HomeCoursesMental healthCertificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work
Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work
This qualification is for people who have lived experience of mental illness, either as a consumer or as a carer, and want to use that experience to support others.
- Duration: 1 year
- Study mode: Online and on campus
- Course code: CHC43515
Where you can study this course
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Melbourne Polytechnic
- Campuses
- 13 campuses
- Duration
- Not yet checked
- Study mode
- Not yet checked
- Full fee
- Not yet checked
What students say
A number of students find the organisation and admin frustrating, and opinions are mixed on the trainers and teaching, while some rate the facilities and campus highly.
- Campuses
- 2 campuses
- Duration
- 1 year
- Study mode
- Varies by campus
- Full fee
- $9,210
- Eligible students: subsidised from $1,990, concession $240
What students say
Many students speak well of the facilities and campus, and some rate the trainers and teaching highly, though opinions are mixed on the trainers and teaching and student support, and some found the organisation and admin frustrating.
- Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
Swinburne University of Technology
- Campuses
- 8 campuses
- Duration
- Not yet checked
- Study mode
- Not yet checked
- Full fee
- Not yet checked
What students say
Some students praise the facilities and campus, while some criticise organisation and admin for being frustrating, and opinions are mixed on course content. A number also mention student support and teaching positively or negatively.
- Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
RMIT University
- Campuses
- 15 campuses
- Duration
- Not yet checked
- Study mode
- Not yet checked
- Full fee
- Not yet checked
What students say
Students often find organisation and admin frustrating, and opinions are mixed on the trainers and teaching, while some praise the facilities and campus and student support.
- Visit course page → (opens in a new tab)
TAFE Queensland
- Campuses
- 3 campuses
- Duration
- Not stated by provider
- Study mode
- On campus with some online
- Full fee
- $7,815
- Eligible students: subsidised from $3,255, concession $2,265
What students say
Many students rate the facilities and campus highly. Some found course content and organisation and admin frustrating, while opinions are mixed on the trainers and teaching.
- Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
Box Hill Institute
- Campuses
- 4 campuses
- Duration
- Not yet checked
- Study mode
- Not yet checked
- Full fee
- Not yet checked
What students say
Students speak highly of the trainers and teaching, with the campus and facilities also well regarded. Many found student support frustrating, along with organisation and communication.
- Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
Aspire to Succeed Pty Ltd
- Campuses
- Aspire to Succeed
- Duration
- Not yet checked
- Study mode
- Not yet checked
- Full fee
- Not yet checked
What students say
Most students rate the trainers and teaching highly, many value the student support, and some speak well of the course content.
- Campuses
- 7 campuses
- Duration
- Not yet checked
- Study mode
- Not yet checked
- Full fee
- Not yet checked
Last reviewed 20 September 2026.
What will you learn?
You learn how to draw on it purposefully and safely while working alongside people in a mental health service, whether that is a government, private or community organisation. There is a supervised work placement built in, so you spend time in a real service before you finish.
- Using lived experience at work
- Trauma informed care
- Supporting people's wellbeing
- Self advocacy skills
- Working with diverse people
- Improving mental health services
Units of competency (8 core, 7 elective)
The qualification is made up of 15 units. Everyone completes the 8 core units below, and the remaining 7 are electives chosen from the list on training.gov.au, so they vary by provider. Select a unit to see what it covers.
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Career pathways
Roles this qualification is a recognised route into, and what else you need.
A recognised route into Mental Health Worker
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.
Explore this career →- Weekly pay
- $1,250
- Full-time share
- 48%
- Employment size
- 10,900 workers
- Average age
- 40 years
- Average full-time hours
- 38 hours
- Gender share
- 72% female
- Future growth
- +12%
- Job market
- In shortage (national)
This route is specifically peer work and requires the lived experience described by the qualification.
Where this fits
Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work in mental health: the study that leads into it, the study that follows, and other routes at the same level.
Before
No earlier step listed.
You are looking at
Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work
After
DiplomaDiploma of Youth WorkMove up to a diploma if you want to plan and run youth programs, handle crisis and case management, and do at least 100 hours of placement.DiplomaDiploma of Leisure and HealthConsider this if you would rather design leisure and health programs for aged care, disability or day programs, with at least 240 hours of placement.Other routes at the same level
Data from training.gov.au and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (CC BY 4.0).