National Certificate in Mental Health (Mental Health Support Work)

Tania Wharewaka says the course has opened doors for her.

The course

Unitec offers the National Certificate in Mental Health (Mental Health Support Work) to prepare people for employment as mental health workers.

Students attend Unitec's campus in Waitakere, Auckland, on a part-time basis for six and a half hours on Tuesdays for the 40-week course, which is an NZQA level 4 qualification, beginning in July.

They learn the skills and knowledge required to work in a mental health setting and the confidence to apply them.

Subjects covered include challenging incidents, foundation mental health knowledge, integrating knowledge, relationships, self-awareness and relationship management, and Treaty of Waitangi issues.

Students need to be on placement or employed for 16 hours a week in the mental health sector. Another three to five hours in self-directed study is needed each week.

Much of students' learning is about self-awareness and relationships with others. Communication skills for dealing with people and their families, workplace practice, policies and processes are covered.

They are assessed through written assignments and oral presentations.

Applicants need four years' secondary school education and School Certificate or equivalent in two subjects.

Applications for the 25 available places need to be made as early as possible. Interviews are in April and May.

Applicants need to show a commitment to working with mental health consumers, sound communication skills, a commitment to client empowerment and self-determination, a sense of maturity, integrity and reliability, an awareness and sensitivity to diversity, a commitment to tertiary study, evidence of ability to academically achieve in a level 4 programme, personal or family experience of mental ill health, cultural experience, and a recommendation from an employer.

Course fees are approximately $3800, including GST.

What graduates think

Tania Wharewaka, 31
Community support worker
Walsh Trust
West Auckland
Graduated last year

Doing the course was like a job requirement for me.

Because it is like an entry-level course, I wanted to give it a go because I didn't do too well at school, so I wanted to see if I could actually do tertiary study.

We had to integrate it with things we were doing at work. I had to do assignments with clients on my case load which included asking them questions.

It involved not only just turning in assignments but interviewing.

It opened up so many doors. I want to do full-time study in the near future. I am tossing up whether to do social work or nursing.

It has shown that I am capable and it has given me a tremendous amount of confidence.

We learnt how to put in professional boundaries. It is important for me and for the client to know it is a working relationship, not a friendship.

Other things that had an effect on me were studying the Treaty of Waitangi.

It was worthwhile but hard - I was working full-time, I am a mother of five and also doing study.

When the course was completed I felt like I had achieved something.

What employers think

Jackie Hart
Community services development manager
Walsh Trust
West Auckland

"Walsh stands for West Auckland living skills in homes. The trust was established in 1989 in response to the de-institutionalisation of psychiatric care.

We provide support services for people with experience of mental illness living in the community.

Doing the course indicates to us that a person has followed up their intent to do this sort of work with making sure they have the appropriate tertiary qualification to back them up.

If we had two equal job candidates with the National Certificate between them, we would err on the National Certificate side. It is a good starting qualification for entry into further study in that field.

We encourage staff to do the course if they do not already have a formal social science qualification.

They do it in work time and we significantly contribute towards the fees.

It is important they get that core background training then we can offer some more specialised training.

This is the training that was developed about five years ago by the mental health industry for the mental health industry so it has good relevance."

The qualification

National Certificate in Mental Health (Mental Health Support Work)
Unitec
Phone: 0800 109 510
Salary: $13-$16 per hour