CHC43515 Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work
Build the skills and knowledge to work in mental health peer work roles, using lived experience to support consumers, carers and families.
- Career Boost General Training may be available for eligible students
- Traineeship pathways may be available for Consumer and Carer Peer Work streams
- Includes 15 units and a minimum of 80 hours of workplace-based assessment requirements
Course Overview
CHC43515 Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work reflects the role of workers who have lived experience of mental illness as either a consumer or carer and who work in mental health services in roles that support consumer peers or carer peers.
Workers may be employed in the mental health sector across government, public, private or community managed services.
At a Glance
This qualification includes 15 units of competency: 8 core units and 7 elective units. The elective selection may vary depending on the pathway, funding arrangement, workplace context and intended vocational outcome.
Choose Your CHC43515 Pathway
CHC43515 Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work may be available through either a general training pathway or a traineeship pathway. Traineeship options are linked to Consumer Peer Work and Carer Peer Work streams.
Traineeship Stream Pathways
Available to eligible employed trainees with a formal training contract.
Consumer Peer Work
CHC43515 Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work (Consumer)
- Designed for workers with personal lived experience as a consumer
- Requires employment as a trainee
- Formal training contract required
Carer Peer Work
CHC43515 Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work (Carer)
- Designed for workers with lived experience as a carer
- Requires employment as a trainee
- Formal training contract required
Everything You Need to Know
Units of Competency
Core Units
These 8 core units apply across CHC43515 Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work.
- CHCDIV001 – Work with diverse people
- CHCMHS007 – Work effectively in trauma informed care
- CHCMHS008 – Promote and facilitate self-advocacy
- CHCMHS011 – Assess and promote social, emotional and physical wellbeing
- CHCPWK001 – Apply peer work practices in the mental health sector
- CHCPWK002 – Contribute to the continuous improvement of mental health services
- CHCPWK003 – Apply lived experience in mental health peer work
- HLTWHS001 – Participate in workplace health and safety
Common Electives
Horizon2 may use the following electives across CHC43515 pathway options.
- CHCDIV002 – Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety
- CHCCCS003 – Increase the safety of individuals at risk of suicide
- CHCAOD001 – Work in alcohol and other drugs context
- CHCLEG001 – Work legally and ethically
- CHCMHS004 – Work collaboratively with the care network and other services
- CHCMHS002 – Establish self-directed recovery relationships
- CHCPWK005 – Work Effectively with carers as a mental health peer worker
Consumer Peer Work Specialisation
Students completing the Consumer Peer Work pathway undertake the following specialist unit:
- CHCPWK004 – Work effectively in consumer mental health peer work
Carer Peer Work Specialisation
Students completing the Carer Peer Work pathway undertake the following specialist unit:
- CHCPWK005 – Work effectively with carers as a mental health peer worker
How Does It Work?
Students complete learning and assessment activities for 15 units of competency. Depending on the selected pathway, study may include online learning, workplace-based training, vocational placement, trainer support and practical assessment activities.
Traineeship students must be employed as a trainee and have a formal training contract in place. General training students enrol directly and complete workplace-based requirements as part of the qualification.
Horizon2 will confirm the most suitable pathway, funding option and elective selection before enrolment.
Recognition of Prior Learning may be available where applicants can provide sufficient, current, valid and authentic evidence of existing skills and knowledge.
Course Duration
Course duration may vary depending on the delivery pathway, study mode, assessment progress, workplace requirements and funding arrangement.
It is anticipated that completion may take up to 12 months, depending on the student’s rate of assessment submission and progression.
Traineeship timeframes may also depend on the training contract and employer arrangements.
Where We Deliver
Horizon2 is approved to deliver this qualification throughout a number of Queensland regions under the Queensland Government's Career Boost funding program.
Delivery may be provided through face-to-face, online or blended learning, depending on student needs, funding arrangements, trainer availability and cohort requirements.
Approved Queensland delivery regions include:
- Brisbane
- Cairns
- Central Queensland
- Darling Downs - Maranoa
- Gold Coast
- Ipswich
- Logan - Beaudesert
- Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday
- Moreton Bay - North
- Moreton Bay - South
- Queensland - Outback
- Sunshine Coast
- Toowoomba
- Townsville
- Wide Bay
While many Horizon2 courses are delivered online, face-to-face and blended delivery options may also be available where appropriate. Please contact our team to discuss the most suitable delivery option for your location and circumstances.
Entry Requirements
There are no mandated entry requirements for CHC43515 Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work.
This qualification is designed for people who have lived experience of mental illness as either a consumer or carer and who are seeking to work in mental health peer work roles.
Additional requirements may apply for traineeships, funded places, workplace access, vocational placement and industry checks.
Vocational Placement
This qualification includes a mandatory workplace component. Students are required to complete a minimum of 80 hours of work as detailed in the assessment requirements of the units of competency.
General training students may need to complete workplace-based activities or vocational placement in an approved mental health, peer work or community services environment.
Traineeship students may complete practical requirements within their workplace, where the workplace is suitable and assessment requirements can be met.
Students may be required to work shifts determined by their workplace or placement provider. These may include early mornings, late nights, weekends or public holidays.
Who Are My Trainers?
Our team of industry professionals is led by David Bradford, a former QUT Lecturer and Director of Operational Training in the Department of Communities.
Our team will support you throughout your qualification, including guidance around assessment requirements, Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) evidence and suitable study progression.
If you would like to know more about trainer support before enrolling, please speak with our course team.
Fees & Funding
Career Boost General Training
Career Boost General Training may be available for eligible students enrolling in CHC43515 Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work outside of a traineeship arrangement.
Student contribution fees for the General Training pathway are calculated per unit of competency.
- Concession: $2.50 per unit of competency
- Non-Concession: $4.00 per unit of competency
As this qualification contains 15 units of competency, the indicative Career Boost General Training fees are:
- Concession Funded Fee: $37.50
- Non-Concession Funded Fee: $60.00
Career Boost Traineeship
Career Boost traineeship funding may be available for eligible employed trainees undertaking approved CHC43515 Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work pathways, including Consumer Peer Work and Carer Peer Work.
Student contribution fees for the traineeship pathway are generally calculated at $1.60 per nominal hour for each unit completed.
- Standard Traineeship Contribution: $1.60 per nominal hour
- Indicative Partial Fee Exemption: 40% of the standard student contribution fee, where eligibility requirements are met
Students who meet Queensland Government partial fee exemption requirements may only be required to pay 40% of the standard student contribution fee. This may apply to eligible concession card holders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and other categories specified by the Queensland Government.
Please note that traineeship fees are subject to the units and electives selected. Final fees may vary depending on the approved training plan, pathway and elective selection.
Full Fee (Unfunded)
Students who are not eligible for Queensland Government funding may enrol as a full fee-paying student.
- Full Fee: $3,990.00
Important Funding Notes
Funding availability depends on student eligibility, employment or traineeship status, approved delivery pathway, qualification-specific requirements and current Queensland Government funding rules.
Horizon2 will confirm your eligibility, pathway, fees and funding availability before enrolment.
Career Outcomes
Employment outcomes may vary depending on the selected pathway, elective units, workplace context, local job market and employer requirements.
- Mental Health Peer Worker
- Consumer Peer Worker
- Carer Peer Worker
- Peer Support Worker
- Peer Mentor
- Consumer Consultant
- Carer Consultant
- Family Advocate
Security Checks
As students may be working with client groups who are vulnerable or at risk, police checks, working with children checks, disability worker screening checks or other workplace checks may be required.
If you have a previous conviction or have concerns about workplace checks, please discuss this with our course team before enrolment so we can help identify whether it may affect placement, workplace training or employment outcomes.
Payment Plan Options
We understand that times can be tough, so payment plans may be negotiated through Pay Advantage or HUMM EZIPAY.
Applicants using a payment plan will only receive certification once program payment is made in full.
We will never ask you to pay more than $1,500 in advance of services provided.
