Learning Outcomes

1. Understanding the concept of the Cost of Caring: Participants will gain a clear understanding of what the term "the cost of caring" entails, including its emotional, physical, financial, and social dimensions.
    
2. Recognition of Vicarious Trauma and Compassion Fatigue and Burnout:
   Participants will learn to recognise the signs and symptoms of vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue and burnout both in themselves and in others, particularly in the context of caregiving professions or roles.
    
3. Participants will gain an understanding of the impact of Trauma and Stress on the brain and brain development.
    
4. Exploration of Resilience Strategies: Participants will explore various resilience strategies and coping mechanisms to mitigate the negative effects of vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue. This includes self-care practices, boundary-setting techniques, stress management strategies, and seeking social support.
    
5. Promotion of Growth and Post-Traumatic Growth: Participants will understand the potential for growth and transformation in the face of adversity, including the concept of post-traumatic growth. They will learn how experiences of vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue can lead to personal and professional development, increased empathy, and enhanced resilience.
    
6. Building a Supportive Community: Participants will recognise the importance of building a supportive community within their professional and personal spheres to foster resilience and facilitate growth in the face of caregiving challenges.

Learning Outcomes

1. Understanding of Trauma
   Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of what trauma is, its various forms and its impact on individuals, families, and communities.
    
2. Recognition and Identification
   Participants would learn how to recognise signs and symptoms of trauma in different contexts, including how trauma manifests behaviourally, emotionally, and physiologically.
    
3. Trauma-Informed Care
   Participants will learn approaches to providing trauma-informed care, which involves understanding how trauma affects individuals and tailoring interventions to be sensitive and supportive.
    
4. Impact on Development
   Participants will explore how trauma can affect human development across the lifespan, including childhood trauma and its long-term consequences.
    
5. Cultural Competence
   Understanding the cultural dimensions of trauma is crucial. Particpants will learn how cultural factors influence the experience of trauma, help-seeking behaviours, and healing processes.
    
6. Resilience and Coping
   Participants could learn about resilience factors and coping mechanisms that can mitigate the effects of trauma and promote healing and recovery.

Mental health first aid is the help provided to a person who is developing a mental health problem, experiencing a worsening of a mental health problem or in a mental health crisis. The first aid is given until the appropriate professional help is received or the crisis resolves.

The Standard Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course is based on the international MHFA Guidelines. These guidelines were developed using consensus of mental health consumers, carers and professionals from English-speaking developed countries.

The SMHFA course teaches adults how to provide initial support to adults who are developing any of the following mental health problems, experiencing a worsening of an existing mental health problem or mental health crises:

Developing mental health problems

• Depression

• Anxiety problems

• Psychosis

• Substance use problems.

• Mental health crises

• Suicidal thoughts and behaviours

• Non-suicidal self-injury

• Panic attacks

• Traumatic events

• Severe psychotic states

• Severe effects from alcohol or other drug use

• Aggressive behaviours.

Adults  14hrs 

The 14-hour Youth Mental Health First Aid Course is for adults working or living with adolescents.

This course is particularly suitable for parents, school staff, sports coaches, and youth workers.

The course curriculum is evidence-based. The course teaches adults how to assist adolescents who are developing a mental illness, experiencing a worsening of an existing mental health problem or in a mental health crisis, until appropriate professional help is received or the crisis resolves.

Course participants learn about adolescent development, the signs and symptoms of the common and disabling mental health problems in young people, where and how to get help when a young person is developing a mental illness, what sort of help has been shown by research to be effective, and how to provide first aid in a crisis situation.

Peers  3 x 75mins 

The teen MHFA Course teaches high school students how to provide mental health first aid to their friends.

The course was developed in response to research indicating that young people have a preference for sharing problems with peers.

The course curriculum is evidence-based, informed by a study undertaken to determine the best actions a young person can do to support a peer with a mental health problem and is run over 3 x 75 minute lessons.

Students learn about different types of mental health problems and mental health crisis situations in young people, and the relationship between thoughts, feelings and behaviours.

Rather than focusing on specific mental illnesses, the course teaches participants to recognise when a friend is experiencing major changes in their thinking, feeling and behaviour, that are interfering with daily life and not going away as quickly as expected, as this may indicate the presence of a mental health problem.

Family + Carers  12 hrs 

This 12-hour Older Person Mental Health First Aid (OPMHFA) Course is designed for families and carers assisting people aged 65+.

The aim of our Older Person MHFA Course is to train the community to respond appropriately as early as possible to older people developing mental health problems, rather than wait for a mental health crisis before taking action.

Good mental health is an important factor in facilitating senior Australians to live full, active and healthy lives.

In older age, mental illnesses can particularly occur in association with physical illnesses, loss of independence, bereavement and brain changes that occur with ageing.

Unfortunately, Australian males aged 80+ are one of the highest risk groups for suicide.

Confusion and dementia are much more common in older people, but they are not a normal part of ageing.

e-LearningFace to Face 

We also offer the blended mental health first aid program which has been designed for increased flexibility in the delivery of training.

A Blended Mental Health First Aid Course is a combination of online (eLearning) and a half day of follow-on face-to-face training.
The face-to-face component must be done within 3 months of completing the eLearning component.

Course participants first complete the interactive self-paced eLearning component that teaches them about mental health problems, mental health crises and skills to offer initial help to an adult developing a mental health problem or in a mental health crisis.

The follow-on face-to-face session allows participants the opportunity to revise and consolidate knowledge and skills in a group environment, and to apply their skills to specific scenarios.

We offer

• Blended MHFA in the Workplace

• Blended MHFA in the Pharmacy

• Blended MHFA for Tertiary Students

For people who are Accredited MHFAiders, the refresher courses offer an opportunity to extend their accreditation for a further 3 years.

4hrs 

The 4-hour Mental Health First Aid for the Suicidal Person Course is a stand-alone course that complements the 12-hour Standard MHFA course, Blended MHFA Courses and the 14-hour Youth MHFA course.

You will learn:

• How to identify warning signs for suicide

• How to confidently support a person in crisis

• How to have a conversation with someone experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviours

At the completion of the course you will be equipped with the skills and knowledge to safely have a conversation with a suicidal person.

The 4-hour Mental Health First Aid for Non-Suicidal Self-Injury course is for any interested adult.
You will learn how to assist a person who is engaging in self-injury (self harm)

This course is based on guidelines developed through the expert consensus of people with lived experience of mental health problems and professionals.

Evaluations consistently show that MHFA training is associated with improved knowledge of mental illnesses, their treatments and appropriate first aid strategies, and confidence in providing first aid to individuals with mental illness. It is also associated with decreased stigma and an increase in help provided over time.

The 4-hour Mental Health First Aid for Gambling Problems course is for any interested adult. 

You will learn how to identify, approach and support someone experiencing gambling problems using a practical, evidence based action plan.

This course is based on guidelines developed through the expert consensus of people with lived experience of mental health problems and professionals.

Evaluations consistently show that MHFA training is associated with improved knowledge of mental illnesses, their treatments and appropriate first aid strategies, and confidence in providing first aid to individuals with mental illness. It is also associated with decreased stigma and an increase in help provided over time

We provide training across a broad range of topics, industries and skill levels and develop training packages for small, medium and corporate businesses. Please contact us directly and we can discuss how we can assist you.

Coaching 

Recent data demonstrates the substantial economic cost of poor health in the workplace, in terms of performance and productivity.

The return on investment achieved through the successful implementation of a workplace health and wellbeing program provides an economically-sound and effective solution.

For every dollar invested in workplace health and wellness, there is a ROI of between $3 and $6.

Our Programs are specifically tailored to meet the needs of your workplace and your workforce using practical and proven techniques.

Whether your need is a one off session at a conference or a comprehensive Workplace Wellbeing Program, our customised solutions will meet all your needs.

These people have managed to turn their lives around and are willing to share their stories to help others. The power of a lived experience story cannot be underestimated.