To make an informed choice about the suitability of this course, please consider the essential skills and knowledge below. You must:

• Be tolerant, patient and the willing to connect with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures, across various age ranges.
• Have good communication and listening skills to liaise with a range of people.
• Show problem-solving skills and the ability to respond to immediate safety risks.
• Have sound understanding of the importance of personal and professional boundaries.
• Display good ethical behaviour.

Time Commitment – You will need to allocate appropriate time to complete this course. This includes attending classes on-site and/or online as outlined in the study mode; undertake independent study outside of class hours, including private study, assessment preparation, and research to successfully complete this course.

• The training for this Short Course consists of four blocks of training over two days. You must not be late or absent from any of the blocks if you want to be accredited.

This course is a two-day Mental Health First Aid skills based, early-intervention training program designed to mobilise and empower communities by equipping people with the knowledge and confidence to recognise, connect and respond to someone experiencing a mental health problem or mental health crisis, until it resolves or until professional help is engaged. 

This course is suitable for members of the community, health professionals, front-line staff, Human Resource staff, Team Leaders and Managers.

Please consider the following carefully before enrolling. Some topics within this course may be triggering if you have experienced trauma, mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, non-suicidal self-injury, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), psychosis, substance use, suicidal thoughts, and/or other crisis. Please ensure you have sufficient support networks for the duration of your study. Support is also available through South Regional TAFE Student Services, who can direct you to our student support services, including Counsellors, Aboriginal Services, and Disability.

Below are some of the important personal skills you will be required to develop and demonstrate during training. These skills are highly valued by industry. 

• Respectful Communication and Empathy - Connect with people from diverse backgrounds, share information effectively. An ability to converse with people in English.
• Behaviour – Good ethical behaviour. Excellent personal and professional boundaries.
• Teamwork - Collaborate with others, show them respect, and be open to feedback.
• Leadership – Increase the safety of individuals at risk of suicide. Recognise and respond to crisis situations.
• Problem Solving - There is always a solution. How do you respond to a challenge? If you identify a problem, we encourage you to ask questions, clarify as needed, and respond appropriately within your scope of practice.
• Initiative - Stay motivated, take proactive steps, and seek help when necessary.
• Planning - Manage time well. Knowing how to prioritise is crucial for your success.
• Self-Management - Reflect on your performance. Reflection is a powerful tool for growth and success as a student at South Regional TAFE. Being a professional in the workplace can mean learning when to accept responsibility for your failures as often as your successes. This is how we learn!
• Learning – Recognise what your strengths already are. Then embrace all the new knowledge and experience from your South Regional TAFE journey to grow as a student.