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 Homepage

How to Become a Mental Health Support Worker: A Fulfilling Job for Both You And Your Clients

To work in the community as a mental health support worker, you’ll need enormous amounts of empathy, exceptional people skills and the proper training. To gain the skills necessary for this rewarding career, you generally need a qualification in mental health or community services such as a Certificate IV in Mental Health (CHC43315).

Find out about what it takes to do the job, what the job market is like and how to become a support worker for mental health.

community-support-worker
  • Overview
  • How to Become
  • Pathways
  • Qualifications

Mental health support worker job description

info Where we source our data

Let’s get real. Job information online can often be overly optimistic — conveniently glossing over the raw bits. But when you’re making decisions about your future, you need all the facts.

That’s why we anonymously surveyed mental health support workers about their job, with hopes of getting an honest insight into what it’s really like.

While we did our best to ensure respondents were Australians and verified their job titles with proof of employment, we can’t guarantee complete accuracy — or that your experiences in the field will reflect theirs. So, we suggest that you take these insights as a guide only and try to talk to people in the field before making an important decision.

Mental health support workers help people living with mental illnesses. They also communicate with other mental health services and create care plans that meet the client’s goals — both short-term and in the long run. Mental health support workers also help their clients reach their personal goals and oversee their progress, as well as provide counselling services.

Tasks and responsibilities for a mental health support worker

A mental health worker’s job description focuses on supporting people that experience mental health issues, working with them to set and achieve goals to improve their lives. 

Some mental health support worker roles and responsibilities are:

  • Assessing the client needs
  • Referring clients to necessary related mental health services
  • Communicating with other service providers and support programs
  • Counselling for individuals or groups
  • Researching and developing new services and programs
  • Maintaining client records and assessing progress

How to become a mental health support worker

A career in mental health support requires a specific set of skills and experience in the workplace. There are a couple of ways you can start your journey.
  1. Study

    Equip yourself with essential mental health support skills by completing a relevant qualification through a TAFE or Registered Training Organisation, such as the Certificate IV in Mental Health.

  2. Start a Traineeship

    A traineeship or apprenticeship is a great way to get your foot in the door, get on the ground experience, and complete studies along the way. Generally, traineeships take 24 months to complete.

Pathway options

info
Job pathways are drawn from the Australian Apprenticeships Pathways site.

A job in mental health support is gratifying, and this might be a role where you are happy to stay. But, if you want to progress in your career path, starting a job as a support worker can lead you into more senior roles.

Some mental health career pathways could be:

Junior

  • Support worker

    Most common qualification: Certificate III in Community Services (CHC32015)

  • Volunteer coordinator

    Most common qualification: Diploma of Community Services (CHC52015)

Mid

  • Coordinator – mental health

    Most common qualification: Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work (CHC43315)

  • Mental health nurse

    Most common qualification: Advanced Diploma of Nursing (Mental Health) (HLT64115)

     

  • Outreach worker

    Most common qualification: Certificate IV in Mental Health (CHC43315)

Senior

  • Community development manager

    Most common qualification: Advanced Diploma of Community Sector Management (CHC62015)

  • Care manager

    Most common qualification: Advanced Diploma of Community Sector Management (CHC62015)

     

Explore related qualifications

Certificate IV in Mental Health

Study method In-class Online

The Certificate IV in Mental Health (CHC43315) provides you with the skills and knowledge you need to work in the community as a mental health professional. This course has theoretical and practical learning, with a work-placement element of at least 80 hours in the field.

 

The average course duration is one year and can be studied part of full time. The course can be delivered in various formats depending on the provider, including online and in-class lessons. 

 

You may be eligible for an Australian government subsidy fee. Check with course providers for more information.

Read More

2 providers offer this course

Open Colleges
Hader Institute of Education Pty Ltd

Diploma of Counselling

Study method Online

A diploma in counselling (CHC51015) is a qualification for working with clients on personal and psychological issues using established counselling methods. 

 

This course prepares the counsellor to work in defined and supported counselling roles in established agencies rather than independent practice.

 

The average course duration is one year, but you can be self-paced with your study. Learning is through blended study options, combining online study, in-class lessons, and practical work experience.

Read More

4 providers offer this course

Open Colleges
Upskilled Pty Ltd
Health Courses Australia
Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors (AIPC)

Related subjects

Roles that support people and help them achieve their goals aren’t limited to mental health. There is a strong need for community service workers who are team players and have a natural ability to connect with people.

 

Some other subjects to explore: 

Community Services
Community Services
Counselling
Counselling
Mental Health
Mental Health

Related articles

If you feel that a career in mental health support is right for you, find out more about the industry and helpful resources to get you on your way.

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Reviews

info How we collect reviews

Reviews are from Australian workers with this job title or a very closely related one.

Is this your job title?

Share your thoughts and help people decide if this job is right for them.

Leave a Review

  • All
  • Positive
  • Negative
Terence
Sep 01 2021

Love being able to help people.

What are the best parts of the job?

The ability to help people is by far the best part.

Read More

What's the most challenging part?

The workload can be quite heavy at times.

Read More
Qualification Diploma
Experience 10+
Organisation size 200+ employees
Specialisation Mental health
Georgi
Sep 01 2021

Communication aspect is enjoyable, and decision-making allows me to think deeply.

What are the best parts of the job?

Communicating with all my clients, as well as strategy decision.

Read More

What's the most challenging part?

Deciding the best way to handle situations of clients.

Read More
Qualification Cert III
Experience 10+
Organisation size 200+ employees
Specialisation Mental health
Ricardo
Sep 01 2021

Best feeling is to positively impact someone's life, but the many different personalities can sometimes be challenging.

What are the best parts of the job?

Helping people find meaning in their lives again brings me joy.

Read More

What's the most challenging part?

Having to deal with a wide range of individuals with different personalities is challenging.

Read More
Qualification Advanced diploma
Experience 1-3
Organisation size 20-199 employees
Luca
Sep 01 2021

Management is an issue but meeting people is rewarding.

What are the best parts of the job?

Meeting people and forming relationships with them, knowing I am helping them.

Read More

What's the most challenging part?

Dealing with managers and the workload they expect from me.

Read More
Qualification Cert IV
Experience 5-10
Organisation size 200+ employees
Catherine
Sep 02 2021

Love to help people, but watching them suffer can be difficult.

What are the best parts of the job?

I enjoy helping people and making a positive impact in the world.

Read More

What's the most challenging part?

The different types of sufferings people go through.

Read More
Qualification Cert IV
Experience 1-3
Organisation size 200+ employees
Specialisation Children
Belinda
Sep 03 2021

Helping patients recover and improve their mental health is great.

What are the best parts of the job?

Seeing patients get better and knowing I am a contributing factor to that improvement.

Read More

What's the most challenging part?

Always on the go, never a moment to rest.

Read More
Qualification Bachelor’s degree
Experience 5-10
Organisation size 200+ employees
Ellie
Sep 03 2021

Love helping clients but needs more funding.

What are the best parts of the job?

Seeing people gain confidence in themselves is a rewarding career.

Read More

What's the most challenging part?

Not enough funding to follow up on past clients.

Read More
Qualification Advanced diploma
Experience 3-5
Organisation size 20-199 employees
Lydia
Sep 03 2021

People make the job both good and bad.

What are the best parts of the job?

The people who are kind and easy to work with.

Read More

What's the most challenging part?

Some people can be difficult to work with.

Read More
Qualification Diploma
Experience 3-5
Organisation size 20-199 employees
Specialisation Mental health
Reece
Sep 03 2021

Heavy workload but lovely people.

What are the best parts of the job?

The people I work with, both clients and colleagues.

Read More

What's the most challenging part?

There is a heavy workload that I am expected to complete which can be overwhelming at times.

Read More
Qualification Masters degree
Experience 1-3
Organisation size 5-19 employees
1 2 3
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