Diploma of Mental Health

Entry Requirements

Entry to Diploma study at EQUALS requires:

Successful completion of Year 12 in an Australian secondary school system or its equivalent; or
Completion of a Certificate III or equivalent; or
Mature Age Entry

Applicants who have completed previous study in Community Services or Health areas will be well regarded.

Current and valid Department of Communities & Social Inclusion (DCSI) Screening Checks for working with Children, with Vulnerable People and in the Aged Care Sector, & Physical Fitness are required for this course.

Current First Aid certification may be a requirement for industry placement; this is at the discretion of the industry host.

IELTS (International English Language Testing System): 5.5 Academic (min 5.0 in any band). Some programs require a score of 6.0 (overall band score) or higher; TOEFL (IBT): 60 (with Reading and Writing not less than 18); Cambridge English (CAE & CPE): 169 (with no band below 162); PTE (Pearson Test of English): 50 (with Reading and Writing communicative scores not below 50); High School: Successful completion of the last 2 years of high/ secondary school, where the language of instruction was English; Malaysian SPM 1119 English: A –; OET (Occupational English Test): Pass C, D.

Course Details

Mental health is arguably one of the most critical and dynamic areas of public health across the world. It is an integral and essential component of health. The World Health Organisation states: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

The Diploma of Mental Health CHC53315 equips graduates with the skills to support their client’s holistic health and an overall state of well-being in which an individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to his or her community. With more than one in five people suffering a mental health illness at some point in their lives, well trained Mental Health professionals are essential for a healthy community.

Mental health students are trained across service delivery areas – including prevention, planning, delivery and treatment, recovery and evaluation. There is a strong emphasis on working with diverse cultures and communities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Mental Health professionals are typically employed in a range of settings including schools, medical centres, outreach services. hospitals, shelters, community service providers, educational institutions, prisons and long term residential facilities.

Pathways into mental health as a career include vocational training and tertiary qualifications. Students who complete this qualification may be eligible for entry into higher education course in areas such as Social Work, Nursing, Psychology, Human Services and Applied Public Health. VET Pathways include Advanced Diploma in Community Sector Management CHC62015.

The Diploma of Mental Health CHC53315 offers graduates a variety of employment opportunities within the health, human and community services sectors. These may include Welfare Support Workers and Mental Health Outreach Support Workers, Community Engagement Workers and other Rehabilitation Workers within the sector.

INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE

This course includes a minimum of 160 hours of industry placement, typically performed on a part-time basis during the course.