Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work
Sorry, this course is not available for international students.
If you are a local student you may be eligible.
To find a course that's available to international students, please visit the search page:
Overview
Preston
14 months part time
April
April
Our Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work CHC43515 qualification reflects the role of workers who have a lived experience of mental illness as either a consumer or carer. This course will prepare you to become a peer worker or carer peer in the mental health sector.
During the enrolment process you will be asked which specialist stream you want to enrol in (Consumer stream or Carers stream).
Career Pathways
Where will this take me
You may find work in government, public, or private sectors, or in community managed services or sectors including Mental Health, AOD, NDIS, Research or Forensic Services.Pathways
Learners may continue on to further learning into these qualifications:
- CHC53315 Diploma of Mental Health
- CHC52015 Diploma of Community Services
- CHC53215 Diploma of Alcohol and Other Drugs
Course Details
Delivery methods
Consumer Peer Worker or Carer Peer Worker currently working (paid or unpaid) in an identified peer role providing direct ongoing support to other consumers and carers as part of their day-to-day work, with 80 hours of work placement and having lived experience of a mental illness*, or as a carer of a person with lived experience of a mental illness*.
The course is delivered by experienced facilitators with lived experience, through a blended model of on-line classes and tutorials, on-campus assessment with and actor simulations of the workplace.
* We would like to acknowledge that this is a term that not everyone will agree with, we respect how our students choose to identify
- Blended learning
Assessment Methods
Various forms of assessment may be used including demonstration of skills and knowledge in simulated workplaces, written pieces, classroom activities and practical work placement.
Units of Study
The hours displayed are nominal, actual classroom hours delivered may differ. Please contact us for the latest student contact hours information.
| Code | Subject | Elective | Hours |
| BSBCMM401 | MAKE A PRESENTATION | Elective | 30 |
| CHCAOD001 | WORK IN ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS CONTEXT | Elective | 80 |
| CHCCCS003 | INCREASE THE SAFETY OF INDIVIDUALS AT RISK OF SUICIDE | Elective | 110 |
| CHCCOM002 | USE COMMUNICATION TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS | Elective | 55 |
| CHCDIV001 | WORK WITH DIVERSE PEOPLE | Core | 40 |
| CHCLEG001 | WORK LEGALLY AND ETHICALLY | Core | 55 |
| CHCMHS007 | WORK EFFECTIVELY IN TRAUMA INFORMED CARE | Core | 40 |
| CHCMHS008 | PROMOTE AND FACILITATE SELF-ADVOCACY | Core | 50 |
| CHCMHS011 | ASSESS AND PROMOTE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL WELLBEING | Core | 80 |
| CHCPRP003 | REFLECT AND IMPROVE ON YOUR OWN PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE | Elective | 120 |
| CHCPWK001 | APPLY PEER WORK PRACTICES IN THE MENTAL HEALTH SECTOR | Core | 35 |
| CHCPWK002 | CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES | Core | 40 |
| CHCPWK003 | APPLY LIVED EXPERIENCE IN MENTAL HEALTH PEER WORK | Core | 40 |
| CHCPWK004 | WORK EFFECTIVELY IN CONSUMER MENTAL HEALTH PEER WORK | Elective | 60 |
| CHCPWK005 | WORK EFFECTIVELY WITH CARERS AS A MENTAL HEALTH PEER WORKER | Elective | 40 |
| HLTWHS001 | PARTICIPATE IN WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY | Core | 20 |
Attend an Info Session
Fees & Costs
| Free TAFE | Job Trainer | Concession | Government subsidised fee | Non-subsidised fee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition fee | $0 | $0 | $730 | $3650 | $9650 |
| Materials fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Maximum annual amenities | $250 | $250 | $175 | $250 | $250 |
| Total payable | $250 | $250 | $905 | $3900 | $9900 |
| Per year | $ |
| Per semester | $ |
The student tuition fees as published are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment.
Displayed course fees are indicative only. There are many variables that impact the total amount of your full course costs including qualification for government subsidies, concessions or recognition of prior learning. Tuition fees do not include the cost of student amenities or material costs.
This training is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding. Contact us to find out if you’re eligible for a Government subsidy.
Melbourne Polytechnic offers a range of payment options to help you pay your tuition fees, so you can get on with your studies.
Fees displayed are effective for new applications received on or after 1 November 2021. Tuition fees do not include textbooks, course materials or overseas student health insurance and visa fees.
After initial deposit, international students are able to pay tuition fees in installments, four times per year.
For more detailed information please read the International Student Fees.
Fees explained
The State Government’s Free TAFE for Priority Courses initiative covers the cost of tuition (excluding Amenities Fees and Materials Fees) for students who are eligible for government subsidised training and enrol into one of the Priority listed course.
Free TAFE is available to eligible students for one course enrolment in a lifetime.
Free TAFE places are limited. Please call 1300 635 276 and we can advise you whether Free TAFE places are still available.
Free TAFE for Priority Courses initiative covers the cost of tuition fees for students who are eligible. Materials and amenities may still apply.
The Free TAFE for Priority Courses initiative will pay your tuition fees for only one course. Once you have commenced in a tuition-free priority course, you are not eligible for further tuition-free places again, even if you do not finish your first tuition-free priority course.
Eligible students will pay 20 per cent of the standard Government subsidised tuition fee. Students can access up to one full qualification and one short course or skill set under the JobTrainer fund, including Free TAFE courses.
Who is eligible for JobTrainer?
To qualify for a non-traineeship JobTrainer course, you must
- be aged 17 – 24 at the time of commencement of training, or
- be a Job Seeker of any age, where a Job Seeker is defined as a person who holds a valid and current Commonwealth Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card or Veteran’s Gold Card; or unemployed.
To qualify for a traineeship JobTrainer course, you must
- be aged 17 – 24 at the time of commencement of training, or
- be a Job Seeker of any age, where a Job Seeker is defined as a person who holds a valid and current Commonwealth Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card or Veteran’s Gold Card; or
have been unemployed at the commencement date of the Training Contract; or became employed within 31 days before the commencement date of their Training Contract
To find out if you are eligible for Job Trainer or Free TAFE, call us on 1300 635 276.
The fees for those ineligible for a government-funded enrolment.
The cost of tuition for those eligible for government funding.
Concession fees are charged at 20 per cent of the standard fees for enrolments in Certificate I to IV courses. To be eligible students must meet Skills First eligibility criteria and present a valid:
- Commonwealth Health Care card, or
- Pensioner Concession card, or
- Any dependent spouse or dependent child of one of the above cardholders, or
- Veterans Gold card.
The following groups are eligible for concession fees from Certificate I to Advanced Diploma level:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
- Asylum Seekers and victims of human trafficking
Additional expenses
The Student Services and Amenities Fee is charged at forty cents (40 cents) per student contact hour and is capped over a twelve (12) month period, effective from the enrolment date, to:
- $250 for full fee-paying students; and
- $175 for concession-paying students studying Certificate I, II, III, or IV.
Amenities fees are used to improve non-academic services including libraries, counselling services, student support, and recreational activities.
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Requirements
You will need to be currently employed and undertaking a role as either Consumer Peer Worker or Carer Peer Worker (paid or unpaid) in an organisational role providing direct ongoing support to other carers or consumers as part of your day-to-day work to access your 80 hours of work placement.
If you are currently working in the Mental Health sector, please speak with your employer about undertaking this training. Your employer will confirm they will provide you with the workplace hours required to meet the assessment requirements of this qualification.
You must:
- Have lived experience of a mental illness*, or as a carer of a person with lived experience of a mental illness*.
- Have a valid Police Check
- You must have already received three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine (or have an exemption) to be able to work and undertake placement in a healthcare setting. See coronavirus.vic.gov.au for recommended vaccination doses.
* We would like to acknowledge that this is a term that not everyone will agree with, we respect how our students choose to identify.
During the enrolment process you will be asked which specialist stream you want to enrol in (Consumer stream or Carers stream).
Next Steps
The first step to enrolling is completing the application short form. You'll then receive a link to complete a few more personal details.
During the enrolment process you will be asked which specialist stream you want to enrol in (Consumer stream or Carers stream).
Please note: An interview will be scheduled after you have completed the application short form.
If you need assistance with your application and the next steps, you can contact one of our Education and Course Advisors on 1300 635 276 or follow a step-by-step guide to enrolling for vocational education local students.
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