Mental Health

Want a meaningful career that helps your community? Our rewarding qualifications in mental health support or community services will give you the opportunity to help people in a wide range of settings.

Gain the skills, techniques and hands-on experience you need to work as a support worker in mental health. Learn how to provide a range of assistance measures to clients with mental health issues and implement health promotion within the community services context. The diploma allows you to delve further into your knowledge of community welfare, gaining enhanced experience in community engagement, providing advanced interventions to clients as well as learning how to respond to crises.

Industry Placement

Get 200 unpaid hours of industry experience with an industry placement! This will give you the hands-on skills to be ready for employment. CIT staff can assist you in organising your placement.

(Certificate IV: 80 unpaid hours.  Diploma: 120 unpaid hours)

Why Study at CIT?

  • Hands-on industry experience
  • One of five specialised fields of study to personalise your Community Services Diploma
  • Many job opportunities in Canberra and throughout Australia
  • Course Details
    Course/s

    Certificate IV in Mental Health | CHC43315
    CRICOS: 091155E

    Diploma of Community Services | CHC52015
    CRICOS: 089976G

  • Course Duration
    Duration

    TOTAL CIT PACKAGE: 2 years
    Certificate IV in Mental Health: 1 year Diploma: 1 year

  • Course Intake
    Intake

    2022 Semester 1 (February) and Semester 2 (July and October)

    2023 Semester 1 (February) and Semester 2 (July)

  • Course Campus
    Campus

    CIT Bruce

  • Course Fees
    Fees*

    Tuition Fees:

    2021: $7,250 per semester

    2023: $7,450 per semester

    Extra Fees:

    Working with Vulnerable People Check: $135 approx., you may be required to purchase a shirt for placement for $30-$40

  • *Please note - Course fees are listed in $AUD and are based on a semester rate. Total course cost will vary depending on semester start date. Small fee increases may happen annually in line with CIT's fee pricing review. 2023 fees are subject to change.

  • Entry Requirements

    Academic requirements:

    • Year 12 Certificate (or equivalent)


    Students over the age of 20 may be eligible for adult entry with relevant practical work or other professional experience. Please refer to Entry Requirements for more information.

    English requirements:

    • IELTS 5.5 (no band score less than 5.0)
    • TOEFL iBT - 46
    • PTE Academic - 42 (minimum of 36 in each band)
    • Cambridge English test (C1 Advanced and B2 First) - 162

    Other requirements:

    You will need to be eligible to obtain a “Working with Vulnerable People” card to undertake placement.

  • Course Subjects - Certificate IV

    Certificate IV in Mental Health | CHC43315 - 15 subjects

    Core: complete all 12 subjects

    • CHCDIV002 Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety
    • CHCDIV001 Work with diverse people
    • CHCMHS005 Provide services to people with co-existing mental health and alcohol and other drugs issues
    • CHCMHS002 Establish self-directed recovery relationships
    • CHCMHS003 Provide recovery oriented mental health services
    • CHCMHS004 Work collaboratively with the care network and other services
    • CHCLEG001 Work legally and ethically
    • CHCCCS019 Recognise and respond to crisis situations
    • CHCMHS007 Work effectively in trauma informed care
    • CHCMHS008 Promote and facilitate self advocacy
    • CHCMHS011 Assess and promote social, emotional and physical wellbeing
    • HLTWHS001 Participate in workplace health and safety

    Electives: complete 3 subjects

    • CHCCOM002 Use communication to build relationships
    • CHCAOD001 Work in an alcohol and other drugs context
    • CHCCCS004 Assess co-existing needs
    • CHCMHS001 Work with people with mental health issues
    • HLTAID003 Provide first aid
    • HLTWHS006 Manage personal stressors in the work environment
    • CHCADV001 Facilitate the interests and rights of clients
  • Course Subjects - Diploma

    Diploma of Community Services | CHC52015 - 16 subjects

    (Subjects completed in the Certificate III will not need to be completed again)

    Core: Complete all 8 subjects

    • CHCCOM003 Develop workplace communication strategies
    • CHCDIV003 Manage and promote diversity
    • CHCCCS007 Develop and implement service programs
    • CHCLEG003 Manage legal and ethical compliance
    • CHCDEV002 Analyse impacts of sociological factors on clients in community work and services
    • CHCPRP003 Reflect on and improve own professional practice
    • CHCMGT005 Facilitate workplace debriefing and support processes
    • HLTWHS004 Manage work health and safety

    Electives: Complete 6 subjects

    • CHCPRP001 Develop and maintain networks and collaborative partnerships
    • CHCGRP002 Plan and conduct group activities
    • CHCMHS001 Work with people with mental health issues
    • CHCCSL001 Establish and confirm the counselling relationship
    • CHCADV005 Provide systems advocacy services
    • CHCCCS019 Recognise and respond to crisis situations
    • CHCAOD007 Develop strategies for alcohol and other drugs relapse prevention and management
    • CHCAOD008 Provide advanced interventions to meet the needs of clients with alcohol and other drugs issues
    • CHCMHS005 Provide services to people with co-existing mental health and alcohol and other drugs issues
    • CHCYTH012 Manage service response to young people in crisis
    • CHCPRT001 Identify and respond to children and young people at risk
    • CHCCSM005 Develop, facilitate and review all aspects of case management
    • CHCCSM004 Coordinate complex case requirements

    Electives: Complete maximum of 2 subjects

    • CHCMHS010 Implement recovery oriented approaches to complexity
    • CHCYTH008 Support young people to take collective action
    • CHCYTH009 Support youth programs
    • CHCMHS012 Provide support to develop wellness plans and advanced directives
    • CHCCSM008 Undertake advanced client assessment
  • Likely Job Outcome

    Certificate IV: Community rehabilitation and support worker, mental health rehabilitation support worker, community support worker, mental health support worker, mental health outreach worker.

    Diploma: Supervisor/team leaders, community welfare worker in the health and community services field – family support, women’s and men’s services, residential and non-residential.

  • Teaching Methods and Assessment

    Modes of study include simulated workplaces for students to practice their new skills, work experience or work placement, supervised study time with a teacher and online learning and student engagement through e-Learn.

    Students must complete class work, assignments, practical components and project work throughout the course. They may then be assessed using a combination of these tasks, continuous assessment and examinations. Assessment outcomes may be based on competency, marks and grades, or a combination of all three assessment methods.

  • Pathways to Further Study

    Because CIT offers nationally recognised qualifications accredited by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), students can apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) to most universities within Australia and receive credit towards a degree, even where formal credit transfer arrangements are not in place; however, this is not a guarantee.

    We advise you speak directly with your chosen university in relation to credit transfer, entry requirements and their application process.