CHC53315 · Diploma
Diploma of Mental Health
Take the next step in your mental health career with a nationally recognised Diploma of Mental Health (CHC53315) — 100% online with weekly live classes. Deeper practice knowledge, senior support worker capability, and a pathway into case management and program coordination.
- Duration30 weeks delivery*
- Placement100 hours
- DeliveryOnline
- Next intakeRolling intake — new course, ask for next start
- Where5 locations
Overview
Work that genuinely matters.
The CHC53315 Diploma of Mental Health reflects the role of workers who provide services to people with mental health issues at a senior level — implementing recovery-oriented approaches to complexity, trauma-informed care, wellness planning and systems advocacy. Delivered 100% online by Sage Education Australia with weekly live classes over 30 weeks and a 100-hour work requirement in a mental health context.
What you'll learn
Practical skills, and the judgement to use them well.
- Recovery-oriented practice with complexityWork with people whose mental health presents alongside significant social, physical or co-existing challenges.
- Implement trauma-informed careMove beyond understanding trauma-informed care to implementing it at practice and service level.
- Wellness plans and advanced directivesSupport people to build their own wellness plans and advanced directives — the tools that put them in the driving seat of their care.
- Early intervention and health promotionDesign and deliver early intervention, prevention and health promotion programs at community and service level.
- Systems advocacyAdvocate at systems level — for the people you support, for policy improvement and for the sector.
- Evidence-informed practiceRead, evaluate and apply research evidence to your day-to-day mental health practice.
Course units
20 units of competency.
15 core units plus 5 electives.
Core units 15
- CHCADV005Provide systems advocacy services
- CHCDIV001Work with diverse people
- CHCDIV002Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety
- CHCMHS002Establish self-directed recovery relationships
- CHCMHS003Provide recovery oriented mental health services
- CHCMHS004Work collaboratively with the care network and other services
- CHCMHS005Provide services to people with co-existing mental health and alcohol and other drugs issues
- CHCMHS009Provide early intervention, health prevention and promotion programs
- CHCMHS010Implement recovery oriented approaches to complexity
- CHCMHS011Assess and promote social, emotional and physical wellbeing
- CHCMHS012Provide support to develop wellness plans and advanced directives
- CHCMHS013Implement trauma informed care
- CHCPOL003Research and apply evidence to practice
- CHCPRP003Reflect on and improve own professional practice
- HLTWHS004Manage work health and safety
Elective units 5
- CHCCDE020Implement participation and engagement strategies
- CHCEDU001Provide community focused health promotion and prevention strategies
- CHCMGT002Manage partnership agreements with service providers
- CHCPRP001Develop and maintain networks and collaborative partnerships
- CHCCCS017Provide loss and grief support
15 core units plus 5 electives. Electives may change as the training package is updated.
Delivery & duration
Day or evening. Built around a life that’s already full.
Self-paced online
Study around work and life. Log in and work through your units at your own pace, backed by a student support team on phone, email and message.
Weekly live online classes
Every week, a live class with an experienced trainer — not pre-recorded videos. Real teaching, real Q&A, real conversation with your cohort.
Rolling intake, personal calendar
Units run on a rolling schedule so you can join at several points through the year. Your delivery calendar is shared when you enrol.
Vocational placement
100 hours of hands-on placement.
- 100 hours of work in a mental health context — three ways to meet it
- Already in a mental health role? Your current work counts
- In aged care, disability or another care role? If your workplace can support mental-health-context tasks and supervision, it may count — we’ll help you set it up
- Neither? We work with industry partners to arrange a placement for you
- A Police Certificate, Blue Card or NDIS Worker Screening may be required by your host
How long does it take?
100% online with weekly live classes over 30 weeks. Units run on a rolling schedule, so you can join at several points through the year and complete each unit as it’s delivered. Your enrolment period is 12 months. Meaningful engagement each week is required — extended inactivity puts your enrolment at risk under the Student Handbook. Significant mental health experience already? Ask about Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) at your info session.
Where can I study?
Day and evening availability varies by centre — ask us for the next intake near you.
Course fees
One fee. Instalment plan available.
Government subsidy isn’t available for this course. All students pay the fee-for-service rate — spread it with an instalment plan agreed in writing before you start.
The Diploma of Mental Health isn’t currently subsidised under the Queensland Skills Assure framework — that’s set by the Queensland Government, not Sage. All students pay $250 per unit; an instalment plan is available on request and agreed in writing before you start.
Not included in your course fee
- National Police CertificateMay be required by some placement hosts or employers. Approximately $50–$60, paid direct to the check provider.
- Blue Card (Working with Children Check)May be required by hosts working with young people. Free for students on placement.
- NDIS Worker Screening CheckMay be required by hosts working under the NDIS. Free for students on placement.
- Printed certificate$50 including postage. Your digital certificate is emailed free as standard.
Refunds. Full refund if you withdraw within the 14-day cooling-off period. The full refund policy for fee-for-service students is in the Student Handbook.
Fee shown is the full course fee for 20 units. Credit transfer for units already completed elsewhere reduces your fee proportionally.
Career outcomes
Built for senior support, case management and coordination roles.
Graduates step into positions across community mental health, NDIS providers, AOD services and youth mental health services. We work with industry partners across these sectors to help graduates find work.
- ShortageWelfare Support Workers on the national Occupation Shortage List
- Fastestgrowing occupation group — Community & Personal Service Workers to 2028
- Prioritynational sector with expanded Commonwealth funding
Sources: Jobs and Skills Australia Occupation Reports and Occupation Shortage List. Labour market figures are indicative — not a guarantee of employment or earnings.
Roles this qualification leads to
- Senior Mental Health Support Worker
- Mental Health Case Manager
- Community Mental Health Coordinator
- Mental Health Program Coordinator
- AOD Case Worker
- Peer Support Team Leader
- Recovery Coach
- NDIS Mental Health Recovery Coach
Job titles and requirements vary between employers.
Not a clinical qualification. Sage Education Australia is a vocational training provider, not a clinical mental health service. This course prepares you for a mental health support role — not for clinical practice as a psychologist, counsellor or mental health nurse.
What a day looks like
Your day sits between direct practice and coordination. It might start with a case review — someone you support has hit a rough patch, and you’re pulling together the GP, the NDIS coordinator and the family to reset the plan. Mid-morning is a group session on wellness planning. Afternoon is one-to-one recovery work with someone rebuilding after a hospital admission. You close the day updating case notes, evaluating a health promotion program you’re running, and mentoring a newer support worker on trauma-informed practice.
Before you enrol
What you need to know.
Entry Requirements
The Diploma of Mental Health has no formal training package prerequisite — you don’t need a Cert IV in Mental Health to enrol. It is an advanced qualification, though, so Sage assesses each applicant for suitability before offering a place. Our team will talk with you about:
- your existing mental health, care sector or human services background
- your reasons for pursuing this qualification
- your capacity to engage with challenging content — trauma, crisis, complex presentations
- your access to a suitable placement site or existing mental health work
- your commitment and expected completion pathway
This makes sure you’re set up to succeed and the course is right for your goals.
Frequently asked
Straight answers.
Why isn’t this course subsidised?
The Diploma of Mental Health (CHC53315) isn’t currently on the Queensland Subsidised Training List for Career Start or Career Boost. That’s set by the Queensland Government, not Sage — we don’t have the option to subsidise it. Instalment plans are available.
Do I need a Cert IV in Mental Health to enrol?
No. There’s no formal prerequisite. It is an advanced qualification, so Sage assesses each applicant for suitability — a background in mental health, care or human services is a strong advantage.
I already work in aged care or disability support. Can that count towards the 100 hours?
It may. The 100-hour requirement is for work in a mental health context. If your current role can incorporate mental-health-context tasks with appropriate supervision, we can look at how to make it count. Talk to us at your info session.
Is this a clinical qualification?
No. The Diploma qualifies you for senior mental health support and case-management-style roles. It does not qualify you as a psychologist, counsellor or mental health nurse.
I’ve never studied at Diploma level. Is this course for me?
It may be. We assess suitability at pre-enrolment — your experience, goals and capacity to engage with advanced content — before offering a place. The course deals with complex topics including crisis, trauma and co-existing conditions.
Can I pay in instalments?
Yes. Talk to us at enrolment about a schedule that works for you. We agree it in writing before you start.
Can I get a government subsidy?
Yes, for many of our courses. Sage is a Queensland Government Skills Assure Supplier, delivering subsidised training under Career Start (Certificate III) and Career Boost (Certificate IV, Diploma, Advanced Diploma and skill sets). Eligible students pay a small co-contribution. Some courses, including First Aid, aren’t subsidised. Talk to our team to find out what you qualify for.
Can I study online?
Yes, we do offer online delivery of some of our courses. However, you may need to attend a workshop to acquire practical skills mandatory for vocational placement.
We assess your situation at the time of enrolment and suggest an appropriate study mode.
Do you guarantee employment?
We do not guarantee employment. However, historically, most of your graduates secure employment as soon as they complete their course.
There is overwhelming employment demand currently, and you are very likely to secure a position if you follow our guidelines.
Who will organise my vocational placement?
We will organise your vocational placement when you’re ready to do so. However, please note that you must meet all requirements and acquire practical skills before your vocational placement is confirmed.
If you or someone you know needs mental health support
Sage Education Australia is a vocational training provider, not a clinical service. If you or someone you know needs support right now, please reach out:
- Lifeline 13 11 1424-hour crisis support
- Beyond Blue 1300 22 463624/7 support line
- 13YARN 13 92 7624-hour support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800Ages 5–25
In an emergency, call 000.
Google reviews
What our students say.
Related courses
Where this can lead.
Enquire
Ten minutes with an adviser. A real one.
We’ll check your funding eligibility, talk through campuses and timetables, and give you the next intake date. No pressure, no jargon.
- 1You send the formTakes 30 seconds. Only the details we need to call you back.
- 2An adviser calls youWithin one business day — a real person from one of our centres.
- 3You get a clear answerYour exact fee, next intake, and the campus that suits you.
- RTO 5989
- 4.9★ Google
- Est. 1998
