Mental Health Training Courses for Unpaid Carers in the ACT

Register now as spaces are limited!

Carers ACT invites (unpaid) carers of a person living with mental ill-health in the ACT to register for some specific mental health training courses.

A variety of mental health training courses have been selected to equip carers to build your personal capacity, increase your skills and access to available tools, improve your ability to support the person you care for as well as to look after yourself. Registrations are limited and will be allocated on a ‘first come first served’ basis.

If you register for more than one course, there may be some cross over or duplication of the content. As Carers ACT is engaging a variety of mental health training providers, courses and facilitators.

Some courses have flexible delivery options such as in person/face-to-face or online facilitation etc, require minimum numbers to be met before proceeding, and may have some age restrictions for attendance. Course that are identified as ‘accredited’ and can provide a certificate should carers wish to complete and pass a questionnaire at the end of the course. However, this is optional and carers are not required to do this to participate in the training. The course content is still relevant to caring situations.

If you’d like more information on the mental health system in ACT, please visit The Carer Navigator | Help to navigate mental health services in the ACT (mhcv.org.au). The webpage helps to support people and their families who experience mental health issues to recover.

Note – you don’t have to be registered with Carers ACT to attend the training. However, if you would like to know more about Carers ACT, please contact 02 6296 9900 or email, carers@carersact.org.au.

Available Discounted Training Courses

First Aid for the Mind – First Aid Awareness for Mental Health (approx 60-90 minutes)

This online self-paced training provided through St John Ambulance acts as an introductory for any new carer of a person experiencing or living with mental ill-health. It will assist carers with the tools to support someone experiencing a mental health crisis and provide you with the skills and confidence to start conversations to help make a difference. Content covered includes diagnosis, misconceptions, common type of disorders (anxiety, mood and psychotic), what a crisis is, referral and self-care.

Cost $5.00 per carer. Click here to register

Mental Health and Crisis Support (Accredited) – Recognise and Respond to Crisis Situations (approx 8 – 9 hours)

The facilitated training provided through St John Ambulance will assist carers to recognise and respond to signs where there may be safety issues for you and others. It will identify imminent crisis situations; address immediate safety concerns for all parties; provide referral crisis intervention support details; and outline care for yourself and how to feel safe in the home.
The course consists of an online pre-course component to be completed in your own time (approximately 60-90 minutes) prior to the facilitated component (approximately 7.5 hours/1 full day).

• Option – Facilitated Online – Saturday 20 May 2023, 9.00am to 5.30pm. You will need access to reliable wi-fi, a device with a working camera, microphone and speaker/sound.

Cost $5.00 per carer. Click here to register

• Option – Facilitated Online – Wednesday 7 June 2023, 9:00am to 5.30pm. You will need access to reliable wi-fi, a device with a working camera, microphone and speaker/sound.

Cost $5.00 per carer. Click here to register

Mental Health First Aid Certificate Standard Course (Accredited)

This facilitated in-person/face-to-face 2-day training course will assist carers to identify and support an adult who might be developing a mental illness, such as, depression, anxiety, psychosis, and substance misuse; or is experiencing a mental health crisis, such as, suicidal thoughts, behaviour, non-suicidal self-injury (also known as self-harm), panic attacks, traumatic events, severe psychotic states, acute effects from alcohol or other drug misuse, and aggressive behaviour. Carers are expected to attend both days. A manual will be provided to you on the first day of training.

• Option 1  – In person, on a Tuesday/Wednesday monthly in Narrabundah. Carers ACT is offering vouchers for this course where carers can register at a date that suits you. Vouchers are limited. Cost $20.00 per carer. Click here to register.
• Option 2 – In person, Saturdays 5 & 12 August 2023, 9.30am to 5.00pm, Abode Hotel, 10 Bowes Street, Woden (refreshments, light lunch and free car parking included). Cost $20.00 per carer. Click here to register.

Youth Mental Health First Aid Certificate Course (Accredited)

This facilitated in-person/face-to-face 2-day training course will assist adult carers who care for a young person aged 12-18 years experiencing mental ill-health to learn about adolescent development; signs & symptoms of the common & disabling mental health problems in young people; where & 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; & how to provide first aid in crisis situations.

The course is offered on a Tuesday/Wednesday monthly in Narrabundah. Carers ACT is offering vouchers for this course where carers can register at a date that suits you. Vouchers are limited. Cost $20.00 per carer. Click here to register.

CALM (Connect-Ask-Listen-Monitor) Conversations For Suicide Prevention (Accredited)

This facilitated 1-day training provided through Talking Mental Health will assist carers to recognise the signs that someone maybe thinking of suicide; how to ask about this and have a CALM conversation, practising communication skills; how to talk about stressors and concerns; empowering and reconnecting a person to themselves and their lives; how to assist identifying options other than suicide; how to develop a safety plan; and link a person with supports post conversation. A manual will be provided in CALM conversation approach as well as providing you with access to the “Be Calm” app. Carers must be aged 18 years or older to participate.

• Option  – Facilitated online, Sunday 25 June 2023, 9.00am to 5.00pm. You will need access to reliable wi-fi, a device with a working camera, microphone and speaker/sound. Cost $5 per carer. Click here to register.

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) (Accredited)

This comprehensive facilitated 2-day interactive ‘hands on’ practical intervention training will assist carers to recognise when someone may be at risk of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety. The two facilitators will better prepare carers to intervene with a person at risk of suicide

through various skills; build a collaborate approach focused on safe outcomes; work to develop a personalised safety plan for someone with thoughts of suicide to keep ‘safe-for-now’; identify resources available to a person at risk of suicide; and recognise that suicide prevention requires life-promotion and self-care for carers/caregivers. Over half of the workshop will be conducted in a small group with one trainer for you to practise your verbal skills and action. A manual will be provided to you on the first day of training. Carers must be aged 16 years or older to participate.

• Option 1 – In person, Saturday 3 & Sunday 4 June 2023, 9.00am to 5.00pm, Carers ACT 2/80 Beaurepaire Crescent, Holt (light lunch and free car parking included). Cost $20.00 per carer. Click here to register.
• Option 2 – In person, Wednesday 28 June & Thursday 29 June 2023, 9.00am to 5.00pm, The Rex Hotel, 150 Northbourne Avenue, Braddon (light lunch and free car parking included). Cost $20.00 per carer. Click here to register.

Resilience First Aid (Accredited)

This facilitated 2-day proactive course will assist carers to support their own mental health as well as in others. Learn how to build mental fitness through a practical strength-based approach. The course is offered on a Thursday/Friday monthly in Narrabundah. Carers ACT is offering vouchers for this course where carers can register at a date that suits you.

Vouchers are limited.

Cost $20.00 per carer. Click here to register.