A Career in Australia Specialising in Mental Health Service

A Career in Australia Specialising in Mental Health Service

What does a mental health worker do? Mental health workers work within a broad range of services and can take on various roles. But essentially, their common denominator is in helping to ease the burden of those afflicted with mental conditions and providing them with emotional support through individual or community support work.

 There are different educational options you can take to become a mental health professional, and the quickest and easiest way to start your career is to complete a Diploma of Mental Health with an Australian Registered Training Organisation (RTO).  This minimum requirement will provide you with an easy pathway to bachelor programs and other educational attainments, should you wish to increase your job qualifications in the future.

The main roles in mental health are:

Psychiatrist: Often considered the top of the mental health profession, psychiatrists hold full medical degrees and can administer medication. To become a psychiatrist, you need a medical degree and a further 6 years of post-graduate training.

Psychologist: These professionals hold a 4-year degree in Psychology and have also completed a post-graduate degree or clinical doctorate. They focus on assessing, diagnosing and assisting mental health patients.

Counsellor: Counsellors can start with a nationally-recognised diploma. They offer support, advice and direction for patients, and can specialise in fields such as youth work and drug and alcohol support.

Substance Abuse Counsellor/Drug and Alcohol Support Worker:  Many patients who suffer from substance abuse also deal with mental conditions. Advice, support and assistance is provided by workers in this area of mental health. A Certificate IV in Youth Work or Alcohol and Drugs is often required for this role.

Some skills you will need to have in becoming a mental health worker are as follows:

·         Social perceptiveness : Understanding why people react the way they do.

·         Active Listening: Listening without interrupting and asking relevant questions.

·         Serving others: Looking for ways to help people.

·         Speaking Skills: Talking to others in an effective way.

·         Reading Comprehension: Reading work-related information.

If you’re not too confident about the required skills listed above, you don’t need to worry, as these are taught and improved during the course of your study in mental health. What’s most important is your passion to help improve the lives of those who suffer from mental illness, and your desire to build a career in this sector for whatever personal reasons you may have.

To learn more about how you can get started on a career in mental health, get in touch with us at Education Training and Employment Australia (ETEA). We offer the Diploma of Mental Health program and other related programs that you might be interested in.

As a leading Australian RTO, we’ve held up a strong reputation in the educational sector for producing competent graduates in our various programs. We serve your educational needs at your greatest convenience with state of the art facilities, seasoned trainers, and campuses all around Australia. Learn more about us today by browsing through our website and contacting us today.