The Learning Centre is pleased to host Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training, with deliveries on offer by an accredited MHFA facilitator in 2018.

This two day course teaches people how to offer initial support to adults who are developing a mental health problem, experiencing a worsening of an existing mental health problem or in a mental health crisis, until appropriate professional help is received or the crisis resolves.

Note: Unlike other Learning Centre courses, this course is recommended specifically for non-clinical staff. Clinicians and other health practitioners should refer to other Learning Centre courses for their training needs.

More information about this course is available on the MHFA Australia website - Standard MHFA

This course has two versions. If you are looking for the Youth version of this course please scroll down or search for QC28.

The Learning Centre has for many years been a key source for suicide risk assessment training across Queensland. The previous version of the course ‘Suicide Risk Assessment and Management’ was due for a minor review; however with recent increases in suicide rates, and changes in guidelines for clinical practice, there was scope for major redevelopment and to shape it into a more experiential and practical course.

The new QC2 EARS course consolidates the Learning Centre’s Suicide Risk Assessment in Emergency Department settings (SRAM-ED) course, with further enhancements supporting the implementation of the Zero Suicide in Healthcare within the Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, as well as key aspects of the previous suicide risk assessment course.

The blended learning course comprises of two components - beginning with eLearning modules (part 1), followed by a full day face-to-face workshop (part 2).

QC2 EARS is aimed at both new clinicians commencing clinical practice and experienced practitioners seeking to update and consolidate their practice framework with contemporary understanding of supporting suicidal people.

More information about this course is available in the handout: QC2 Engage, Assess, Respond to, and Support Suicidal People - Course handout

This two day workshop is practical, collaborative and based on international best practice experiential principles for the training of clinical supervisors. Designed for all mental health practitioners who are currently providing clinical supervision (or working toward a supervisory role) within a mental health service. The aim of the workshop is to facilitate the development of core skills and capability in the supervision practice areas of: the supervisory relationship, holding and maintaining a supervisory alliance, reflection, providing and receiving feedback, and monitoring of safety and ethical dilemmas.

Note: this course is a pre-requisite for those wishing to complete QC12 Supervising Supervisors. QC8 Best Practice Models of Supervision must be completed prior to enrolling in this course.

More information about this course is available in the handout: QC4 Supervisor - Course handout

This one day workshop aims to promote evidence-based clinical risk assessment and management practices that improve consistency in the assessment and management of consumer risks. The workshop provides participants with skills to gather and identify risk factors relevant to an individual, and complete an analysis of risks weighed against mitigating factors. 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 this course is available in the handout: QC9 Critical Components of 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.

This half day workshop builds clinicians skills in capacity assessment for the adult consumer. This includes consumers consent to mental health assessment, treatment options and general health care. The Mental Health Act and the Guardianship and Administration Act define capacity and discuss the relevant tribunals for consumer assessment and treatment. The workshop will explore substitute decision makers under the Mental Health Act and the Guardianship and Administration Act. Hands on skill development include reviewing case studies/vignettes to assess for capacity, how to document capacity, and discussion and review of court decisions in regard to capacity. The course is recommended for all clinicians working with consumers, and should be completed as a refresher every two years to ensure currency of practice.

More information about this course is available in the handout: QC13 Capacity Assessment - Course handout

This half day refresher workshop provides mental health practitioners with an opportunity to update their risk assessment and management skills. It is ideal as an annual competency for all clinicians. Covering the core elements of static, dynamic, protective and unknown risk factors, the course reinforces the importance of thorough risk screening, using informed professional judgement to write formulations/summaries that reflect weighing up of identified risk and protective factors. The course also covers how to use risk information to develop treatment plans guided by the individual needs of the consumer, combined with the underpinning recovery focused, consumer centred values.

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

This one day workshop is based on the strengths model of recovery and is aligned with Queensland Health recovery-focused strategic goals and standards. By identifying an individual’s strengths the treating team and client can together develop a holistic care plan that sets achievable recovery goals. The training utilises a blended approach, beginning with an eLearning component that introduces the strengths model, followed by a full day face-to-face workshop that includes interactive discussions and simulation activities. Prior completion of QC23 Forming the Therapeutic Alliance is highly desirable.

More information about this course is available in the handout: QC24 Working with Strengths in Recovery - Course handout

This video-conference delivered course provides opportunity for remote and rural services to participate in a half day condensed snapshot of risk assessment training. The workshop provides mental health practitioners with an opportunity to achieve a basic understanding of risk assessment and management skills and how to apply them. Covering the core elements of static, dynamic, protective and unknown risk factors, the course reinforces the importance of thorough risk screening, using informed professional judgement to write clinical summaries that reflect the weighing up of identified risk and protective factors. These elements combine in the development of treatment plans guided by the individual needs of the consumer.

More information about this course is available in the handout: QC26 Evaluations of Risk - Course handout

The Queensland Centre for Mental Health Learning (Learning Centre) has for many years been a key source for suicide risk assessment training across Queensland, more recently being invited by a number of stakeholder groups to tailor the program with a focus on working with Youth. Thus when the major redevelopment of our core QC2 Suicide Risk Assessment course was being scoped, the parameters of the project were widened to allow for the development of QC28 Youth: Engage, Assess, Respond to, and Support Suicidal People (YEARS).

The course will address youth specific developmental and systemic issues.

The blended learning course comprises of two components - beginning with eLearning modules (part 1), followed by a full day face-to-face workshop (part 2).

QC28 YEARS will be suitable for both new clinicians commencing clinical practice and experienced practitioners seeking to update and consolidate their practice framework with contemporary understanding of supporting suicidal people.

More information about this course is available in the handout: QC28 Youth: Engage, Assess, Respond to, and Support Suicidal People - 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.

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.

The Mental Health Act 2016 (MHA2016) Capacity Assessment and Advance Health Directives training package provides opportunities for clinicians to apply knowledge and skills to clinical scenarios, related to these components of the legislation. The modules build on the knowledge covered in the MHA2016 online learning package (available on iLearn). The package is aimed at mental health clinicians and students, and may be particularly useful for Authorised Doctors, Psychiatric Registrars, and Authorised Mental Health Practitioners. A toolkit of resources is also included to be used in face-to-face deliveries.

This Sensory Approaches training course is designed to provide an introduction to the use of sensory approaches in mental health settings. The course has been designed through collaboration between the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Learning (Learning Centre) and the Occupational Therapy Mental Health Sensory Approaches Clinical Collaborative. The package will provide you with an introduction to the use of sensory approaches and how they work, as well as some skills and techniques to begin to use sensory strategies in your contact with mental health consumers. We hope this training course will assist and enhance your clinical skills and benefit you, your service, and the consumers with whom you have contact.

Please note that this course makes reference to the Mental Health Act 2000. This course will be updated in due time to align with the Mental Health Act 2016.

Suicide Risk Assessment and Management in Emergency Department Settings (SRAM-ED) Foundational training is a blended learning course comprising of two eLearning modules and a face-to-face workshop. This course is designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of clinicians’ working in emergency department settings with patients who are at risk of suicide. The two eLearning modules are prerequisites to attending the face-to-face foundational workshop.

If you have not yet enrolled in the face-to-face workshop you will need to register your interest with your local trainer.

The Cultural Capability for Mental Health eLearning module aims to provide mental health clinicians with a better understanding of the cultural needs and social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The program embeds a recovery-focused, trauma-informed approach; identifies needs across the continuum of care, from emergency departments to community; and introduces participants to methods for applying a cultural lens in clinical practice, with an emphasis on culturally capable mental health assessment. This module gives you the basis to work on your life-long cultural learning journey.

The CBT for psychosis (CBTp) Awareness course is designed as an introduction to the application of CBT for psychosis. It will take approximately two and a half (2.5) hours to complete and provides a brief review of cognitive behaviour therapy, an outline of models of psychosis, case formulation for CBTp and key foundational skills in undertaking CBT for patients with psychosis. It is an introductory course and is aimed at clinicians with a foundational understanding of CBT as well as a working understanding and familiarity with consumers with psychosis. As such, it is suitable for case managers and clinicians who wish to increase their skills and knowledge in an evidence based approach to assist clients with some of the core difficulties especially around delusions and hallucinations.

The Queensland Centre for Mental Health Learning has been involved in the development of this video Real Lives, Real People, Real Journeys. It showcases consumers, carers and mental health staff sharing their personal stories to promote an understanding of recovery.

The handbook was developed in 2007, in consultation with consumers, service providers and carers through a partnership with the Mental Health Clinical Collaborative and the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Learning.

The intention in compiling this resource was to provide an educational and personalised document for consumers and clinicians in adult inpatient mental health settings. It takes a recovery approach and contains a range of resource materials, good practice approaches, and worksheets that can be adapted to meet the individual needs of consumers.

This handbook was been designed for consumers to use independently or in collaboration with a health care professional to promote a shared understanding of the consumer's experience. The modular approach of the booklet is designed to allow the individual to move through the information at a pace suited to their own needs as well as provide a resource that extends beyond the inpatient facility.