HomeCoursesMental healthCertificate IV
Certificate IV · national qualification
Certificate IV in Mental Health
This qualification prepares you to support people living with mental illness or psychiatric disability, with the work built around the person setting their own direction for recovery.
- How long it takes
- 4 to 18 months
- full time at TAFE NSW
- What it costs
- From $1,990
- Subsidised at TAFE NSW, full fee up to $13,684
- How you can study
- Online, on campus or on the job
- Includes a work placement
- Main job
- Mental Health Worker
- $65,000 (estimate) median pay
- Taught by
- 32 providers
- Every state and territory
Is this course right for you?
What the Certificate IV in Mental Health asks of you, and what you might want to check first.
It helps to have
- an interest in supporting people's mental health and recovery
- respect for people setting their own direction
- good communication skills for working with families and services
- a willingness to learn from people of diverse backgrounds
Before you start
Each provider sets its own entry requirements, so check the ones you are considering.
Certificate IV or Graduate Certificate?
The Graduate Certificate in Mental Health is the higher level qualification. This Certificate IV prepares you for recovery oriented support work, carried out autonomously under the broad guidance of other practitioners and professionals.
See the courseWhere this course can take you
Jobs this qualification is a recognised route into, and the study that can follow it.
Jobs you can do with it
Mental Health Worker
Mental health workers support people living with mental illness, helping them manage daily life, access services and stay connected to their community.
What else you need
This is support work, not a psychologist or psychiatrist qualification; workplace and screening requirements still apply.
Median pay$65,000 (estimate)
Pay is the median for everyone in the job, and “In demand” means the job is on the national shortage list. Pay marked as an estimate is our own analysis, not a published figure.
What it costs
Subsidised place
From $1,990
at TAFE NSW. Whether you get a subsidised place depends on your state, residency, age and earlier study.
Paying the full fee
$7,815 to $13,684
across the TAFEs listed below. Private providers set their own fees.
| TAFE | State | Subsidised | Concession | Full fee | How long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAFE NSW | NSW | $1,990 | $240 | $10,760 | 4 to 18 months |
| Chisholm Institute | VIC | $4,779 | $956 | $12,744 | |
| GOTAFE | VIC | $5,764 | $1,153 | $13,684 | |
| TAFE Queensland | QLD | $3,255 | $2,265 | $7,815 |
TAFE NSWNSW
- Subsidised
- $1,990
- Concession
- $240
- Full fee
- $10,760
- How long
- 4 to 18 months
Chisholm InstituteVIC
- Subsidised
- $4,779
- Concession
- $956
- Full fee
- $12,744
GOTAFEVIC
- Subsidised
- $5,764
- Concession
- $1,153
- Full fee
- $13,684
TAFE QueenslandQLD
- Subsidised
- $3,255
- Concession
- $2,265
- Full fee
- $7,815
Fees as each TAFE shows them on its website, read 20 September 2026. Private providers set their own fees.
Where you can study this course
There are 32 places you can study this course. When you compare them, check they teach it the way you want to study, how far you'd be from a campus, what it will cost you and what past students say about the teaching and support. They're listed by how often people search for them, and none of them pays to be here or to move up.
- Website for Melbourne Polytechnic (opens in a new tab)
Melbourne Polytechnic
13 campuses, VIC
3.7from 485 Google reviews
What students like
- Some teachers are supportive and go out of their way
- Student services offer understanding and compassion
What to weigh up
- Messages to staff can go unanswered
- Enrolment mistakes can take time to fix
- Course page for TAFE NSW (opens in a new tab)
TAFE NSW
31 campuses, NSW, SA, VIC
4.0from 2,410 Google reviews
- How you study
- Online or on campus
- How long
- 4 to 18 months
- Fee
- From $1,990 subsidised
What students like
- Teachers are supportive and ready to help
- Staff are helpful and friendly
- Course content is practical and industry relevant
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- Some find front desk staff less helpful
- Website for Victoria University (opens in a new tab)
Victoria University
11 campuses, NSW, QLD, VIC
3.9from 1,562 Google reviews
What students like
- Lecturers are friendly, supportive and approachable
- Studying one subject at a time through the block model
- Staff are welcoming and ready to help
What to weigh up
- Admin can be hard to reach after you finish
- Website for Charles Darwin University (opens in a new tab)
Charles Darwin University
12 campuses, NSW, NT
4.2from 619 Google reviews
What students like
- Admin and support staff are helpful
What to weigh up
- Units vary depending on the lecturer
- Feedback on assessments can vary
- Website for Swinburne University of Technology (opens in a new tab)
Swinburne University of Technology
8 campuses, VIC
4.0from 1,190 Google reviews
What students like
- Lecturers and tutors are supportive and want students to succeed
- Student HQ and support staff are helpful and responsive
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- You may be passed between departments
- Website for TAFE Gippsland (opens in a new tab)
TAFE Gippsland
11 campuses, VIC
3.9from 113 Google reviews
What students like
- Lecturers are approachable and care about learning
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- Course page for TAFE Queensland (opens in a new tab)
TAFE Queensland
5 campuses, QLD
4.1from 2,040 Google reviews
- How you study
- Online or on campus
- Fee
- From $3,255 subsidised
What students like
- Teachers are helpful and supportive
What to weigh up
- Poor communication from admin
What you’ll learn
15 units: 11 that everyone takes and 4 you choose.
- Recovery oriented support
- Mental health and drug issues
- Trauma informed care
- Working with diverse people
- Aboriginal cultural safety
- Self advocacy and wellbeing
See all 11 core units
Core units
Everyone completes these. Select a unit to see what it covers.
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Questions to ask before you enrol
Providers run this course differently, so the answers change from one to the next.
- When is the next intake, and how many are there each year?
- What is the total cost, including materials, checks and any placement costs?
- Can I study part time or online, and how does that change the length?
- Who arranges the work placement, and how many hours does it involve?
- Do the units count towards a higher qualification if I go on to study further?
Questions people ask
Who is this qualification for?
It prepares you to support people living with mental illness or psychiatric disability, with the person setting their own direction for recovery. You learn to build recovery focused relationships and work with families, carers and other services. Work is carried out autonomously under the broad guidance of practitioners and professionals.
Do I need experience or other qualifications first?
Entry requirements are set by each provider, so check with the provider you choose. You will also need to complete at least 80 hours of work as detailed in the Assessment Requirements of units of competency.
How is it different from Graduate Certificate in Mental Health?
The Graduate Certificate in Mental Health is the higher level qualification. This Certificate IV prepares you for recovery oriented support work, carried out autonomously under the broad guidance of other practitioners and professionals.