Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work

CHC43515

This page is updated when information changes, but it's always best to talk to your training provider to confirm course details before you enrol.

Overview

This qualification reflects the role of workers who have lived experience of mental illness as either a consumer or carer and who work in mental health services in roles that support consumer peers or carer peers. Workers are employed in the mental health sector in government, public, private or community managed services.

To achieve this qualification, the candidate must have completed at least 80 hours of work as detailed in the Assessment Requirements of units of competency.

No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this qualification at the time of publication.

  • Financial help

    • Government funding is available for this course. Check your eligibility for:

      • Career Boost (general)
      • Career Boost (traineeship)

      *To be eligible for this funding, you have to do a traineeship.

      Check your eligibility

  • Cost

    Course costs can vary by provider and location. Ask your training provider for a cost estimate.

    • VET Student Loans are not available
    • You may need to pay for equipment or materials.

    To see how government funding could help to reduce the cost of your course, check your eligibility for funding.

  • On-the-job training

    • Completing this course through a traineeship can help you to learn the skills you need.

    These traineeships are available:

    • Mental Health Peer Worker (Consumer)
    • Mental Health Peer Worker (Carer)

    This course has 80 mandatory work placement hours.

  • Entry requirements

    This course doesn't have any entry requirements. It could be a good starting point for your career.

  • Duration

    You complete this course when you’ve learned the skills, not after a set amount of time. The times shown are estimates.

    • Through traineeship:
      2 years
    • Qualification only:
      6 months – 2 years

  • Delivery options

    You may be able to access this training in these ways:

    • Workplace-based
    • Some classroom learning
    • Part-time available
    • Partially online
    • Practical learning

Course content

This course is made up of units.

All courses have core units—these are mandatory for completing the course. Most courses also have elective units, which you can choose from to suit your needs and interests. Not all training providers offer every elective, so check with your provider to find out which electives they can offer you.

For more information about course content, talk to your training provider or visit the National Training Register.

Unit Unit type
Apply lived experience in mental health peer work Core
Apply peer work practices in the mental health sector Core
Assess and promote social, emotional and physical wellbeing Core
Contribute to the continuous improvement of mental health services for consumers and carers Core
Participate in workplace health and safety Core
Promote and facilitate self advocacy Core
Work effectively in trauma informed care Core
Work with diverse people Core
Address the needs of people with chronic disease Elective
Analyse and present research information Elective
Analyse impacts of sociological factors on clients in community work and services Elective
Contribute to the review and development of policies Elective
Deliver structured programs Elective
Design and develop learning programs Elective
Develop and implement community programs Elective
Develop and maintain networks and collaborative partnerships Elective
Develop and provide community projects Elective
Establish self-directed recovery relationships Elective
Facilitate community participation and social inclusion Elective
Facilitate the empowerment of older people Elective
Facilitate the empowerment of people with disability Elective
Facilitate the interests and rights of clients Elective
Facilitate the recovery process with the person, family and carers Elective
Implement participation and engagement strategies Elective
Increase the safety of individuals at risk of suicide Elective
Make a presentation Elective
Manage and maintain tenancy agreements and services Elective
Manage personal stressors in the work environment Elective
Plan and conduct group activities Elective
Plan, organise and deliver group-based learning Elective
Plan, organise and facilitate learning in the workplace Elective
Process and maintain workplace information Elective
Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety Elective
Provide advocacy and representation services Elective
Provide loss and grief support Elective
Provide recovery oriented mental health services Elective
Provide services to people with co-existing mental health and alcohol and other drugs issues Elective
Provide support to people living with dementia Elective
Provide systems advocacy services Elective
Recognise and respond to crisis situations Elective
Respond effectively to behaviours of concern Elective
Support community action Elective
Support group activities Elective
Support independence and wellbeing Elective
Support participative planning processes Elective
Support relationships with carers and families Elective
Support young people to create opportunities in their lives Elective
Undertake bicultural work with forced migrants in Australia Elective
Use business technology Elective
Visit client residence Elective
Work collaboratively with the care network and other services Elective
Work effectively in consumer mental health peer work Elective
Work effectively with carers as a mental health peer worker Elective
Work effectively with young people and their families Elective
Work in an alcohol and other drugs context Elective
Work legally and ethically Elective
Work to empower Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities Elective
Work with forced migrants Elective
Work with parents or carers of very young children Elective
Work with people experiencing or at risk of homelessness Elective

Job prospects

The Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work sets you up for roles like these, but the skills you learn could take you even further.

  • Recruitment Consultant

    ANZSCO 223112

    Match people looking for work with employers looking for staff.

    Recommended education level:
    Bachelor degree or higher

  • Liaison Officer

    ANZSCO 224912

    Liaison Officers establish and facilitate communication between different community groups, organisations and governments.

    Recommended education level:
    Bachelor degree or higher

  • Drug and Alcohol Counsellor

    ANZSCO 272112

    Drug and Alcohol Counsellors provide support and treatment for people with drug and alcohol dependency problems, develop strategies which assist them to set goals and affect and maintain change, and provide community education. They may work in call centres.

    Recommended education level:
    Bachelor degree or higher

  • Disabilities Services Officer

    ANZSCO 411712

    Disabilities Services Officers work in a range of service units which provide education and community access to people with intellectual, physical, social and emotional disabilities.

    Recommended education level:
    Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree

  • Family Support Worker

    ANZSCO 411713

    Family Support Workers assist the work of Social Workers and Welfare Workers by providing services and support to families.

    Recommended education level:
    Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree

  • Youth Worker

    ANZSCO 411716

    Support young people in the social, emotional, financial, study and employment aspects of their lives.

    Recommended education level:
    Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree

  • Aged and Disabled Carer

    ANZSCO 423111

    Provide companionship and practical support to aged and disabled persons in their own homes

    Recommended education level:
    Certificate II or III

  • Personal Care Assistant

    ANZSCO 423313

    Personal Care Assistants provide routine personal care services to people in a range of health care facilities or in a person's home.

    Recommended education level:
    Certificate II or III

Training providers delivering Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work

It's a good idea to research multiple training providers to make sure you're getting the right training for you.

This course has a mandatory work placement. Skills Assure Suppliers help you to arrange a work placement. This service may not be available through other training providers.

Showing: 26 providers

How to enrol in this course

To enrol, choose a training provider that offers this course. You can see provider details on this page.

When you find one that you think suits you, visit their website or contact them directly to confirm details like start dates, fees, funding, delivery locations and delivery options.

The provider will guide you through the enrolment process.

Delivery locations can change as students enrol. If you're doing any workplace-based training, like an apprenticeship, this will take place in a different location from your classroom training. Contact your training provider to confirm delivery locations.
Government funding may be available. Contact your training provider to confirm.
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