This qualification is delivered over a period of 1550 normal hours including 260 hours of Professional Practice Experience. The course is delivered to both local and international students. Diploma of Mental Health course duration is 18 months. However, domestic students with CT and RPLs may be able to complete the course 52 weeks. The delivery durations at any time will additionally include end of the year holiday’s and term breaks.
This Diploma level qualification will be delivered using a blended delivery model with a combination of face to face class room based and computer aided training sessions. Skill development in a relevant simulated environment is an added component of the session delivery. Educators will be available to provide necessary additional support on request
Level 1/169 Plenty Road, Preston, VIC 3072. Practical placement locations as negotiated by ALACC with individual Providers.
Successful completion of this course may enable the participants to progress towards Advanced Diploma of Community Sector Management Course and above.
At the Diploma level this course will help the participant to continue to work efficiently within the Community Services Sector as workers who would provide counselling, referral, advocacy and education/health promotion services relating to mental health services. This has relevance to ANZSCO occupational classification value 411712 of Disability Services Officer. Occupational titles may include community and mental support worker, Mental Health Outreach Worker, Mental health community /support worker, mental health Rehabilitation support worker.
This qualification reflects the role of workers who provide services to clients in relation to mental health issues. They can provide counselling, referral, advocacy and education/health promotion services. These workers are required to have high level specialist knowledge, skills and competencies especially in regard to laws affecting people with mental health issues, the range of services available to them and health issues related to mental health.
This qualification is beneficial for any person who may
- Be actively seeking employment in the community services industry sector with an interest in providing services to persons with mental health issues.
- Have no formal qualifications
- Wish to review/update knowledge and practical experience
- Be seeking a new career
Students may be able to shorten the length of their studies through the recognition of past experience and/or qualifications gained elsewhere. Applications can be made for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfer.
These will be assessed according to the college’s policy & procedures to determine if/how much advanced standing will be granted.
This course holds National Recognition.
The minimum age for eligible applicants is 18 years. Applicants must have successfully completed the equivalent of Year 11 according to the Australian Qualifications Framework.
Proficiency in English is required to meet Industry standards.
Although LLN test is not an entry requirement, students are asked to undertake the same so appropriate academic support can be ensured throughout the course of study.
Students will be required to undertake work placements to apply knowledge and develop their skills as part of the course requirements. Placements may occur in aged care, disability, or other aged care and community settings in Melbourne or Regional areas as organised by ALACC and according to the course requirements.
While ALACC takes responsibility to provides work placements for students. However, to allow for flexibility, if a student finds a work placement close to their place of residence, then ALACC will negotiate and have an Agreement with the Placement Provider before the student attends work placement.
Placements dates are on the timetable but can be subject to change depending on the appropriate Placement Provider’s ability to take students at a specific given period. Students need to be flexible with these dates and to ensure they can attend the placements as soon as it is available. ALACC is committed and ensuring all students have Placements for the respective course.
Pre-and post- placement skills are assessed at ALACC for the student to be deemed competent.
Please ask us about credit transfers.
