Skilling up for health professionals
If you are a GP or a mental health professional, you are often the first point of contact for someone experiencing mental health challenges. You are likely to provide services to people with mental health difficulties even if you work in other areas of health or community services.
This page provides a list of opportunities for you to further develop your skills in mental health, whatever your professional background.
Programs and resources
These services offer a range of modules, e-learning courses, information and tools to support and upskill GPs and mental health professionals.
GP mental health training and education
The General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration (GPMHSC) website offers accredited training in mental health skills common in general practice. This includes training in assessment, treatment, planning, and review of issues.
Black Dog Institute’s e-Mental Health in Practice programs
Black Dog Institute’s suite of online training modules, webinars, and resources introduces you to digital programs and tools. They can help you to incorporate digital mental health resources into your practice.
A GP Framework for child mental health assessment (5-12 years)
This Emerging Minds e-learning course focuses on care for children aged 5-12 at risk of or experiencing mental health challenges. It provides training on identification, assessment, care planning, and support.
Practical guide for working with carers of people with a mental illness
This e-learning course provides practical advice to providers for working with carers. Presented by HelpingMinds, it provides a way to help carers manage their day-to-day situations.
iCBT Foundations Training Program (CPD)
This program has been designed – for clinicians, by clinicians - to give an understanding of internet-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy (iCBT) in clinical practice. This program will help clinicians learn about the cognitive behavioural model of emotional wellbeing and strategies that clients can use to manage the symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression.
Free digital mental health resources
The e-Mental Health in Practice (eMHPrac) website has a range of resources to assist health practitioners from various disciplines. These resources provide information for using digital mental health programs and tools with your clients and patients. This includes guides, brochures, factsheets, webinars and videos. eMHPrac also provides tailored virtual or face-to-face training to health professionals and organisations for free.
Consumer and carer engagement guides
The National Mental Health Commission has guides on improving engagement and participation in healthcare. This could be for people with mental health experiences, their families, and other support people.
Resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
WellMob offers online wellbeing resources made by and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. These resources include websites, apps, podcasts, videos, social media, and online counselling, with a focus on social and emotional wellbeing.
National Initial Assessment and Referral (IAR) for Mental Healthcare
The IAR is a tool to assist GPs and clinicians with the initial response to requests for mental health assistance in primary care settings. It is designed to provide a consistent national approach in determining the right level of care and functional support for individuals, within the stepped care model.
For more information about the IAR, please visit the Department of Health and Aged Care website.
To arrange training and support, please refer to your local PHN.
Mental Health Professional Online Development Program
The Mental Health Professional Online Development (MHPOD) Program is a national web-based education tool designed to support mental health and broader health professionals in the delivery of mental health care and support. Based on the National Practice Standards for the Mental Health Workforce 2013, MHPOD provides education and training materials including self-directed learning, hour-long modules, MicroLearning, and self-assessment tools.