The exact beginning of the counselling profession is unknown, but its roots may be found in a range of helping relationships that have spanned cultures and societies throughout the ages.Schmidt, 2008
Welcome to the Diploma of Mental Health! A career in the mental health industry offers an incredible opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals. Your dedication to studying mental health is not just a pursuit of knowledge but a commitment to compassion, understanding, and healing. Embrace this journey with open arms, for in your hands lies the power to bring light to darkness, hope to despair, and strength to vulnerability. Remember, every step you take in your studies brings you closer to becoming a beacon of support and resilience for those in need.
About this course
This qualification reflects the role of workers who provide services to clients in relation to mental health issues. They can provide counselling, referral, advocacy and education/health promotion services. These workers are required to have high level specialist knowledge, skills and competencies especially in regard to laws affecting people with mental health issues, the range of services available to them and health issues related to mental health.
Course Structure
- Study Periods - Your course is delivered in three (3) six-month study periods. Each study period will contain a number of modules that must be completed (see table below). At the end of each Study Period, you will be required to re-enrol in the next Study Period.
- Modules (Units) - This course is delivered in a modular format, each module will provide learning and skill development for a relevant subject area. The module is then broken down into topics and subtopics.
- Readings - Each module will contain learning content on a specific topic that has been developed by Swinburne Open Education and the Australian Insititute of Professional Counsellors. Each topic is also supported by required readings, which, for your benefit, have been included at the bottom of each Module. You will be guided in the learning content when and which reading to access.
- Assessments - Each module will contain assessments for you to complete. Once you have completed the learning, activities and readings you will complete each assessment. All assessments must be completed and deemed competent to successfully complete the module (Unit).
- Structured Workplace Assessment and Learning - To achieve this qualification, you must complete at least 160 hours of Structured Workplace Assessment and Learning (SWLA).
Trigger warning
This course may include content that deals with sensitive and emotionally challenging topics. Some of the topics covered in this course may include trauma, abuse, addiction, mental health issues, and relationship difficulties. These topics may evoke strong emotions, memories, or reactions in some learners. It is important to prioritise your own self-care and seek support as needed. If you feel uncomfortable or overwhelmed, please do not hesitate to reach out to your trainer, student services or a mental health professional for support.
For more information about this qualification, click here to be directed over to the Training Gov Australia (TGA) Website.
The following table lists and describes the modules (units) you will be undertaking as a part of this course.
Before starting each module, it is important to establish regular time each week dedicated to your studies. A set routine is the best way to ensure you successfully complete your qualification.
To assist you in doing so, a Study Plan template (planning tool) has been developed for this qualification. Once you have downloaded this Study Plan, complete it and save it onto your computer. Please refer to the Orientation module, under subtopic 1.6.4, 'Self-Paced Learning' for more information on completing the Study Plan.
| Module Order | Module | Unit Code | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Work with diverse people | CHCDIV001 | Provides an in-depth exploration of the competencies and understanding necessary to engage in effective and inclusive interactions with individuals from diverse social and cultural backgrounds. It encompasses the capacity to demonstrate respect, sensitivity, and cultural competence when working with various groups, including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities. |
| 2 | Manage personal health and wellbeing | BSBPEF401 |
Provides a comprehensive understanding of the abilities and information necessary to recognize indicators and causes of stress that can impact personal health and well-being, encompassing both physical and mental aspects. It focuses on identifying these strains within job roles and aligning them with key performance indicators (KPIs). The unit specifically targets individuals who work independently, possess exceptional communication skills, and apply their knowledge of organizational policies and relevant legislation. |
| 3 | Apply critical thinking to work practices | BSBCRT411 |
This unit explores the skills and knowledge needed to apply advanced-level critical thinking in a professional environment. It encompasses the use of analytical, synthetic, and evaluative methods to assess work practices. The unit is relevant to individuals who are tasked with evaluating current or proposed work processes, products, or services. These individuals are typically responsible for reviewing and developing practices within their organization, whether they are newly proposed or already established. |
| 4 | Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety | CHCDIV002 |
Explore the significance of understanding cultural safety issues in relation to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities within a workplace environment. It emphasizes the importance of incorporating cultural safety practices in one's own work and developing strategies to improve cultural safety.
The principles discussed are relevant to individuals in diverse roles, including those involved in direct client service, program planning, development, and evaluation. |
| 5 |
Develop and maintain networks and collaborative partnerships |
CHCPRP001 | This unit explores the skills and knowledge required to identify networking and collaboration needs and develop formal and informal partnerships to enhance service delivery and improve professional practice. |
| 6 | Establish and confirm the counselling relationship | CHCCSL001 | This unit examines the skills and knowledge required to use a structured approach to counselling to determine, establish and confirm the nature of the counsellor-client relationship according to the agency’s counselling model. |
| 7 | Research and apply evidence to practice | CHCPOL003 | Learn the skills and knowledge required to establish the information need, gather information and critically analyse the information for relevance to own work. |
| 8 | Assess and promote social, emotional and physical wellbeing | CHCMHS011 | This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to work collaboratively with individuals to assess, promote and review all aspects of wellbeing. |
| 9 | Provide support to develop wellness plans and advanced directives | CHCMHS012 |
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to support a person living with mental illness to develop recovery wellness plans and advanced directives. These plans outline the person’s preferences and plans to maintain wellness and to direct actions and support strategies should they become unwell. This unit applies to work with people with mental illness in a range of community services work contexts. |
| 10 | Support counselling clients in decision-making processes | CHCCSL007 | This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to assist clients to clarify their goals, explore options and develop a course of action. |
| 11 | Provide systems advocacy services | CHCADV005 |
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to advocate and ensure that government, community and organisational systems broadly support and uphold human rights. This unit applies to workers in a health, community services or advocacy settings who undertake a leadership role in influencing social and system changes. Workers at this level will also advocate for change and continuous improvement at the organisational level to improve client outcomes and service quality. |
| 12 | Provide services to people with co-existing mental health and alcohol and other drugs issues | CHCMHS005 | This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to assess capacity to support people with co-existing mental health and alcohol and other drugs issues and to work collaboratively to provide support and facilitate links to other services. |
| 13 | Provide early intervention, health prevention and promotion programs | CHCMHS009 | This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to develop and conduct early intervention, health prevention and promotion programs focussing on mental health and wellbeing. |
| 14 | Implement trauma informed care | CHCMHS013 | This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to promote trauma informed care, and to develop strategies to address people’s specific trauma needs. Trauma informed care involves providing services that are informed by the knowledge and understanding of the impact of trauma, in particular interpersonal violence and varying service practice to reduce the likelihood of re-traumatisation. |
| 15 | Provide recovery oriented mental health services | CHCMHS003 | This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to work collaboratively in providing services to implement a range of strategies as part of recovery oriented service provision for people with mental illness. |
| 16 | Work collaboratively with the care network and other services | CHCMHS004 | This unit describes the skills knowledge required to work collaboratively with the care network and other potential services for a person with mental illness. This work provides a recovery oriented practice approach, involving a variety of health and community service professionals working collaboratively with the person and their care network. |
| 17 | Establish self-directed recovery relationships | CHCMHS002 | This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to promote the principles of recovery oriented practice, and to establish and confirm self-directed recovery relationships with people with mental illness. |
| 18 | Implement recovery oriented approaches to complexity | CHCMHS010 | This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to identify and respond to issues of complexity when supporting people living with mental illness and their care networks. The unit is based on a strengths-based approach and acknowledges that complexity is not a characteristic of an individual. Complexity may be impacted by a range of interactions between the worker, the organisation and the environmental context. |
| 19 | Manage work health and safety | HLTWHS004 | This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to establish, maintain and evaluate work health and safety (WHS) policies, procedures and programs in the relevant work area, according to WHS legislative requirements. |
| 20 | Reflect on and improve own professional practice | CHCPRP003 | This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to evaluate and enhance own practice through a process of reflection and ongoing professional development. |
| 21 | Structured Workplace Learning and Assessment | SWLA | To achieve this qualification, you must complete at least 160 hours of Structured Workplace Assessment and Learning |