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CHC43515

Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work

Why study a Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work?

  • Open the door to more job opportunities in a growing sector
  • Equip yourself for career progression into more senior roles
  • Use your lived experience and contribute meaningful change in people’s lives
  • Improve your knowledge of mental health, trauma and recovery
  • Access government funding to help reduce your course fees

Perfect for

Peer Support Workers that want to apply their lived experience to help others.

Mental Health Support Workers looking obtain formal qualifications in the care sector.

Carers with lived experience wishing to apply their insights to make positive change

Course Overview

Course Duration
6 to 12 months depending on delivery mode
Number of Units
15 units including 8 core and 7 elective
Delivery Method
Online
Fees & Funding
Government-funded or from $42.89 per week

What you will gain

A nationally recognised qualification that equips you with the skills to take on specialist peer work roles in the mental health sector.
  • Deepen your knowledge of mental health, recovery, and lived experience
  • Support people to achieve goals, independence, and wellbeing
  • Respond confidently to co-existing conditions or dual diagnoses
  • Provide recovery-focused, person-centred support in all settings
  • Work with peers and clients while maintaining clear boundaries
  • Apply legal, ethical, and professional frameworks in practice
  • Promote cultural awareness and inclusive approaches
  • Manage the impact of trauma and protect your own wellbeing
Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work

Learning made affordable

Australian residents living in NSW or QLD may be eligible to have all or part of their course fees subsidised using State Government funding schemes like Smart & Skilled (NSW) or Skills Assure (QLD).

Students who do not qualify for funding:

Start with a $200 deposit, then pay as little as $42.89 per week for 12 months.

Smart and Skilled (NSW)

Government-subsidised training for eligible NSW residents. It applies to courses on the NSW Skills List, from Certificate II to Advanced Diploma. Use the online fee-estimate tool to confirm eligibility and see your student fee.

Skills Assure (QLD)

Fully or partly subsidised training for Queenslanders is available under the Career Start and Career Boost programs. Complete a short questionnaire on the Skills Gateway website to check whether you qualify.

Train with the experts

Breakthru College is part of the Royal Rehab Group, a not-for-profit that works every day in the health and disability space.

Breakthru College is part of the Royal Rehab Group, a not-for-profit that works every day in the health and disability space. So, when we teach, it’s based on real experience – not just theory. Our goal is simple: to help you build a rewarding career in care and support. With us, it’s not just about getting a qualification – it’s about learning the skills that make a real difference in people’s lives.

Awarded for excellence

We stand out as one of the few training providers officially recognised by the Department of Education as a High-Performing Provider.

This means we consistently deliver exceptional training outcomes, strong student support, and real-world job readiness. When you study with us, you’re choosing a provider with a proven record of success.

Focused on student success

At Breakthru College, we know that everyone learns differently. That’s why we tailor our approach to suit your learning style and pace, with one-on-one support whenever you need it.

Struggling with online learning or teach? We’ve got you covered. Our support team is here to help you stay focused, connected, and confident – every step of the way.

Led by industry experts

Our trainers are more than just educators – they’re experienced professionals who’ve worked in the field. They bring real-life insights, practical examples, and genuine passion to every class.

You won’t just learn the theory; you’ll gain practical knowledge that prepares you for the real world. Plus, they’re approachable and invested in your success from day one.

Loved by students

Students choose Breakthru College not just for the qualifications, but for the supportive, inclusive and welcoming environment we’re known for.

We treat every student as an individual, and create a space where you can feel comfortable, motivated and empowered. Many of our students return for further study or recommend us to friends – and that says everything.

Units

There are fifteen (15) units of competency to complete for the whole qualification, comprising of eight (8) core units and seven (7) elective units. A work placement of 80 hours is also required.
Code Title Core or Elective
CHCDIV001 Work with diverse people Core
CHCMHS007 Work effectively in trauma informed care Core
CHCMHS008 Promote and facilitate self-advocacy Core
CHCMHS011 Assess and promote social, emotional and physical wellbeing Core
CHCPWK001 Apply peer work practices in the mental health sector Core
CHCPWK002 Contribute to the continuous improvement of mental health services Core
CHCPWK003 Apply lived experience in mental health peer work Core
HLTWHS001 Participate in workplace health and safety Core
CHCLEG001 Work legally and ethically Elective
CHCCCS019 Recognise and respond to crisis situations Elective
CHCPWK004 Work effectively in consumer mental health peer work Elective
CHCPWK005 Work effectively with carers as a mental health peer worker Elective
CHCCCS020 Respond effectively to behaviours of concern Elective
CHCPRP001 Develop and maintain networks and collaborative partnerships Elective
CHCMHS005 Provide services to people with co-existing mental health and alcohol and other drug issues Elective

Entry requirements

Australian residents may be eligible to have their Certificate III in Individual Support course fees subsidised using State Government funding schemes like Skills Assure (QLD).

You must demonstrate that you have the required level of Language, Literacy and Numeracy skills necessary to complete this course by undertaking a Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) assessment.

Learners will need to have a reasonable level of fitness as the role may involve a variety of physical tasks such as providing personal care, assisting clients with mobility and supporting clients with transfers. Learners may also be required to stand or walk for long periods of time.

To effectively participate in their studies, all online learners are required to have their own laptop / tablet installed with Microsoft Office or similar. Learners are also required to have access to a stable internet connection and a computer / laptop / tablet to participate in an online LLN assessment.

Breakthru College also has an option to provide physical copies of learning and assessment resources for face to face students.

Delivery and assessment

  • Face to face / virtual classroom (theory and practical sessions) – includes classroom-based delivery for knowledge and practical teaching in a simulated environment
  • Self-paced study (structured and mandatory) – students are required to undertake self-study to complete a range of structured activities such as reading, research, completing case studies, and quizzes to reinforce their learning.

  • Oral or Written Questions
  • Observation / Demonstration / Role-play
  • Report
  • Portfolio of Evidence
  • Case Study
  • Research
  • Journal / Log
  • Third Party Report

You will be required to complete a range of activities throughout the course depending on the requirements of each unit of competency. You will also be provided with the assessment and delivery plan at the commencement of your course which outlines the topics to be covered, duration, resources and due dates.

You are expected to allocate a minimum of 27 to 33 hours per week to undertake this qualification. This includes training, self-paced study, supervised and non-supervised assessment activities, and work placement requirements.

If you are an existing worker in the industry, you may with permission use your workplace for your work placement hours and assessment.

Students are strongly encouraged to contact a host organisation and arrange their work placement as early as possible. If you’re unable to secure your own work placement, please contact Breakthru College for assistance.

When applying for work placement, students may also be required to obtain several clearances before commencing at their host organisation. This may include:

  • National Police Certificate
  • Working with Children Check
  • NDIS Worker Screening Clearence
  • Vaccination record check
  • Code of Conduct check

Please speak with your work placement host organisation regarding specific screening requirements, as policies may vary.

Frequently asked questions

It takes between 6 – 12 months to complete most of our accredited qualifications. This depends on your ability to study the appropriate modules and complete your assessments.

All accredited qualifications also require 80 – 120 hours of work placement to be completed prior to graduation, which may take some time for students to complete.

You will not be charged any fees if you wish to withdraw your enrolment.

If you have previously withdrawn from one of our courses and wish to re-enrol, a $350 administration fee may be applied.

Once all of your enrolment information has been received, we generally process your enrolment and provide initial access to learning materials within 1 – 2 business days.

Yes, students may use their work experience as evidence of prior learning.

To do this, students must first enrol in a qualification and complete the

RPL Application Form attached to their Learner Handbook.

Note there is a $250 administration fee applied for each RPL unit.

For NSW residents:

Government-subsidised training is available for eligible NSW residents. It applies to courses on the NSW Skills List, from Certificate II to Advanced Diploma. Please use the online fee-estimate tool to confirm eligibility and see your student fee: https://education.nsw.gov.au/skills-nsw/apprentices-and-trainees/low-cost-and-free-training-options/smart-and-skilled

For QLD residents:

Fully or partly subsidised training for Queenslanders is available under the Career Start and Career Boost programs. Complete a short questionnaire on the Skills Gateway website to check whether you qualify: https://skillsgateway.training.qld.gov.au/Eligibility#citizen_permanent

If you’re still unsure or would like some assistance, please get in touch and we can help assess your eligibility.

Get in touch

If you’d like more information prior to enrolling, please get in touch using the form below.

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