Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs Qualification Review

Endorsement and Implementation

Endorsed qualifications, skill sets and units of competency will be uploaded onto the VET National Training Register.  

The Companion Volume will be updated to reflect changes to the Training Package, identified pathways information and mapping information.  

Delivery of 3 virtual professional development workshops to highlight the features of the new qualifications, skill sets and units of competency.

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Finalisation and Submission

Consensus views incorporated into revisions where compliant with the Training Package Organising Framework.

Divergent views addressed through further consultations, advice from subject matter experts, negotiations and if necessary, dispute resolution processes.

Revisions, rationales, dispute process and outcomes published in the Consultation Log.  

Consultation held with Commonwealth and state/territory State Responsible Officers

Feedback incorporated into draft documents.

Consultation

From Monday 28 April to Thursday 3 July, we held 20 workshops or site visits in Hobart, Ballarat, Melbourne, Toowoomba, Brisbane, Bunbury, Perth, Canberra, Griffith, Sydney, Mount Gambier, Adelaide, Darwin, Katherine and online.

We received an outstanding level of engagement through surveys and workshops and we appreciate the time and insights shared by community members, stakeholders and government representatives. Your feedback has been invaluable and is documented in the Consultation log. We are continuing to implement the feedback we received in the revised training products. In the coming months these revised training products will be made available on the project page for validation prior to submission.

In October 2025, we called for feedback via survey on mandatory workplace requirements for the assessment conditions for 5 units. Responses helped to determine if the units will require students to be assessed in a workplace and/or an environment that accurately represents a real workplace. Please refer to the summary of changes for these specific units.

CHC43515 Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work

During consultations on the Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs project, we received advice and feedback from a range of stakeholders, including Technical Committee members, people with lived and living experience and mental health peer workers. The responses made it clear that a dedicated group was needed to help review the CHC43515 Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work and its related units of competency and skill set.

In preparation for this, we developed a specific Consultation Strategy to assist in the review and sought feedback and input before publishing.

We are now progressing the revision of the CHC43515 Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work and potential new units of competency products. The review will follow the Training Package Organising Framework to ensure a structured, transparent and compliant process. We have and will continue to engage with mental health peer work employees, employers, mental health commissions, consumer and carer peak bodies, registered training organisations, unions, federal/state representatives and current students.

Find out more about the Mental Health Peer Work Qualification Review.

Development

We have completed the project development to update the qualifications.

A Technical Committee (TC) comprised of industry experts has been established to:

• identify relevant stakeholders
• advise on communication and consultation strategies
• provide technical advice on the skills and knowledge.

Functional Analysis

Our Functional Analysis Report used in-depth research to provides a clear and detailed overview of the roles, functions, and skills required in the mental health and alcohol and other drugs sector.

We are committed to developing training products that meet industry standards and contribute to improving workforce readiness by identifying gaps and opportunities in skills development.

The report outlines key competencies needed to meet industry demands and supports workforce development by exploring nationally endorsed training pathways.

Methodology

To ensure accuracy and relevance, the functional analysis research process included desktop research and interviews.

Desktop research included reviews of job advertisements, organisational structures, industry reports and government labour market data to understand workforce skills requirements and identify emerging trends.

For the interviews, we engaged with employers, peak bodies, registered training organisations and subject matter experts to gather valuable insights into practical roles, functions, sub-functions, skills and knowledge requirements.

These conversations helped us identify the specific tasks, challenges, and competencies employers prioritise in various work settings.

We also gained a deeper understanding of employer expectations, current and future workforce needs to define functions and sub-functions to guide workforce development, and training product solutions for the sector.

Set Up

Mental health and alcohol and other drugs services in Australia are multifaceted and encompass a wide range of services, programs and approaches to meet the needs of diverse client groups.

Since 2015 a range of reports and strategies have been developed in the early education, disability, aged care and alcohol and other drugs sectors which acknowledge the need for improvements in relation to mental health services. The improvements typically reference awareness of mental health issues and co-existing conditions, developments in design and delivery of services, recognition of the role of the peer/lived experience workforce and the need for workforce development and vocational skills and training.

The sector faces challenges in service delivery due to outdated training units as concepts and practices have emerged or been developed since 2015.  The full extent of these changes will be investigated within the project and feedback from stakeholders will inform whether and how they are incorporated into the qualifications and units.

Project Scope

This is an 18-month project and there will review of 5 qualifications, 7 skill sets and 41 units of competency. The new qualifications will support a range of occupations including:

• Mental Health Support Worker
• Mental Health Outreach Worker
• Alcohol and Other Drugs Community Rehabilitation Worker
• Drug and Alcohol Community Support Worker
• Youth Alcohol and Other Drugs Worker
• Community Rehabilitation Worker
• Community Rehabilitation and Support Worker
• Outreach Officer
• Assistant Community Services Worker
• Assistant Community Health Worker

The purpose of the CHC43515 Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work qualification is to support a specific occupation. The purpose of the CHC43315 Certificate IV in Mental Health, CHC43215 Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs, CHC53215 Diploma of Alcohol and Other Drugs, and CHC53315 Diploma of Mental Health qualifications is to support multiple related occupations.