education required by the professional (as well as years of experience). Counsellors, who generally need to complete at least a Bachelor qualification, have an average salary of $82,300. A mental health support worker, however, averages a salary of $57,600, but usually only requires Certificate-level education. 

The mental health sector is female dominated with both full-time and part-time work opportunities available. Those who do work full time average around 40 hours a week.

To work in the mental health sector, it’s imperative you complete a mental health course. Most courses have minimal to no entry requirements, however, many courses include work placement in their curriculum. Work placement can occur in multiple sectors of the health industry so, a Working with Children Check and first aid qualification may be necessary.

Quick facts:

• Many courses offer recognition of prior learning, which may shorten the time-line of completion. 
• Some courses offer payment plans for tuition fees
• Some eligible students may be able to receive VET student loans for course fees

Whether you’re looking to focus on helping people with mental illnesses, advocate for cultural safety practices, or help someone through their drug and alcohol recovery; there’s a course out there for you.

Certificate courses

A Certificate III or Certificate IV in Mental Health is a great qualification to have under your belt when going for an entry-level industry role. These qualifications prepare you for the tasks and responsibilities you’ll be undertaking when you start your mental health career. If you’re looking to change careers or haven’t had any prior training or experience in this area, this is the course for you.

A Certificate IV in Mental Health, for instance, is the perfect way to fast track your career and get you started in as little as a year. This course will show you how to give professional care by providing you with the knowledge in diagnosing conditions, communicating effectively, offering advice and supporting client self advocacy. 

Diploma courses

A Diploma is a more comprehensive qualification that allows students to choose elective units for more specialised training. Some mental health related diploma qualifications out there include:

• Diploma of Community Services
• Diploma of Mental Health
• Advanced Diploma of Mental Health

A diploma qualification can take around 18 months to complete but can lead to more specialised roles in rehabilitation, psychiatric disability, drug and alcohol counselling as well as welfare and social work. 

For those considering further study, a Bachelor degree qualification will open up your eligibility to work in more specialised, hands-on sectors such as counselling, therapy and psychiatry 

The mental health sector will expose you to a world of diverse people and circumstances that often lead to highly engaging and rewarding careers, and a mental health course is a fantastic way to begin. 

As many courses are offered online, you’ll be provided with flexibility to learn at your own pace. Online courses ensure people of any circumstances can learn and achieve their education goals. 

If you’re ready for a rewarding and interesting career, enquire about a course to receive more information.

Enrol in a mental health course today and start your new career journey today!