Professional Certificate in Mental Health Practice (PR-MHPRAC)

The Professional Certificate in Mental Health Practice is an on-line program, studied part-time over thirteen two week blocks (i.e. over 26 weeks in total). Breaks are scheduled during the program when assessments are due to give students sufficient time to complete assignments and receive feedback prior to the next block of teaching. It is anticipated that the course would be completed over 12 months.

The course is targeted primarily at professionals currently working in the field of mental health or for those working in organisations where mental health issues are prevalent. This may include those with backgrounds in nursing, social work, occupational therapy and other allied health fields, psychology and psychiatry, as well as general practitioners and those working in the non-government services provided for people with mental health problems, emergency services and other organisations.

It aims to complement each of the professional groups’ discipline-specific practice standards or competencies and address the shared knowledge and skills required when working in a multidisciplinary mental health environment through critical analysis and practical application. It outlines the knowledge, skills and attitudes required when individual members of the five main mental health professions work in a mental health service.

The course is designed to link to The National Practice Standards for the Mental Health Workforce (Practice Standards), which were developed in 2002 as part of the National Mental Health Strategy and provide practical benchmarks for the knowledge, skills and attitudes required by all mental health professionals.

The Practice Standards promote psychiatric rehabilitation, recovery and a ‘human’ approach to mental health service delivery by emphasising partnerships and collaboration with consumers, family members and/or carers in service planning, delivery and evaluation. The main approach to managing mental health issues has emphasised a multidisciplinary framework. Health professionals from different disciplines, and with a range of qualifications and skills, provide mental health services. Many of these professionals work in teams, while others work in private practice and consult with, or refer to, other service providers.

A major component of the assessment for the Professional Certificate in Mental Health Practice requires students to undertake a number of on-line learning modules with a peer group of health professionals from different disciplines to support the development of a workplace-based Professional Development Portfolio. A number of scheduled course deliveries throughout the year will enable the placement of successful applicants within peer groups to support this important aspect of the course.