Working in mental health

Principles

Within the framework, six principles of recovery oriented practice ensure that services and support are delivered in a way that supports recovery for individuals, helping them to achieve personal autonomy, social identity, meaning and purpose in life, and a positive sense of self. These principles are as follows.

Practice domains, and capabilities

In practice, the recovery-oriented model is based around the application of sets of capabilities that support people to recognise and take responsibility for their own recovery and wellbeing; and to define their goals, wishes and aspirations in a way that::

• recognises and embraces the possibilities for recovery and wellbeing created by the inherent strength and capacity of all people experiencing mental health issues;
• maximises self-determination and self-management of mental health and wellbeing; and
• assists families to understand the challenges and opportunities arising from their family member's experiences.

There are 17 capabilities in total, and these are grouped into five fields known as 'practice domains'. The first is an overarching domain that relates to all capabilities.   

Five domains: 17 capabilities

With such a range of jobs available, the first step is to decide what kind of work you would like to do. For example; do you want to work directly with clients? Or are you more interested in a less 'hands on' role? A mental health worker cares for people with mental health issues, substance abuse, poverty and other social problems. They assist psychiatrists, doctors and nurses by monitoring patients/groups, providing therapeutic assistance and keeping patient records.

It would also be useful to consider what kind of service you would like to be involved with, as the work environments can be very different. For example, do you like the idea of different clients that you visit regularly in their homes? Or is a clinical or hospital setting where you can get to know a group of people and experience a range of daily activities more appealing?  Or perhaps you'd like to work in a specialised area; such as youth or in crisis intervention? 

Finally, what level of work are you looking for? If you're starting with an entry-level position, you can expect to be working under supervision so that you can grow your skills and experience on the job. You'll be working with clients to develop treatment plans and develop support strategies.  If you already have some experience in mental health, perhaps you're looking for a job with more responsibility, or you may want to get into specialist fields. 

Your answers to these questions will also help you determine whether you'll need to do some training, or get a qualification, for the job you want. 

To learn more about jobs in mental health, a good place to start is our occupational profiles but you can also take a look through the following websites.
 

• Take this quick career quiz - external site to see what kind of role would suit you.
• Your Career: Occupation profiles search - external site

If you're after a specific occupation or looking to make a career move then skilling up through training is the way to go. 

Right now there's a range of low fee qualifications with course fees reduced by half or more under the Lower fees, local skills program... and even better, there's an annual cap on course fees, so you can super size your study but only pay as little as $400 for the year if you are under 25 or looking for work!

There's also a free* short course — Introduction to Mental Health — that will provide you with an excellent overview of what it's like to work in this field and get you job ready with entry level skills and knowledge, or on a pathway to further study. 

 Take a look at the Do you need to skill up? section for more information

*Free for eligible students

These are both great options to kickstart your career. 

With a traineeship, you will complete a program of work and training over a period of time (generally one to two years). You are employed, and paid, during this time. You could choose to do a traineeship in healthcare or community services, to build your skills and knowledge, and then go on to a full traineeship or a qualification that will enable you to specialise mental health. 

A pre-traineeship is a qualification that you complete at a TAFE college or private training provider, to give you some entry level skills and knowledge as a pathway to a full traineeship and employment

Take a look at the Do you need to skill up? section for more information

• We have compiled a list of all the community service related courses here, including pre-traineeships and traineeships,  for you to browse through

You can find out more about the industry, and about working in mental health in WA, from the following websites.
 

• WA Mental Health Commission (WAMHC) - external site
• The WA Association for Mental Health (WAAMH) - external site
• WA Department of Health - external site

Because WA's mental health industry is rapidly growing, the demand for workers has never been higher! Most job opportunities are advertised online — here's some places to start your search.
 

• Look into NDIS providers in WA - external site (scroll down the page to find the link to the WA list)
• Ethical Jobs specialises in community services and support work - external site
• WA Government jobs board - external site (use the search filters)
• The Jobs and Skills WA jobs board
• SEEK job search website - external site
• indeed.com job search website - external site

There's also some companies who specialise in recruitment for the this industry. We recommend doing an internet search to find out more about what services they offer for jobseekers. And if you're on social media, there's several groups on Facebook and Instagram that regularly post job opportunities — do a search to find them. 

If you’re interested in a career in mental health, your local Jobs and Skills Centre can help with free advice on career planning and training to help you get there.

And if you've spotted a job you want to go for, they can help freshen up your CV and even help you put your job application together. Need some tips for job interviews? They can do that too!

Because Jobs and Skills Centres work closely with local employees and industries, they know where the jobs are and how you can get them.  And they know what employers are looking for. There's 15 JSCs across Perth and regional WA, and all services are free. Call your local JSC on 13 64 64, or check our map to find your closest centre.  

Volunteering gives you the opportunity to become an active member of your community, while helping others and yourself. Many volunteering opportunities are in the area of community support, and you may be able to find a volunteer role that relates to mental health.

Through volunteering, you can not only build your skills and knowledge but also gain valuable experience working with people. Volunteering is also an excellent way to network with organisations in your local area, and find out about job opportunities that are coming up.

If there's a particular person or organisation you would like to volunteer with, get in touch with them directly to see if they have any opportunities. You could also look at your local newspaper or community noticeboard, or check out an organisation that advertises volunteering vacancies on behalf of different groups and causes.

To find out more, visit the Volunteering WA website to see how you could get involved.
 

• Volunteering WA website - external site

You can also contact your local Jobs and Skills Centre on 13 64 64 for assistance with finding a volunteering opportunity.

Work experience
Although generally unpaid, work experience can be a fantastic way to get hands-on practical experience in a particular field or occupation. Employers value skills and experience, so this can give you an advantage when looking for work.

Internships and cadetships
An internship or cadetship is work experience combined with on the job training while studying for a professional, managerial or office career – similar to how people studying trades qualifications do an apprenticeship. An internship or cadetship can be done by secondary school students as well as those studying at college or university, and they're a great way to skill up. 

Internships are generally short term, and are usually unpaid. They may lead to employment with the company but there’s no guarantee of this. An internship or cadetship is a great addition to your resumé.

Contact your local Jobs and Skills Centre on 13 64 64 for assistance with finding a work experience opportunity, or for advice and information about internships and cadetships. 

These are designed to give you job ready skills and knowledge, and a 'taster' of working in a particular industry or job role.  The training component of your pre-traineeship or pre-apprenticeship is based on nationally accredited vocational education and training (VET) units of competency, and on completion you will receive a nationally recognised Certificate II qualification.

This means that if you decide to grow your skills and knowledge through a higher level qualification after your pre-traineeship, you will receive credit for the units you have already completed so you can get that higher level qualification more quickly.

Traineeships and apprenticeships combine training with on the job learning — you are employed for the duration, so you earn while you learn. 
 

• A traineeship generally runs over one or two years, and is usually for a Certificate III or IV level qualification. Traineeships are in non-trade areas; including healthcare, community services, business and information technology.
• An apprenticeship generally runs over three or four years, and is usually for a Certificate III or IV level qualification. Apprenticeships are for trades areas such as building and construction, automotive, and hospitality.

On completion of your traineeship or apprenticeship, you will be awarded a nationally recognised qualification.  There is no requirement to have completed a pre-traineeship/apprenticeship before starting a traineeship or apprenticeship; however, if you have already completed one you may receive credit for the units you have already achieved, which could shorten the time it takes to complete your traineeship or apprenticeship.

To do an apprenticeship or traineeship, you must be employed. So how do you find an employer?
 

• Call your local Jobs and Skills Centre on 13 64 64 for free information and advice — because they work with local businesses and employers, your local JSC knows where the jobs are!
• You can go out and find an employer yourself, by searching for advertised jobs or contacting a company directly. 
• There are a number of Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN) providers in WA that are funded by the Australian Government to provide advice and assistance to help you find an apprenticeship or traineeship and organise everything to get you started. 

You can find out more on our Apprenticeships and traineeships page here 

There's also some great information on the Australian Apprenticeships website - external site about finding an apprenticeship or traineeship, including some useful tips for how to approach employers.

A school-based apprenticeship or traineeship (SBAT) is an employment-based vocational education and training (VET) learning pathway for secondary school (Years 11 and 12). It combines off the job training at a TAFE college or training provider, and paid on the job training through a work placement, that leads to a nationally recognised qualification and can count towards your WACE. 

An SBAT is designed to give you skills and knowledge in your chosen field or while you're still at school, to give your career a head start. There's also the Aboriginal school-based apprenticeship/ traineeship program, for Aboriginal students in years 10, 11 and 12.

SBATs are available in a range of study areas, including many that are relevant to working in mental health. However; please be aware that due to their young age, secondary school aged students may not be suitable to work in this field without further training and/or experience. 

Contact your local Jobs and Skills Centre on 13 64 64 for information and advice about VET options while you're still at school.

Another option is to find a traineeship through a group training organisation (GTO). 

GTOs employ apprentices and trainees across a range of different industries. You are directly employed by the GTO, but they 'host' you out to an employer for work. This can be a great option as you may have the opportunity to work with more than one employer during your apprenticeship or traineeship — giving you a wider range of experience. GTOs are experts in hiring apprentices and trainees, and are regulated to make sure they are doing the right thing by their employees.

Step 1: Register with a GTO
You can look through our list of WA GTOs here, and check their information to find what industry/sector and/or type of apprenticeship or traineeship they specialise in. The next step is to register with the GTO (you can register with as many as you like) so that they have your details if a suitable vacancy arises.

Step 2: Recruitment process
You will have an initial interview with the GTO, so that they can find out more about the type of apprenticeship or traineeship you're looking for and discuss options. If you are suitable, the GTO will either offer you an apprenticeship or traineeship or let you know when one becomes available.

When you start your apprenticeship or traineeship, your GTO will help you prepare to meet your host employer. They will also provide any pre-employment training that's required; such as workplace health and safety, and the basic personal protective equipment (PPE) needed for the role. 

After you start your apprenticeship or traineeship, the GTO will assign you a field officer who will be your direct contact point if there's any issues or if you have any queries about your apprenticeship or traineeship. Your field officer will also monitor your training and work, and check in to make sure that everything is going smoothly.

All aspects of your apprenticeship or traineeship through a GTO are the same as any other apprenticeship or traineeship — it's really only the actual employment arrangements that are different; ie you are employed and paid by the GTO rather than by the company where you're doing the apprenticeship or traineeship. 

Contact your local Jobs and Skills Centre on 13 64 64 for further information and advice about GTOs.