Mental Health First Aid

Recognise distress, respond calmly and connect people with appropriate professional support.

Course outcome

Use safe, non-clinical helping skills while maintaining boundaries and escalating immediate risk.

What you will learn

• Lesson 1: Recognise and Approach — Write a respectful opening for a conversation with a volunteer whose behaviour has changed.
• Lesson 2: Listen and Give Support — Explain how you would listen without fixing, preaching or interrogating.
• Lesson 3: Crisis, Referral and Escalation — Build a local crisis and non-urgent referral pathway with clear escalation triggers.
• Lesson 4: Responder Wellbeing — Create a before-, during- and after-shift wellbeing plan for responders.

Course details

• Track: Foundation
• Duration: 3 hours + external training
• Format: 4 guided lessons (45 minutes each), each with a teaching guide, a case study with short-answer questions and a multiple-choice knowledge check

Course references and further learning

Use these authoritative sources to confirm requirements, deepen the lesson and locate current guidance.

• The ALGEE action plan — Mental Health First Aid Australia
• Standard Mental Health First Aid course — Mental Health First Aid Australia
• Mental health crisis support services — Healthdirect Australia
• Suicide prevention resources — Life in Mind

Important

Check the latest version before use. Australian law, approved ACS procedures and local Conference requirements take priority where they are more specific. External resources are provided for learning and do not replace accredited training, professional advice or emergency services.