Hi @Blackcloud . I’ve just seen that you’ll be looking to do some studying soon. Well done! I hope you achieve your goals!
As for the questions regarding the Certificate IV in Mental Health and the Certificate IV in Mental Health/Peer Work, I’d like to offer you some information about the 2 courses. I’ve been studying the Certificate IV in Mental Health at TAFE on/off for the past 9 years(had to stop/start due to health issues but am hoping to go back to it this July). Basically, it’s a 9 month course designed as an entry level into mental health support work with a minimum of 80 hours of practical placement based at an organisation to put your academic theory into practice and to see what type of work you could be doing as a mental health worker. With this course, you don’t have to have any knowledge or experience of mental health as the trainers will teach you this knowledge as part of the course. Depending on the organisation, usually they will employ you with the Certificate IV behind you so employment as a mental health support worker is very possible. Some organisations, however, prefer you to go on and study the Diploma of Mental Health as you have a greater understanding of mental health services, supports, health issues and related information to be able to offer clients more services and support. That includes 160 hours of placement as part of the courses d can be 18 months to complete the course if you don’t have the Certificate IV in Mental Health already. I do believe you can get credited for some subjects in the diploma if you have completed the Certificate IV previously as they are taught at both levels. The diploma offers similar employment opportunities to the Certificate IV but with added responsibilities. I’m possibly looking to complete the diploma later on if I like the Certificate IV and struggle to gain employment as I’ve found that here in Victoria, some employers prefer the higher qualification due to the advantage of more knowledge gained in the diploma.
The other course - Mental Health Peer Work- is generally designed for people with a lived experience of mental health to gain a qualification so they can further assist others in their role as a peer worker and use their lived experience to help support others. For this course, you usually have to be employed as a peer worker in some way to gain entry into the course as you need to also do a practical placement as part of your qualification or at least have an organisation lined up for you to do your placement at as they are very hard to gain without this prior knowledge. I know here in Victoria, there has been a big thing about employing peer workers in mental health services and organisations instead of just workers with no lived experience of mental health as some people respond better to peers rather than workers with no lived experience. I also prefer that peer workers have a qualification behind them or at least be studying a peer work qualification because I’ve had some trauma from peers who have given me the wrong information and have caused me harm in the past which is why I prefer peer workers to be qualified for this role.
Doing a uni degree is another option to work in mental health and I admire people that choose this option as it can open up other options for employment, including becoming a psychologist or social worker in mental health. The Bachelor of Psychological Science is a great degree and I wish you well in the course.
I hope this information has been of assistance to you. Good luck with your future studies.
Judi9877
