How to Start a Career in Mental Health? | Signet Institute of Australia

Are you looking to start your career in mental health? Are you dedicated to assisting others in making positive developments in their lives? Then yes! The world needs more people like you. The mental healthcare profession is demanding your name if you share this commitment. Life’s issues are getting worse in today’s world, increasing stress.

So, people are becoming more interested in their mental health care. For the best career in mental health, certificates and qualifications play an important role.  In the emerging field of mental health, several courses can help you start your career in this field. This guide will take you through the path to pursuing a career in mental health.

How to Start a Career in Mental Health

Career in Mental Health in Australia

Mental health is an essential aspect of overall health and well-being. Therefore, a career in mental health seems bright around the globe as people nowadays suffer many mental health issues. And if we mainly talk about Australia, there is considerable space in this field. As per the National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing (2021), 21.4 percent (1/5) Australians of aged 16-85 had a mental health issue in the last year. And the people of Australia encourage and promote the physical and mental health of its citizens.  

Mental Health Career Spotlight

  • Proper education and courses
  • Volunteer experience
  • Internships
  • Get a license
  • Win a job

The Signet Institute and Career in Mental Health

Many Australian institutions provide a wide range of mental health diplomas and certificates. The Signet Institute is envisioned to equip its students with practical experience and theoretical knowledge. Moreover, it is already playing an essential role among the institutions that have acquired it.

Best Institute for doing a Diploma in Mental Health

The Signet Institute’s primary objective is to enhance student’s talents to stand out from the competition. This institution has campuses in Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide. This is an easily accessible institution in Australia for taking a diploma in mental health. 

Course Description

Course Code: CHC53315 | Cricos Code: 0101256

This diploma reflects the function of employees who assist patients with mental health difficulties. They can offer counseling, rehabilitation, promotion, and education, and health promotion services. These employees must possess advanced specialist knowledge, abilities, and skills, particularly about the laws that affect people with mental health concerns, the variety of services that are accessible to them, and mental health-related health problems.

Click on Diploma of Mental Health to apply. 

Licensing

This course does not require a license, a certificate, or regulatory requirements. Therefore, no specialized knowledge is needed.

Mode of Study

The mode of this study is blended and In house simulations. 

Course Delivery Location

Signet’s campuses are located in different cities that offer this diploma. These are the campuses’ locations:

Melbourne Campus: Level 5 & 9, 341-345 Queen Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Sydney Campus: Level 1, 54 Parramatta Road, Forest Lodge NSW 2037

Adelaide Campus: Level 3, 45 Grenfell Street, Adelaide SA 5000

Course Duration and Fee Structure

Fee Structure

The course fee is AUD $20,000 (includes Workshop training, Materials & Administration Fee).

Important Note: Fees are subject to modification.

This course is taught in an organized classroom with a computer lab and purpose-built Signet laboratory. There will be working placements for students as well.

Course Duration

The course will have a duration of 104 weeks.

It will be break up into 2 full days with 8 hours each and 1 half day with 4 hours of face-to-face training per week. Along with this, 20 contact hours per week of theory and simulation training, self-structured e-learning, and at least 400 hours of professional experience placement will be provided. In addition to the previously mentioned planned learning, students are informed that 10 hours per week of adequately unstructured learning would be necessary.

The simulation training is used to review learning activities, practice communication, work-based skills, and management abilities, and complete other evaluations, such as group presentations or individual presentations. You will benefit from the hands-on, practical simulation training to carry out duties successfully and efficiently in an actual workplace, increasing your competence and self-assurance.

Criteria for Entrance

  • The applicant must be 18 years old when submitting an application for the course.
  • To enroll for this diploma, all applicants must have passed an LLN test and shown proficiency in all indicators.

Keep in mind: The student must have a basic understanding of computers and the internet to complete several assessments.

Assessment and Evaluation Strategy

The learners will be assessed using a variety of the following evaluation criteria:

  • Oral and written inquiries
  • Presentations
  • Projects/Reports
  • Case Studies and Scenarios
  • Third-party reports
  • Observation within a simulated workplace.

Area of Applied Study

At Signet, your education is closely related to the outside world. We’ll set up at least 400 hours of practical job experience for you, giving you the chance to put theory into practice. You will get instruction from Trainers and Assessors who are up-to-date on industry standards and have strong industry contacts. With us, you’ll receive the practical training you need to start your practical work placement confident and job-ready.

The CHC53315 – Diploma of Mental Health includes a significant amount of practical placement, sometimes known as “on-the-job” training. It allows you to put the academic information you learned in school and the practical knowledge you learned in the simulated lab to use in a real-world situation. Additionally, it enables you to gain these abilities and practical knowledge while working under the guidance of skilled professionals.

Working Opportunities

If you complete this diploma, you could be able to work as a:

  • Welfare Support Specialist.
  • Worker in mental health advocacy or support. 
  • Worker in Community Support. 
  • Support staff for mental health rehabilitation. 
  • Community Mental Health Worker.
  • Worker in Mental Health Support.
  • Coordinator/Assessor.
  • Manager of Cases.

Qualification Pathways

Students may apply for the following degrees after earning the CHC53315 – Diploma of Mental Health: 

  • Bachelor in Community Welfare 
  • Bachelor’s degree in Social Work
  • Bachelor in Health Science
  • Social science bachelor’s degree
  • Psychotherapy as a Bachelor of Arts
  • Integrative Psychotherapy Bachelor’s degree

Important Note: Despite the possibility that Signet may not provide all of the certificates listed in the roadmap, we only highlight relevant advancements that may be acquired by the students. 

Scope of Career in Mental Health

Mental health is a recognized field of psychology. This field has a great scope around the globe. Mental health caretakers play an essential role in every part of life. Being a professional in the field of mental health care, you can work as: 

As a Psychologist in Communities

Psychologists help people fix their mental health issues and offer to counsel their patients. They help people with practical duties in mental health to manage their life, reducing stress and thereby increasing the outcomes for mental health because they are knowledgeable about the neighborhood resources. Psychologists approach their work comprehensively, frequently assisting clients with housing, getting food, schooling, legal issues, finances, and other daily concerns. Psychologists assist many people in elder care facilities, schools, or rehab facilities with drug and alcohol addiction. Psychologists pursuing advanced degrees in mental health courses frequently start with general practice training before specializing.

Duties for Mental Health Professionals

Millions of Australian people countrywide receive treatment from qualified counselors for mental health and substance misuse. These master’s-educated mental health specialists treat various mental, behavioral, and emotional problems and disorders by collaborating with individuals, families, and communities. The counseling field applies psychological, human development, and mental health principles to address psychopathology, wellness, personal development, and professional difficulties.  Experienced psychologists working for a variety of companies in a variety of settings. Still, they make up a significant portion of the workforce at mental health centers and agencies. They work for and are insured by health insurance and managed care organizations. A lot of professional mental health counselors also run their own private practices.

FAQs:

  1. What careers are good for mental health?
    A person with a master’s in mental health can work in a wide range of fields, such as:

    • Licensed therapist
    • Licensed counselor
    • Forensic psychologist
    • Organizational and industrial psychologist
    • Employment as psychologist

    To explore more, visit the Careers in Mental Health Information/Q&A Session

  2. What is the highest-paying job in mental health?
    One of the most popular career options for a job in mental health is a psychiatrist. Psychiatrists are medical professionals with a focus on mental health. Patients with mental diseases receive pharmaceutical prescriptions from psychiatrists. The highest-paying careers for psychology majors are definitely psychiatrists. According to PayScale, The average salary is $217,798.
  3.  Do Psychology jobs pay well?
    Since many jobs in psychology pay more than the average income per year, it’s necessary to keep in mind that a person’s actual income will vary depending on their location, industry, level of education, and years of experience.

  4. What mental health career is right for me?
    Some of the most important domains for pursuing a career in mental health are as follows:

    • Clinical Psychology.
    • Counseling Psychology.
    • Educational Psychology.
    • Developmental Psychology.
    • Social Psychology.
    • Health Psychology.

Conclusion

In short, as we know, mental health care is very crucial for the overall well-being of an individual; therefore the need for mental health professionals is and will stay in demand. If you are interested in starting your career in mental health, stop thinking more and enroll with The Signet Institute. And let’s welcome the world of opportunities in this highly demanding field.