Become a Certified Mental Health First Aider
Understand common mental health issues and gain the skills to help.
Become an empowered advocate for mental health within your organisations and communities. Armed with knowledge, compassion and practical skills after completing the training, you’ll be better prepared to make a positive difference in the lives of those struggling with mental health challenges.
In today's fast-paced world, mental health challenges are increasingly prevalent. The Mental Health First Aid Online Workshop and Self-Paced Learning offers an essential toolkit for individuals to recognise, understand and respond to mental health crises effectively.
It begins with an exploration of common mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, schizophrenia and psychosis. Participants gain a deep understanding of the signs and symptoms associated with these conditions, dispelling myths and reducing stigma along the way.
Through engaging presentations, interactive discussions, and real-life scenarios, participants learn practical strategies for providing initial support to someone experiencing a mental health crisis. They develop skills in active listening, empathy, and non-judgmental communication, fostering an environment of trust and understanding.
Participants also delve into crisis intervention and casual counselling techniques, learning how to assess risk, provide reassurance, and connect individuals with appropriate professional help. Role-playing exercises allow them to practice these skills in a safe and supportive environment, building confidence and competence.
This training course equips participants with valuable knowledge about self-care and mental wellness practices, emphasising the importance of maintaining their own wellbeing while supporting others. Topics such as stress management, professional boundary-setting, and accessing support resources are explored in-depth.
Duration and format
This training will be delivered via a blended model including 5-7 hours of self-paced learning and a whole day online workshop 9:30am–4:30pm.
What you'll learn
By completing this course, you’ll gain the knowledge and confidence to provide practical support when someone is experiencing a mental health challenge, whether in your role as co-worker, friend, carer, or frontline professional.
You’ll learn how to:
- Recognise early signs and symptoms of mental health problems in adults
- Use a proven, evidence-based mental health action plan to guide start supportive conversations
- Assess and respond to crisis and non-crisis situations
- Understand key mental health conditions, their impact, risk factors, prevalence, and support and recovery pathways
- Look after your own wellbeing using practical self-care strategies and practices.
A valuable addition to your resume, or workplace or team wellbeing strategy.
Please note:
This course is accredited by Mental Health First Aid Australia (MHFA). You can complete the short assessment at the end of a course to become an Accredited Mental Health First Aider (MHFAider). Accreditations are valid for 3 years.
Who is this course for?
- Teachers, educators and school staff including wellbeing staff
- Healthcare professionals and support workers
- Child and family workers, and counsellors
- Youth workers and community volunteers
- HR professionals and team leaders
- Employees of community organisations, the education sector, and government.
This training is especially valuable anyone in the community who wants to help others, and feel equipped to do so.
About the presenters
Felicity Vance is a lead programs facilitator with the Centre for Learning and Innovation. She is a qualified mental health first aid Instructor and has qualifications in family and domestic violence practice, a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and business, and a master of teaching. Felicity is experienced in the provision of family violence, mental health, healthy relationships, gender equality and psychoeducational services. She has experience working with correctional cohorts including facilitating and leading programs for individuals engaged with the correctional system, as well as working with organisations to improve their gender diversity. Felicity is passionate about working in the primary prevention area of family violence and mental health and blends her professional and personal experience to engage people from all walks of life.
Luke Pepperell is a lead programs facilitator for the Rehabilitation and Reintegration team. He has a Bachelor’s degree in criminology and criminal justice, certificate IV in mental health, and is a qualified Mental Health First Aid Instructor. Luke is also currently undertaking a Graduate Diploma in Relationship Counselling. Luke has been facilitating programs for people who use violence for almost 3 years within the community and prison environment. Previously he has worked for the Centre for Law Enforcement and Public Health as a research assistant looking at how to reduce gender-based violence from a global perspective. Additionally, Luke supervises correctional staff across Victoria and supports them in delivering strength-based psychoeducational programs.
Participant feedback
- 'Thanks for a great course. I will be able to apply the skills I learnt both at work and in my personal life.'
- 'Both facilitators were extremely knowledgeable and engaging.'
- 'It has been great for a non-clinical background person to understand the signs of the common mental health disease to be able to help with the people around us.'
Registration information
- When you register, you'll be taken to our payment gateway to complete your registration. A new account will be automatically created for you in our Learning Management System (Moodle).
- Registrations for scheduled workshops close 48 hours before the event.
- Workshops must be paid for at least 2 business days before the training date, or your registration will be cancelled.
- If paying by invoice, proof of payment needs to be provided at least 24 hours ahead of the event.
Training Workshops Cancellation Statement [PDF, 1MB]
Other information
Please note that you'll need access to the following to participate in this workshop:
- desktop or laptop computer
- reliable internet connection
- headphones recommended
- microphone/speakers
- webcam (built-in or external to your computer)
Contact us
Centre for Learning and Innovation
Phone: (03) 8573 2222
Email: [email protected]