Course Summary

This qualification reflects the role of workers who provide self-directed recovery-oriented support for people affected by mental health issues. Work involves implementing community-based programs and activities focusing on mental health and mental illness.

Work is undertaken in a range of community contexts such as:

• community based non-government organisations;
• home based outreach;
• center-based programs;
• respite care;
• residential services;
• rehabilitation programs;
• clinical settings; and/or
• supporting people in employment.

Work is carried out autonomously under the broad guidance of other practitioners and professionals. 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.

Entry Requirements

Students are required to complete the Basic Key Skills Builder (BKSB) online literacy and numeracy assessment prior to enrolment, unless they have completed an equivalent or higher-level course.

Mandatory placement checks are compulsory for this course, and students will be required to obtain a Working With Children's Check relevant to their State of residence, an Australian Federal Police Check and a Student ID Card. Students must meet the requirements for all mandatory placement checks prior to placement. Students may also be required to undertake a pre-placement interview with the host organisation and placement may be subject to students meeting the requirements of the organisation. The Vocational Placement will entail 80 hours of work in an appropriate mental health setting and will be undertaken towards the end of the course. Students who are currently working within the Mental Health sector may be eligible to undertake placement hours with their existing employer, subject to approval from the relevant Head of Course and agreement by the employer.

Vocational Placement and Work Integrated Learning

Students must complete a Vocational Placement and/or Work Integrated Learning as part of this qualification.

Additional information

You will be required to complete an approved work placement of 80 hours to complete CHC43315 successfully.  

When you have completed at least 10 units, you will be required to complete a Placement Application Form, this form allows you to identify if you would like to apply to complete your placement within your workplace or attend a CQUniversity-sourced placement. Students who are currently working in a relevant role may be eligible to undertake placement with their existing employer, subject to approval from the relevant Educational Team Leader and agreement from the employer. 

If your workplace does not meet the required criteria for the training package to undertake your placement hours then, the CQUniversity Workforce Integrated Learning (WIL) team will arrange a work placement for you. The WIL team will aim to source a placement located within the student's community; however, circumstances may require the student to relocate to complete the placement.

Mandatory placement checks are compulsory for this course. Students will be required to obtain a Working with Children's Check relevant to their State or Territory, and an Australian Federal Police Check. You may be required to have COVID-19 vaccinations depending on the facility that you will be placed with, you can gain more information about this from the WIL team, you will also be required to complete a Student Declaration,  Confidentiality Agreement and order a CQUniversity Student ID Card. 

Students must ensure they can meet the requirements for these checks. Students may be required to undertake a pre-placement interview with host organisations and placement may be subject to the student meeting an organisation's requirements.

Effective 25 September 2023, updates have been made to the COVID-19 vaccination mandate for Queensland Health sites and the Queensland Ambulance Service. While Queensland Health does not currently mandate evidence of COVID-19 vaccination, it's essential to recognise that other organisations may enforce their own vaccination specific criteria. This situation is similar across other states and territories, with the exception of Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, where COVID-19 vaccination is mandatory for all healthcare students.    

Course Details

Admission Codes

Student Outcomes, Career Opportunities and Occupations

Completion of this qualification may lead to work in implementing community based programs and activities focusing on mental health and mental illness. Work is undertaken in a range of community contexts such as: community based non-government organisations; home based outreach; centre-based programs; respite care; residential services; rehabilitation programs; clinical settings; and/or supporting people in employment.