Overview

Mental health is one of the most critical and dynamic areas of public health across the world. It is an integral and essential component of health. The World Health Organisation states: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

The Diploma of Mental Health CHC53315 equips graduates with the skills to support their client’s holistic health and an overall state of well-being in which an individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to his or her community. With more than one in five people suffering a mental health illness at some point in their lives, well trained Mental Health professionals are essential for a healthy community.

As a Mental Health student at EQUALS, you are comprehensively trained across multiple service delivery areas – including prevention, planning, delivery and treatment, recovery and evaluation. There is a strong emphasis on working with diverse cultures and communities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Our Mental Health graduates may be employed in a range of settings including schools, medical centres, outreach services. hospitals, shelters, community service providers, educational institutions, prisons and long term residential facilities.

Pathways into mental health as a career include vocational training and tertiary qualifications. Students who complete this diploma may be eligible for entry into higher education courses in areas such as Social Work, Nursing, Psychology, Human Services and Applied Public Health. VET Pathways include Advanced Diploma in Community Sector Management CHC62015.

The Diploma of Mental Health CHC53315 offers graduates a variety of employment opportunities within the health, human and community services sectors. These may include Welfare Support Workers and Mental Health Outreach Support Workers, Community Engagement Workers and other Rehabilitation Workers within the sector.

Direct entry into the Diploma is available to eligible applicants.

For other important information, please read our Student Handbook. You can access it here.

Alternatively, you may request to have the handbook emailed to you by contacting admissions@equals.edu.au.

Subsidised Training

If you want to study a course that will give you skills employers need, the South Australian Government pays part of your course fees for you.

Your eligibility for government subsidised training may be based on your employment status and any training you’ve already completed.

Check your eligibility here.

Entry Requirements

Entry to Diploma study at EQUALS requires:

Successful completion of Year 12 in an Australian secondary school system or its equivalent; or Completion of a Certificate III or equivalent; or Mature Age Entry.

Applicants who have completed previous study in Community Services or Health areas will be well regarded.

Domestic applicants will be required to demonstrate adequate literacy and numeracy skills at pre-admission interview through formal assessment, such as the CSPA test.

Current and valid Department of Communities & Social Inclusion (DCSI) Screening Checks for working with Children, with Vulnerable People and in the Aged Care Sector, & Physical Fitness are required for this course.

If you do not hold a current DCSI check, you are required to apply through DCSI at the time of application for enrolment at EQUALS. A DCSI check must be acquired prior to industry placement. Visit http://www.dcsi.sa.gov.au/services/screening for further information.

Please note that the outcome of your DCSI screening check may affect industry placement opportunities, and that this is at the discretion of placement host facilities.

Current First Aid certification may be a requirement for industry placement; this is at the discretion of the industry host.

Study Units

Core Units

• CHCADV005 Provide systems advocacy services
• CHCDIV001 Work with diverse people
• CHCDIV002 Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety
• CHCMHS002 Establish self-directed recovery relationships
• CHCMHS003 Provide recovery oriented mental health services
• CHCMHS004 Work collaboratively with the care network and other services
• CHCMHS005 Provide services to people with co-existing mental health and alcohol and other drugs issues
• CHCMHS009 Provide early intervention, health prevention and promotion programs
• CHCMHS010 Implement recovery oriented approaches to complexity
• CHCMHS011 Assess and promote social, emotional and physical wellbeing
• CHCMHS012 Provide support to develop wellness plans and advanced directives
• CHCMHS013 Implement trauma informed care
• CHCPOL003 Research and apply evidence to practice
• CHCPRP003 Reflect on and improve own professional practice
• HLTWHS004 Manage work health and safety

Elective Units offered by EQUALS

• HLTWHS006 Manage personal stressors in the work environment
• CHCAOD004 Assess needs of clients with alcohol and other drugs issues
• CHCAOD007 Develop strategies for alcohol and other drugs relapse prevention and management
• CHCAOD009 Develop and review individual alcohol and other drugs treatment plans
• CHCMHS006 Facilitate the recovery process with the person, family and carers

Work Integrated Learning

This course includes a minimum of 160 hours of industry placement, typically performed on a part-time basis during the course.

Nationally Recognised Training

Yes.

National Recognition (Credit Transfer) and Recognition of Prior Learning

If you have related prior education and experiences, you may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Please follow this link for more information on applying for Recognition of Prior Learning. If you have successfully completed units of competency from this qualification previously, you may be eligible for National Recognition, please follow this link for more information on National Recognition (Credit Transfer).