CHC43315 Certificate IV in Mental Health

VU course code: CHC43315 | Level of study: TAFE

Duration

1 year full time or longer for part time

Delivery mode

Face to Face with eLearning, Online

Fees

Free TAFE

No tuition fees for eligible students

Location

Footscray Nicholson, Online

Next start date

13 July 2025

Application closes

11 July 2025

View all start dates

Overview

Begin a rewarding career supporting people experiencing mental health issues with a Certificate IV in Mental Health CHC43315 at Victoria University (VU).

Australia’s need for welfare support workers is booming. With this mental health course, you’ll have the foundational knowledge, skills and confidence to get started in work that improves outcomes for people in need.

Get job-ready for the rewarding work of building trusting relationships with clients and helping them overcome obstacles to achieve their goals through self-directed and group-supported recovery. You’ll learn about:

dual diagnosis and co-existing needs
providing mental health services
mental health recovery approaches
networking and working collaboratively
understanding and working with diversity
legal and ethical issues.

: This qualification reflects the role of workers who provide self-directed recovery oriented support for people affected by mental illness and psychiatric disability. Work involves implementing community based programs and activities focusing on mental health, mental illness and psychiatric disability.

Work is undertaken in a range of community contexts such as:

community based non-government organisations

home based outreach

centre-based programs

respite care

residential services

rehabilitation programs

clinical settings

supporting people in employment.
Work is carried out autonomously under the broad guidance of other practitioners and professionals.
: Gain practical industry experience and on-the-job confidence during your 80 hours of work placement.
Through the support of your industry-connected teachers and experienced professionals in the field, you’ll develop your communication skills and your ability to develop and maintain relationships.
: Studying your Certificate IV in Mental Health at VU means you’ll benefit from guaranteed entry and a smooth transition into a Bachelor of Psychological Studies.
In this degree you’ll deepen your understanding of human behaviour, and get workplace experience on placement with our partner organisations, which include:
the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
family and carer support services
arts and cultural organisations
refugee and asylum seeker support services
public and private health services
school settings.

This course is nationally recognised training.

Entry requirements

When assessing your application, we consider your education, work experience, current skills and personal attributes (where relevant).

Applicants for this course will need to meet the entry criteria outlined below. If you don’t meet the entry criteria, you may be able to gain entry by first completing a different course. We call this a ‘pathway’.

You may also be eligible for ‘Recognition of Prior Learning’, which lets you finish your course more quickly when you have gained some of the skills required from past study or work experience.

Entry criteria

Students must be over 18 years of age at course commencement.
Applicants must complete to determine suitability:

Pre-training Review (PTR)

Literacy and numeracy assessment.

Practical Placement Requirements:
For employment and practical placement purposes, all applicants require:

a current and satisfactory Police Record Check

a current Working with Children Check

COVID-19 Vaccine requirement

Mental Health services that offer placements to students may require evidence of COVID-19 vaccination. Students who do not have evidence of vaccination may not be offered a placement and therefore will not be able to complete their course. VU strongly recommends that students have evidence of full vaccination to participate in the required practical placement for this course. In addition to COVID-19 vaccinations, based on public health orders/advice or industry requirements, students may be required to provide evidence of additional health checks or immunisations to undertake placement.

Student who cannot provide the required documents in the timeframe specified by the Course Coordinator, will be unable to undertake practical placement in a workplace and therefore not eligible to progress in this course.

Suggested sites you could visit to obtain these checks:

Police Record Check - http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=274

Working with Children Check - http://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/

Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee you entry into this course.

Some courses receive more applications than the number of places available. In this situation we will also assess your education, work and other relevant experience.

Special entry programs

Special admission programs

If you are from a disadvantaged or underrepresented social, economic or cultural background, you may be eligible for one of our special admission programs. These programs are designed to help you access education more easily.

Learn more about special entry programs

VU Early Entry

If you're currently in Year 11 or 12, our exclusive VU Early Entry program comes with a Conditional Offer to the course of your choosing*, a personalised course plan, special events, exclusive discounts and access to one-on-one course advice.

*Conditions apply.

Learn more about VU Early Entry

Credit & Entry pathways into this course

Victoria University is committed to providing a transparent admissions process. Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency. Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee entry into this course. Past academic performance may be considered.

Course structure

To be awarded the CHC43315 Certificate IV in Mental Health, 15 units must be completed, consisting of:

11 core units
4 elective units, of which:

- at least 2 units must be selected from the electives listed in the CHC43315 Certificate IV in Mental Health qualification, including at least 1 unit from the At Risk group, and

- up to 2 units may be selected from any endorsed training package or accredited course – these units must be relevant to the outcome.

Units

Fees & scholarships

TAFE fees vary, depending on how much the government contributes towards course costs (if anything).

Read below to find out about the fee ‘type’, the estimated yearly tuition costs for this course, and the financial support on offer.

Fees

Scholarships

Careers

Possible career opportunities emerging for graduates include:

case worker
mental health worker
community support worker
family support worker.

FURTHER STUDIES (PATHWAYS)

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CHC43315 Certificate IV in Mental Health

Overview