How do I become a mental health practitioner
Get qualified to work as a mental health practitioner with a course recognised across Australia. Speak to a training provider to learn more.
Related career opportunities
Browse occupations related to Mental Health Practitioner.
Common questions
The average weekly salary for a Mental Health Practitioner in Australia is approximately $1,473. Increase your earning capacity by obtaining post-graduate qualifications in mental health and joining a professional association.
Courses.com.au Team
There are no clear employment figures for Mental Health Practitioners working in Australia at this time. They are employed by large hospitals and community health organisations, not-for-profits, mental health treatment facilities, and government agencies.
Courses.com.au Team
Mental Health Practitioners in Australia are also known as Authorised Mental Health Practitioners (AMHPs). To be appointed to this role, you must already be a qualified health professional with at least three (3) years of experience in mental health support. We’ve listed the accepted professions below, along with the minimum qualifications, though we recommend checking our specialist pages for each occupation for the full training requirements.
- Registered Nurse (Bachelor of Nursing)
- Clinical Psychologist (Bachelor of Psychology + Master of Clinical Psychology)
- Occupational Therapist (Bachelor of Science (Occupational Therapy)
- Social Worker (Bachelor of Social Work)
Source: Australian Government Labour Market Insights 2023
Courses.com.au Team
Further reading
How to start a career in Mental Health
5th August 2021
What can you do with a Certificate IV in Mental Health?
28th October 2019Mental Health Practitioner careers
Mental Health Practitioners are qualified health professionals such as registered nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, and clinical psychologists who have specialist skills (and training) in mental health management and support services. They carry out mental health assessments, care for people with issues such as bipolar or bulimia, and support people who are at high risk of suicide or self-harm.
As a Mental Health Practitioner you could be assessing the status of a long-term patient with a personality disorder, organising a group therapy session for patients with addiction issues, conducting a one-on-one counselling session with a patient who is showing signs of distress, helping parents understand the treatment plan of a child with severe anxiety, managing a crisis intervention after an attempted suicide, or just taking a self-care day to ensure your own health and wellbeing.
