Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work - CHC43515

Verbal expression and comprehension (understanding)

What do I need to be able to do?

Understand and respond to verbal communication.

As applicants will work with vulnerable clients, applicants are required to demonstrate good communication skills and present with a calm and engaging demeanour.

In the work environment, this will assist you in your work with clients to establish relationships, undertake assessment and deliver programs in a safe manner.

Verbally communicate clear instructions and explanations in a time responsive way.

In the Mental Health services environment, verbal communication is the primary source of communication between you, your clients and your team. Clear communication assists in safely supporting clients.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

A range of adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.

Additional time allowances for comprehension and expression may be available to you for on-campus learning activities.

Professional experience placement activities may require time responsive communication. This should be discussed with your Placement Coordinator prior to commencing your placement.

Social communication

Social Communication refers to the capacity to understand and use appropriate non-verbal communication such as: eye contact, gestures, facial expression, speaking volume, tone of voice, proximity and verbal turn-taking.

What do I need to be able to do?

Recognise, interpret, use and respond to non-verbal communication appropriately in both on-campus and mental health services settings to demonstrate understanding, build relationships and establish trust with others.

During work placement activities and on-campus simulation environments, tasks which require the use of social communication abilities include:

• identifying that a client is uncomfortable, upset, frightened, under influence of drug or alcohol from their facial expression or body posture 
• responding to clients with open body language, eye contact and facial expressions to demonstrate understanding and empathy.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

A range of adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.  

Consideration will be given to the use of non-verbal communication appropriate to your disability or condition for example, if you have a vision or hearing impairment, you may rely more on using either auditory or visual means of social communication.

What do I need to be able to do?

Correctly use and apply knowledge of theory, research, and practice gained from the on-campus learning setting in clinical situations during your professional experience placement.

In the mental health services environment, case work tasks require:  

• focus, problem solving, interacting and providing feedback to clients simultaneously and in a time appropriate manner. 
• engagement with clients and others with this level of focus and concentration throughout a designated period of duty or shift.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

A range of adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.

You may use assistive technology and strategies such as rest breaks to support your memory, planning and organisation in the on-campus learning environment. The use of these strategies during professional experience work placements should be discussed with the placement coordinator prior to commencement.

Students will need to have resilience and coping strategies in place to manage the potential challenges of the course. Triggers could occur from the intake information and a number of role plays throughout the course, so it is suggested that those with a lived experience of mental health or AOD issues, family violence and other access to community services should be at least 12 months in their recovery or 12 months from being in crisis.

You are required to complete a language, literacy and numeracy skills test before course commencement. This will determine course suitability and if you may need additional support.

We use an approved online skills review tool to determine your language, literacy and numeracy skills within Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF)

The levels required for this course include:

• Language and literacy: 3
• Numeracy: 2

Practical Placement

You will be required to complete a minimum of 80 hours of practical placement at stage 2 of this course.

Documentation or licences required for practical placement.

• Working with Children Check
• Police Check

Student may need to complete a NDIS worker Screening Check if placement is conducted with an Organisation providing NDIS service response. This will be at the student’s expense.

What adjustments to my study conditions can I access?

A range of adjustments can be organised through the Equitable Learning Services (ELS). Contact the ELS to discuss what adjustments may be helpful to you.

You may use specialised software to support your literacy for teaching laboratory and on-campus learning activities. The appropriateness and practicality of using such software during laboratory placements may vary between placements and should be discussed with the placement coordinator prior to commencement.