Mental Health Training Online

9 lessons · 5 scenarios$55

Introduction to Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses that can affect people of any age, gender, body size or background, including the people we support. This course introduces the main types of eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, ARFID and pica, and the warning signs to look out for. You will learn how to talk about food and bodies in a safe way, how to support a participant within their treatment and meal support plan, when a situation is a medical emergency, and where to find help. Case studies cover mealtimes, hidden eating and restrictive practices, and an older person in crisis. The course builds knowledge only: always follow the participant's plan and the guidance of their treating team. Duration: 50 minutes.

50 min

9 lessons · 5 scenarios$55

Mental Health Awareness and Support

Mental health affects everyone, including the participants, older people and colleagues we work with every day. This course explains the difference between mental health and mental illness, introduces common conditions such as anxiety, depression and psychosis, and shows how to recognise when someone may be struggling. You will learn a simple way to start a supportive conversation, how to respond when someone is in crisis, and where to find help, including 000, Lifeline on 13 11 14, Beyond Blue and 13YARN. The course also covers looking after your own mental health and your colleagues. Case studies from aged care and disability support bring it together. It builds knowledge only: always follow each participant's plan and our policies. Duration: 50 minutes.

60 min

12 lessons · 4 modules$55

Understanding Psychosocial Disability Under the NDIS

Many NDIS participants live with psychosocial disability, and the way we support them can make a real difference to their recovery. This course explains what psychosocial disability is and how it is recognised under the NDIS, including the NDIS Psychosocial Disability Recovery-Oriented Framework. You will learn what personal recovery means, how to put recovery oriented practice into everyday support, why psychosocial disability is often episodic and how to respond to early warning signs, and how to use a trauma informed approach. The course builds knowledge only: always follow each participant's support plan and the guidance of their clinical team, and ask for person specific training where it is needed. Duration: 60 minutes.

12 lessons · 4 modules$45

Suicide Awareness and Prevention

Suicide is preventable, and support workers are often among the first to notice when someone is struggling. This course helps you understand suicide and the factors that raise and lower risk, recognise warning signs, including in people with disability and older people, and respond with confidence. You will learn why asking directly about suicide is safe and helpful, how to listen and stay with the person, and when to call 000, Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467. The course also covers safe language, recording and reporting, and caring for yourself. It builds knowledge only and follows safe messaging principles. Duration: 45 minutes.

12 lessons · 4 modules$45

Supportive Conversations Without Burning Out

Support workers are often the people participants turn to when they are worried, sad, angry or overwhelmed. You are not expected to be a counsellor, but the way you listen and respond can make a real difference. This course builds practical skills for supportive conversations: noticing when someone is struggling, listening well, reflecting and validating feelings, asking helpful questions, and responding calmly to distress. You will learn how to respond if someone talks about suicide or self harm, when and how to refer to professional support, and how to hold healthy professional boundaries. Finally, we look at compassion fatigue and burnout, and practical ways to look after your own wellbeing. Duration: 45 minutes.

Understanding Antisocial Personality Disorder

Antisocial personality disorder is a mental health condition marked by a long standing pattern of disregarding the rights and feelings of others, often with impulsive or risky behaviour. It is one of the most stigmatised diagnoses, and people living with it are often written off, yet they are entitled to respectful, safe and good quality support like anyone else. This course explains what the condition is, how it can affect daily life, how you can support a person with clear, consistent boundaries while keeping everyone safe, the language we use, the warning signs that need escalating, and why support workers never diagnose or treat. Three case studies cover boundaries, protecting other participants and responding to risk. Duration: 45 minutes.

Understanding Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition where a person experiences episodes of depression and episodes of unusually high or irritable mood, called mania or hypomania, with periods of stable mood in between. It is not the same as ordinary mood swings, and with the right treatment and support many people manage it well and live full lives. This course explains what bipolar disorder is, how it can affect daily life, how you can support a person respectfully using their wellness plan, the language we use, the early warning signs and when to escalate, and why support workers never diagnose or treat. Three case studies show how to act early, support low mood and keep everyone safe. Duration: 45 minutes.

Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline personality disorder, often shortened to BPD, is a mental health condition that affects how a person manages emotions, relationships and their sense of self. It is widely misunderstood and heavily stigmatised, yet with the right treatment and support many people see their symptoms ease a great deal over time. This course explains what BPD is, how it can shape daily life, how you can support a person respectfully and consistently, the recovery oriented language we use, the warning signs that need escalating, and why support workers never diagnose or treat. Three case studies show how to validate distress, keep boundaries consistent across the team and respond to self harm. Duration: 45 minutes.

Understanding Brief Psychotic Disorder

Brief psychotic disorder is a mental health condition where a person suddenly experiences symptoms of psychosis, such as hallucinations or unusual beliefs, for a short time, and then returns to how they were before. It can be very frightening for the person and those around them, and any new psychosis needs urgent medical assessment because it can have many causes. This course explains what brief psychotic disorder is, how it can affect daily life, how to support a person calmly and respectfully, the language we use, when and how to escalate, and why support workers never diagnose or treat. Three case studies cover sudden psychosis, delirium in an older person and supporting recovery. Duration: 45 minutes.

Understanding Depression

Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions in Australia, and it is far more than feeling sad for a day or two. It affects how a person feels, thinks and functions, and it can make everyday tasks feel impossible. This course explains what depression is, how it can affect daily life, how you can support a person respectfully and with hope, the recovery oriented language we use, the warning signs of suicide risk and when to escalate, and why support workers never diagnose or treat. Three case studies from aged care and disability support show how to notice change, support small steps and respond safely when someone talks about suicide. Duration: 45 minutes.

Understanding Generalised Anxiety Disorder

Everyone worries sometimes, but for people living with generalised anxiety disorder, worry is constant, hard to control and spreads across many parts of life. It can be exhausting and can affect sleep, concentration, health and relationships. This course explains what generalised anxiety disorder is, how it can affect daily life, how you can support a person respectfully and in line with their plan, the recovery oriented language we use, the warning signs that need escalating, and why support workers never diagnose or treat. Three case studies from disability and aged care support show how to manage change, avoid false reassurance, respect privacy and escalate when anxiety is getting worse. Duration: 45 minutes.

Understanding Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD, is often joked about as being very tidy, but the reality is very different. People living with OCD experience unwanted, distressing thoughts and feel driven to repeat actions or mental rituals to ease the distress, which can take up hours of their day. This course explains what OCD is, how it can affect daily life, how you can support a person respectfully without adding to the cycle, the recovery oriented language we use, the warning signs that need escalating, and why support workers never diagnose or treat. Three case studies show how to stay patient, respond consistently to reassurance seeking and escalate concerns. Duration: 45 minutes.

Understanding Panic Attacks

A panic attack is a sudden rush of intense fear with strong physical symptoms, such as a pounding heart, breathlessness and dizziness. Panic attacks are common, very frightening and can happen to anyone, including the people we support and our own colleagues. This course explains what a panic attack is, how panic attacks can affect daily life, how you can calmly and respectfully support someone during and after an attack, the language we use, when chest pain or other symptoms mean you should call for medical help, and why support workers never diagnose or treat. Three case studies show how to respond in public, why chest pain is never assumed to be panic, and when to escalate. Duration: 45 minutes.

Understanding Panic Disorder

Panic disorder is an anxiety condition where a person has repeated, unexpected panic attacks and lives with ongoing fear of the next one. That fear can lead people to avoid places, travel and activities, and over time their world can become very small. This course explains what panic disorder is and how it differs from having an occasional panic attack, how it can affect daily life, how you can support a person respectfully in line with their treatment plan, the language we use, the warning signs that need escalating, and why support workers never diagnose or treat. Three case studies show how to avoid pressure and rescue, respond to night time panic and escalate low mood. Duration: 45 minutes.

Understanding Persistent Depressive Disorder

Persistent depressive disorder, once known as dysthymia, is a long lasting form of depression. The symptoms may be less intense than in a major depressive episode, but they continue for years, so the person and those around them may come to see low mood as simply part of who they are. This course explains what the condition is, how it can affect daily life, how you can support a person respectfully and with hope, the language we use, the warning signs that need escalating, and why support workers never diagnose or treat. Case studies show how to support small goals through setbacks and how to respond when you notice a worrying change. Duration: 40 minutes.

Understanding Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, can develop after a person lives through or witnesses a frightening or life threatening event. Many of the people we support have experienced trauma, and everyday supports such as personal care, raised voices or a closed door can bring back intense fear. This course explains what PTSD is, how it can affect daily life, how you can provide trauma informed support, the language we use, what to do if someone discloses abuse, the warning signs that need escalating, and why support workers never diagnose or treat. Case studies show safe personal care, responding during a hard anniversary and looking after yourself. Duration: 40 minutes.

Understanding Schizoaffective Disorder

Schizoaffective disorder is a mental health condition where a person experiences symptoms of psychosis together with significant mood episodes, such as depression or mania. Because it combines features of two groups of conditions, it can be confusing for workers, families and the person themselves. This course explains what schizoaffective disorder is, how it can affect daily life, how you can support a person respectfully and in a recovery oriented way, the language we use, the warning signs of relapse and crisis, and when to escalate. Case studies show how to follow a wellness plan and support a person's goals while respecting privacy. Support workers never diagnose or treat. Duration: 40 minutes.

Understanding Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a mental health condition that affects how a person thinks, perceives the world and connects with others. It is one of the most misunderstood conditions in the community, surrounded by myths about split personalities and violence. This course explains what schizophrenia is and how its symptoms can affect daily life, how you can support a person respectfully in their recovery, the language we use, the early warning signs of relapse and crisis, and when and how to escalate. Case studies cover coming home from hospital and responding to stigma while protecting privacy. Support workers never diagnose, treat or change medication. Duration: 40 minutes.

Understanding Social Anxiety

Social anxiety is much more than shyness. For people living with social anxiety disorder, everyday situations such as making a phone call, eating in front of others or meeting someone new can bring intense fear of being judged or embarrassed. This course explains what social anxiety is, how it can affect daily life, how you can support a person respectfully and at their own pace, the language we use, the warning signs that need escalating, and why support workers never diagnose or treat. Case studies show how to support a person's own goals when things do not go to plan, and how to introduce new workers with care. Duration: 40 minutes.