We offer real-life work experience placements in the Hader Clinic’s rehabilitation facilities around the world.

What is Mental Health Work?

Mental Health work is a branch of the health care industry that deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental illness and emotional disorders. It  includes a wide range of activities, from providing counselling and therapy to prescribing medication and conducting research. Mental health workers also provide direct care to patients. This can include individual, family, or group therapy, as well as crisis intervention. They may also conduct assessments, develop treatment plans, and coordinate care with other professionals.

Types of Mental Health Courses

At Hader Institute, we offer two main mental courses, which include the Diploma of Mental Health and Certificate IV of Mental Health.

Diploma of Youth Work

The Diploma of Youth Work provides students with the skills and knowledge to work effectively with young people in a variety of settings. The course covers topics such as risk management, communication, counselling, and working with families. It also includes a work placement component, which gives students the opportunity to gain real-world experience.

Learning objectives

The Diploma of  Mental Health is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to work effectively with people who have mental illnesses. The course covers topics such as risk management, communication, counselling, and working with families. By completing the Diploma of Mental Health, you will learn how to:

Provide systems advocacy services:

This describes the skills and knowledge required to provide effective advocacy services within mental health systems. It includes working with individuals, families, carers and groups to promote their interests, rights and entitlements within mental health services.

Work with diverse people:

Working with diverse people involves understanding and responding to the needs of people from diverse backgrounds. This includes people from different cultures, races, religions, genders, sexualities, ages, abilities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. It also includes people who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. It includes working with people from diverse backgrounds, with diverse needs and at different stages of their life.

Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety:

There are a number of ways in which you can promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety. This includes understanding and respecting the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and promoting culturally safe practices within your work environment. It also includes working effectively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, and promoting their cultural safety within mental health services.

Establish self-directed recovery relationships:

This includes the skills and knowledge required to establish self-directed recovery relationships with people who have mental illness. It includes establishing trust, providing support, and empowering people to make their own decisions about their recovery.

Provide recovery-oriented mental health services:

Mental health services that are recovery-oriented focus on assisting people to achieve their goals, rather than on treating their illness. This covers the skills and knowledge required to provide effective recovery-oriented mental health services. It includes working with individuals, families, carers and groups to promote their recovery within mental health services.

Work collaboratively with the care network and other services:

This includes the skills and knowledge required to work effectively with the care network and other services. It includes working with other professionals, agencies and organisations to coordinate care and support for people with mental illness.

Provide services to people with co-existing mental health and alcohol and other drugs issues:

This includes the skills and knowledge required to provide effective services to people with co-existing mental health and alcohol and other drugs issues. It covers topics such as risk management, communication, counselling, and working with families. It also includes a work placement component, which gives students the opportunity to gain real-world experience.

Provide early intervention, health prevention and promotion programs:

This includes the skills and knowledge required to provide effective early intervention, health prevention and promotion programs. It covers topics such as risk management, communication, counselling, and working with families. It also includes a work placement component, which gives students the opportunity to gain real-world experience.

Implement recovery oriented approaches to complexity:

Implementing recovery oriented approaches to complexity requires an understanding of the various factors that can impact on a person’s mental health. It also requires an understanding of how to use a variety of interventions to support people with complex mental health needs. This includes working with individuals, families, carers and groups to promote their recovery within mental health services.

Assess and promote social, emotional and physical wellbeing:

This includes the skills and knowledge required to assess and promote social, emotional and physical wellbeing. It covers topics such as risk management, communication, counselling, and working with families. It also includes a work placement component, which gives students the opportunity to gain real-world experience.

Provide support to develop wellness plans and advanced directives:

This includes the skills and knowledge required to provide support to develop wellness plans and advanced directives. It covers topics such as risk management, communication, counselling, and working with families. It also includes a work placement component, which gives students the opportunity to gain real-world experience.

Implement trauma-informed care:

This includes the skills and knowledge required to implement trauma-informed care. It covers topics such as risk management, communication, counselling, and working with families. It also includes a work placement component, which gives students the opportunity to gain real-world experience.

Research and apply evidence to practice:

This includes the skills and knowledge required to research and apply evidence to practice. It covers topics such as literature reviews, research methods, and applying evidence to practice. It also includes a work placement component, which gives students the opportunity to gain real-world experience.

Reflect on and improve own professional practice:

This includes the skills and knowledge required to reflect on and improve own professional practice. It covers topics such as reflective practice, supervision, and ethical decision-making. It also includes a work placement component, which gives students the opportunity to gain real-world experience.

Manage work health and safety:

This includes the skills and knowledge required to manage work health and safety. It covers topics such as risk management, communication, counselling, and working with families. It also includes a work placement component, which gives students the opportunity to gain real-world experience.

Certificate IV of Mental Health

The Certificate IV in Mental Health is a qualification that will give you the skills and knowledge to provide support to people with mental health issues and promote mental health and wellbeing. The course covers a range of topics, including risk management, communication, counselling, and working with families. It also includes a work placement component, which gives students the opportunity to gain real-world experience.

Learning Objectives

The Certificate IV in Mental Health will provide you with the skills and knowledge to:

Work with diverse people:

This includes the skills and knowledge required to work with diverse people. It covers topics such as cultural safety, anti-discrimination, and working with people from a range of backgrounds. It also includes a work placement component, which gives students the opportunity to gain real-world experience.

Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety:

This course will provide you with the skills and knowledge to promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety. You will learn about topics such as cross-cultural communication, history, and current issues affecting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

Work legally and ethically:

This course will teach you about the legal and ethical framework within which mental health workers operate. You will learn about topics such as confidentiality, duty of care, and risk management.

Facilitate individual service planning and delivery:

Service planning is an important part of the mental health worker's role. This course will teach you how to facilitate service planning and delivery, using a person-centered approach. You will learn about topics such as assessment, goal setting, and service delivery models.

Establish self-directed recovery relationships;

Mental health workers play an important role in supporting people to recover from mental illness. This course will teach you how to establish self-directed recovery relationships. You will learn about topics such as motivational interviewing, peer support, and working with families and carers.

Provide recovery oriented mental health services:

This course will teach you how to provide recovery oriented mental health services. You will learn about topics such as strengths-based approaches, community-based services, and recovery-oriented practice.

Work collaboratively with the care network and other services:

Mental health workers often work collaboratively with other services to provide care for people with mental illness. This course will teach you how to work collaboratively with the care network and other services. You will learn about topics such as case management, referral pathways, and working with primary health care providers.

Provide services to people with co-existing mental health and alcohol and other drugs issues:

This course will teach you how to provide services to people with co-existing mental health and alcohol and other drugs issues. You will learn about topics such as screening and assessment, harm reduction, and working with people with substance use disorders.

Work effectively in trauma informed care:

This course will teach you how to work effectively in trauma informed care. You will learn about topics such as the impact of trauma, working with people who have experienced trauma, and using a trauma-informed approach in service delivery.

Promote and facilitate self advocacy:

This course will teach you how to promote and facilitate self advocacy. You will learn about topics such as what is self advocacy, how to support people to advocate for themselves, and working with groups.

Participate in workplace health and safety:

It is important for mental health workers to be aware of workplace health and safety issues. This course will teach you about topics such as risk management, workplace hazards, and incident reporting.

Recognise and respond to crisis situations:

Mental health workers need to be able to recognise and respond to crisis situations. This course will teach you about topics such as identifying crisis situations, de-escalation techniques, and working with people in crisis.

Provide alcohol and other drugs withdrawal services:

This course will teach you how to provide alcohol and other drugs withdrawal services. You will learn about topics such as the withdrawal process, managing withdrawal symptoms, and working with people with co-existing mental health and substance use disorders.

Use communication to build relationships:

Effective communication is essential for mental health workers. This course will teach you about topics such as active listening, communicating in difficult situations, and using non-verbal communication.

Process and maintain workplace information:

Mental health workers need to be able to process and maintain workplace information. This course will teach you about topics such as documentation, record keeping, and information privacy.

Who is mental health work for?

Mental health work is for people who want to work in the mental health field. It is suitable for people who are interested in working with people with mental illness, as well as those who want to learn more about mental health.

Where can mental health workers be employed?

Mental health workers can be employed in a variety of settings, including community mental health services, hospitals, private practice, and research.

Are mental health work qualifications nationally recognised?

Yes, mental health work qualifications are nationally recognised.

What are the benefits of completing a mental health work qualification?

The benefits of completing a mental health work qualification include gaining the skills and knowledge necessary to work in the mental health field, as well as being able to obtain employment in a variety of settings.

What are the entry requirements for mental health work?

The entry requirements for mental health work vary depending on the course you choose to study. However, most courses will require you to have a high school education or equivalent.

What Does a Mental Health Worker Do?

A mental health worker is responsible for providing support and assistance to people with mental illness. Mental health workers may also provide support to family members and carers. They help people to understand their illness, cope with symptoms, and make positive lifestyle changes.

Mental health workers may also be responsible for providing education and training to other professionals, as well as the general public.

Some of the key duties of a mental health worker include:

- Providing support and assistance to people with mental illness

- Providing support to family members and carers

- Helping people to understand their illness

- Coping with symptoms and making positive lifestyle changes

What Are the Key Skills and Competencies of a Mental Health Worker?

The key skills and competencies of a mental health worker include excellent communication skills, good interpersonal skills, the ability to empathise with people, good problem-solving skills, the ability to work well under pressure, good organisation skills, and the ability to maintain confidentiality, to mention a few.

How Are Mental Health Courses Delivered?

Mental health courses are delivered in a variety of formats, including face-to-face, online, and distance learning. At Hader Institute, our mental health courses are delivered online, which means you can study at your own pace and in your own time.

What Topics Are Covered in Mental Health Courses?

The topics covered in mental health courses vary depending on the course you choose to study. However, some common topics include communication, conflict resolution, documentation, ethics, legislation, and risk management.

Can I Study Mental Health Online?

Yes, you can study mental health online. Online learning offers a flexible and convenient way to study, as you can study at your own pace and in your own time.

What Do Mental Health Courses Entail?

Mental health courses are designed to provide students with an understanding of mental disorders and illnesses. The coursework generally covers topics such as causes, symptoms, and treatments of mental disorders. Students enrolled in mental health courses may also learn about different methods of diagnosis and how to create treatment plans. Mental health courses are typically offered as part of a degree program in psychology or a related field.

How Much Does a Mental Health Worker Earn?

The average salary for an entry-level youth worker in Australia is $78,964 per year. However, salaries will vary depending on your qualifications, experience, and the state or territory you work in. Entry-level salaries start at around $70,000, while more experienced workers can earn up to $100,000 per year.

What Are the Career Prospects for Mental Health Workers?

A mental health worker can work in a variety of positions, depending on their qualifications and experience. Some of the positions a mental health worker can work in include:

- Community mental health worker

- Mental health case worker

- Mental health support worker

- Mental health outreach worker

- Residential care worker

The career prospects for mental health workers are good, as there is a growing demand for qualified workers in this field. The number of mental health workers is expected to grow over the next years.

If you're interested in working in mental health, then studying a mental health course is a great way to start your career.