Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)
MHFA Program Overview
- Background: The Council of Medical Deans, Council of Deans Nursing & Midwifery and the Council of Deans of Health Sciences has a contract with the Department of Health and Aged Care, that provides funding for 42,500 Allied Health students to complete the e-Learning module of the MHFA course, over the next 4 years. There is also limited funding to build capacity within universities, to be able to offer the 2nd component of the MHFA course, by training a limited number of Instructors each year.
- If students complete Component 1, the e-Learning Module, they will receive a MHFA Certificate of Completion and will become a MHFAider. If they then go on to complete Component 2 – The Instructor-led workshop, they will become an ‘Accredited’
Key Points to Note:
1. There are two components of the MHFA Course:
- Component 1: Online Module – This is the core component, and students who complete it will receive a ‘Certificate of Completion.’
- We have secured funding to provide this online module to a significant number of allied health students across participating universities. The number of vouchers allocated was determined based on a percentage of your school’s cohort size.
- Component 2: Instructor-Led Training – This second part of the MHFA course is optional and is NOT funded by this project. It is up to each university to decide whether to offer this component to their students. This decision may depend on various factors, such as the availability of currently accredited instructors on staff and their capacity to upskill to the updated MHFA program. Students who complete this will become ‘Accredited MHFAiders.’
2. Project Funding Details:
- The project funding we have received is for 4 years, 2024 to 2027
- Voucher numbers will increase slightly each year for each university
- Additionally, there is limited funding available to train new instructors. This aims to build capacity within universities, enabling them to offer the instructor-led component (Component 2), either now or in the future, if they choose to do so. (By doing so universities are giving students the option of becoming an Accredited MHFAider).
- Note: the project funding does not cover the cost for existing Instructors to upskill (from previous versions of the course).
Click for Mental Health First Aid Report October 2024
Resources
Becoming a Licensed MHFA Instructor
(University Staff):
Applicant instructions
A Standard MHFA Instructor for Health Professional Students. Before commencing your application, please carefully read through the linked PDF below, which summarise the application, assessment and enrolment processes.
Upskill Instructions
Student FAQs
MHFA Promotion
Free eLearning for Health Professional Students flyer
The Standard Mental Health First Aid (MHFA®) for Health Professional Students FREE eLearning course teaches health
professional students how to provide initial support to a peer or other adult who may be experiencing a mental health
problem or mental health crisis, until professional help is received or the crisis resolves.
FAQs for Health Professional Instructor Training
Below are some general FAQs that cover questions that may arise during your Instructor Training journey.
Student Enrolment Guide
Below is the guide for students enrolling into the Standard Mental Health First Aid (MHFA®) for Health Professional Students course
Promotion and Encouragement
- Promotion: Please utilise the provided resources to promote the MHFA training to your students. Ensure that each school receives their specific enrolment link to prevent any mix-ups.
- Encouragement: We encourage all staff to motivate students to take part in this important training, which is designed to enhance their ability to support peers and contribute to a healthier campus environment.
Any queries, please contact leonie@acdhs.edu.au.