This course is for practitioners working in mental health, alcohol and other drugs services. It is delivered in two parts via online classroom, followed by a two hour (approximate) online assessment. To support the training, there are recommended self-study options provided (details below).

Learners will receive training in all the essential knowledge and skills required to satisfactorily achieve competency in observing and documenting the mental state examination (MSE).

As a nationally accredited course, it is audited to ensure it meets current industry expectations and reflects the latest evidence-based practice methods and knowledge, as well as industry best practice standards.

Part one (4 hours) provides an introduction to MSE, general appearance and behaviour, speech, mood and affect, perception.

Part two (4 hours) continues on to cover thought content, thought form/flow, insight, judgement, cognition.

More information about this course is available in the handout: 10881NAT Course in Observing and Documenting the Mental State Examination - Course handout

Unique Student Identifier (USI)
Provision of a USI is a Federal Government requirement since 1 January 2015, for all participants of accredited training within Australia. To obtain a USI register as a student via www.usi.gov.au

It is imperative you read the Pre-course information booklet as it contains course pre-readings (e.g. clinical terminology; quick reference guide). The booklet provides details about the course, scope of practice, rights, responsibilities and other expectations associated with undertaking this course.

This four-hour workshop is part 2 of the foundational level supervisee training and builds on the topics introduced in part 1 - QC60 Introduction to Supervision (eLearning). 

Underpinned by the Queensland Health Supervision Guidelines for Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drugs Services 2023 (pending publication), this course is for any staff who wish to learn how to engage in supervision to get the most value out of supervision and establish a strong working alliance with their supervisor. It may also help those who have had unhelpful supervision experiences bring greater structure to their supervision practice. This course is aimed at all disciplines and work roles. It is also essential pre-training for those wanting to become a supervisor and enrol in QC4 Supervisor training. See QC4 Supervisor or the supervision course relationships diagram for more information.

QC8 Supervisee (workshop) is available in both face-to-face and online formats. Refer to location/venue details for available sessions.   

Note: Completion of QC60 Introduction to Supervision (eLearning) is a pre-requisite before enrolling in this course.

More information about this course is available in the handout: QC8 Supervisee – Course handout

This two day workshop builds upon the learning from QC4 Supervisor, providing a safe environment for participants to develop advanced skills in providing supervision to those who are supervisors. Outlining the components and stages of supervisory processes will guide the supervising supervisor to establish, negotiate, maintain and end a supervisory relationship, thus decreasing ambiguity and providing clarity for roles and outcomes. Supporting and strengthening consumer centred mental health services is the underpinning focus of supervision practices.

Along with pre-requisite training requirements; active, recent and long-term (over 1 year) experience of providing supervision is strongly recommended to be part of this advanced course.

Note: QC4 Supervisor is a pre-requisite for those wishing to complete this course.

More information about this course is available in the handout: QC12 Supervising Supervisors - Course handout

(Refresher for QC9 Critical Components of Risk Assessment and Management)

This 4-hour refresher course provides clinicians with an opportunity to update their risk assessment and management skills. It is an ideal opportunity to apply practical skills using a case scenario and is delivered via an online classroom using a Zoom meeting platform, making it accessible for people across Queensland. Learners will connect via a computer/laptop or other device to join the workshop – no travel necessary!

In addition to refreshing the thorough identification of risk factors, the course reinforces the importance of using informed professional judgement to develop risk summaries that effectively communicate the weighing up of identified risk and protective factors. The course uses comparative language and prevention-oriented approaches to formulation. There is a key emphasis on the development of treatment plans guided by the individual needs of the consumer, with a recovery-oriented approach.

Note: This course is not a substitute for attending the full day QC9 Critical Components of Risk Assessment and Management. Participants are expected to have previously completed the QC9 workshop, or QC54 Foundations of Risk Assessment and Management eLearning, additionally have applied clinical practice knowledge.

More information about this course is available in the handout: QC19 Risk Refresher - Course handout

(Adapted from QC9 Critical Components of Risk Assessment and Management)

Delivered via online classroom, this two-session course aims to promote evidence-based clinical risk assessment and management practices that improve consistency in the assessment and management of risks in mental health.

Session One (4 hours) provides participants with skills to gather and identify risk factors relevant to an individual, by working through a case example.

Session Two (4 hours) will develop skills in weighing up risk factors, documenting these clearly in a risk summary, and developing individualised plans and interventions to address the risks.

Designed for mental health practitioners of all levels of experience, professionals from other services may also find this workshop highly relevant when working with people experiencing mental health problems.

More information about the course content including anticipated learning outcomes, can be found in the QC9 course handout: QC9 Critical Components of Risk Assessment and Management- Course handout

This 3 hour course draws together elements from the former QC13 Capacity Assessment face-to-face workshop and QC40 Capacity Assessment Training and Advance Health Directives.

As well as incorporating recent updates, this course has been developed to provide a short and interactive skills workshop for assessing capacity in adults in mental health. The course will help you to understand:

• capacity and consent, and the factors that impact on this;
• how to document capacity; the ‘less restrictive way’ for providing consent to treatment (including use of Advance Health Directives);
• and legislative frameworks to support capacity decisions and upholding the person’s human rights, particularly the Mental Health Act 2016 and Guardianship and Administration Act 2000.

Video scenarios are used to help you to apply the skills taught.

 This course is no longer being delivered in this format. A new version of this course is now available under QC8 Supervisee.

This one day workshop explores the fundamentals of best practice models of supervision, addressing the expectations and processes involved in effective clinical supervision. The training is aligned to Queensland Health guidelines for clinical supervision in Mental Health Services, to assist in the delivery of quality, effective and accountable clinical supervision. Designed for all mental health practitioners providing and receiving clinical supervision, the experiential-didactic delivery model enables active engagement and personal reflection on practice.

More information about this course is available in the handout: QC8 Best Practice Models of Supervision - Course handout

This training course focuses on the knowledge and skills required to deliver safe group-based therapeutic interventions. The blended learning course comprises of two components - beginning with an eLearning module (part 1), followed by a full day face-to-face workshop (part 2). The course explores the following key issues around group facilitation in therapeutic contexts: safe group facilitation principles, structure of group sessions, management of group dynamics and process issues, and the role of the facilitator. The workshop focuses on consolidating theory and process through activities and experiential exploration, with a particular focus on the management of group dynamics and facilitation challenges.

More information about this course is available in the handout: QC27 Group Facilitation in Therapeutic Contexts - Course handout

QC30 Violence Risk Assessment and Management is a blended training product. QC30 focuses on supporting clinicians’ working knowledge and application of the Tier 2 component of the Violence risk assessment and management framework – mental health services (the Framework). The three-tiered approach to violence risk assessment and management within the Framework is based on a formalised governance structure which supports clinician assessment and management of violence risk with their consumers.

QC30 has been designed to provide learners with the content and process knowledge they will need to complete Tier 2 violence risk assessment and management planning within the Violence risk assessment and management framework – mental health services.

Clinicians who have been identified as senior clinicians (with respect to violence risk) by their service should attend this training. Typically, senior clinicians have several years’ experience working in mental health, and have a good understanding of local policy and services.

More information about this course is available in the handout: QC30 Violence Risk Assessment and Management - Course handout

Violence Risk Assessment and Management Framework - Induction Video

This video introduces and describes the Queensland Health Violence risk assessment and management framework – mental health services (the Framework). The video presents information about the three-tiered approach to violence risk assessment and response within the Framework, the purpose and principles of the Framework, how the Framework will be implemented, and clinical roles and responsibilities.

The video runs for approximately 20 minutes.

A transcript of the video can be downloaded here.

(Adapted from QC28 Youth: Engage, Assess, Respond to, and Support Suicidal People)

Contemporary suicide prevention models will be presented to enhance understanding and responses to suicidal behaviours of children and young people. Participants will be provided with opportunities to consider the specific developmental needs of suicidal children and young people by working through relevant case examples within the sessions.

Session One (4 hours) develop a greater understanding of working with suicidal children and young people and risk and protective factors and implications for care planning.

Session Two (4 hours) develop skills in assessing suicidal intent and prevention-orientated risk summary and managing acute risk.

This course is aimed at both early career and experienced practitioners seeking to update, refresh or consolidate their practice framework for engaging with suicidal children and young people.

More information about the course content including anticipated learning outcomes, can be found in the QC28 course handout: QC28 Youth: Engage, Assess, Respond to, and Support Suicidal People - Course handout

Gold Coast Suicide Prevention Pathway Training is a blended learning course comprising of four eLearning modules and a full day face-to-face workshop. This course is designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of clinicians working in a Gold Coast Mental Health Service to support their work with patients at risk of suicide. This training also supports the implementation of the “Suicide Prevention Pathway”. The four eLearning modules take approximately 30 minutes each to complete and are pre-requisites to attending the face-to-face workshop. This training is a modification of the Suicide Risk Assessment and Management in Emergency Department Settings (SRAM-ED) training. The training in the first 3 modules will make reference to Emergency Departments, however the skills are transferable to all settings. Module 4 specifically addresses the Gold Coast Suicide Prevention Pathway.

As a clinician working in mental health it is important to know about cognitive functioning and how it can impact on day to day functioning. Cognitive deficits can significantly impact a person's ability to perform day to day tasks which can affect longer term recovery in areas such as work and relationships. This training course is designed to provide mental health clinicians with an introduction to the cognitive difficulties that people with a mental illness may face and identify some strategies and therapies that can support the person. This course covers three core topics, Cognition, Assessment and Intervention. The eLearning course is self-paced and is targeted to nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, psychologists and medical staff working in mental health settings. The course is suitable for both experienced clinicians and those new to practice and takes approximately two (2) hours to complete.

A police and ambulance intervention plan (PAIP) is a plan developed by mental health clinicians that provides specific information and strategies regarding a consumer to inform and assist the Queensland Police Service (QPS) and the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) to mediate a mental health event involving a consumer in the community.

This eLearning course provides a comprehensive and interactive overview of the founding principles of formulation and intervention planning. Throughout the course the learner receives information which is then applied to a case study. The clinician’s thinking process is made explicit throughout the module, in order to support the learner’s own development.

In the Formulation section of the course, the 5P approach to formulation is described and then applied. A focus on understanding and describing links between various factors of the formulation is demonstrated in order to improve clinical understanding.

In the Intervention Planning section, the process of utilising a person’s individual recovery goals within a shared formulation, to co-create clinical goals and intervention strategies, is explained and examples provided. Foundational principles of intervention planning (e.g. SMARTER strategies) are also described and applied.

This course complements the face-to-face course QC14 Fundamentals of Assessment, Formulation and Planning, however is not a compulsory part of that course.

This eLearning course is designed to provide information to support clinicians working with consumers at risk of becoming violent or aggressive; and is based on Queensland Health policy, including the Violence risk assessment and management framework – mental health services (the Framework). It is useful to any clinician working with individuals who may be at risk for exhibiting violence or aggression.

Specifically, this course will furnish you with knowledge regarding practical elements of working with violence risk in a Queensland Health context including understanding how to apply the Framework, and how to use the Violence Risk Assessment and Management (V-RAM) tool. Key concepts related to the assessment of violence risk are covered, including the principles and components of information gathering (evidence based risk factors), collection of collateral information, information sharing, and strategies to overcome common barriers. Strategies for conceptualising assessment information are demonstrated, in order to write a useful risk summary. A suggested template is provided to help guide your thought process in the workplace. Risk management planning is covered next, discussing how to ensure risk management plans are linked to risk summaries, suggested intervention strategies for common violence risk factors, how to distinguish between long-term and short-term risk management strategies, consideration of referrals to specialist forensic services, and reassessment of risk. Throughout the eLearning course, vignettes are provided to illustrate the application of content.

Note: This eLearning is a component of the QC30 Violence Risk Assessment and Management training. Completion of this eLearning alone does not meet the recommended training for individuals taking on the responsibilities of a Senior Clinician (as defined by the Framework). The full training to support Senior Clinicians involves the subsequent completion of the face-to-face component of QC30, as well as in-service support. Go to QC30 Violence Risk Assessment and Management for more information.

This resource provides an overview of CYMHS philosophy and frameworks and addresses the first phase of Core Competency development in CYMHS in the areas of assessment, formulation and treatment planning. Each unit provides introductory theory via DVD presentations with accompanying PowerPoint notes and additional learning materials, including reflective exercises/clinical activities to consolidate learning.

This online awareness package communicates the key issues addressed in the 2016 Sexual Health and Safety Guidelines for mental health, alcohol and other drug services. It is designed as a tool for Hospital and Health Services to use in the orientation of new staff as well as local training programs, especially those focusing on risk assessment, care planning and physical health.