Turn Your Lived Experience Into a Career in Peer Work
Maybe you've been through it yourself, or stood by someone who has. This course turns that into peer work skills. Learn from home, see your trainer by video each week, then train in a mental health service.
Course Snapshot
- ✓Made for people with lived experience
- ✓Live classes with your trainer each week
- ✓Monthly one-on-one mentoring
- ✓Job-Ready Program from day one
Why Do This Course
Make Your Story Count
What you've been through can help someone else. Peer workers use lived experience to build trust and hope. This course will show you how, with clear boundaries in place.
For Carers and Support People Too
Maybe you were the one who stood beside someone. That experience counts here as well. You'll learn to turn it into skills that services use.
Study Around Your Week
Learn online, from home. Join one live class by video each week. Work through the rest at your own pace, then do your placement.
Where These Skills Could Take You
Peer workers support people in hospitals, community services and NDIS providers. The work is about trust: listening, sharing what helped, and linking people to support. Victoria's Royal Commission into Mental Health recommended growing the peer workforce.
Consumer Peer Worker
Support people using mental health services, drawing on your own experience.
Carer Peer Worker
Support families and carers through what you have lived yourself.
Mental Health Support Worker
Help people with daily life and goals, often with NDIS providers.
Community Mental Health Worker
Work in government and community services that support recovery.
NDIS Peer Support Specialist
Offer peer support to NDIS participants through registered providers.
Alcohol and Other Drugs Peer Worker
Support people where mental health and drug use meet.
Mental Health Advocate
Help people understand their rights and ask for what they need.
Lived Experience Consultant
Bring the lived experience view to how services work.
Roles where these skills are useful, not promised outcomes. Every role is different, and some need more study or experience.
What You Learn
Peer work units at the core, plus recovery, crisis and wellbeing skills.
What You’ll Get
Learning
- ✓Weekly live video classes, 3 hours with your trainer and group
- ✓Self-paced study, 15 hours a week, at your own pace
- ✓Recorded masterclasses, industry professionals, on demand
- ✓Hands-on tasks, case studies, role plays and demonstrations
Support
- ✓Monthly one-on-one mentoring, by video or phone
- ✓Trainer replies within 72 hours, on business days, Monday to Friday
- ✓Dedicated support officer, monthly outreach calls
- ✓Job-Ready Program, from the day you start
What Makes It Different
Three things shape this course: skills built on your own experience, a placement that gets sorted out with you, and trainers who stay close.
The core units cover peer work and how to use lived experience at work. You'll learn to share what helps, and keep what's yours private.
Every eligible learner will do 80 supervised hours in a mental health service. If you don't have a place, one will be sourced for you. It's a placement, not a job offer.
Weekly live classes, monthly mentoring, and trainer replies within 72 hours on business days. A support officer checks in each month.
What You'll Earn
CHC43515 Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work
Nationally recognised training · RTO 45162
CHC43515 Certificate IV In Mental Health Peer Work
Finish the course and receive your certificate and academic transcript within 30 days.
Nationally Recognised Training
The course is delivered by registered training organisation RTO 45162.
A Path To Further Study
You can go on to further study in mental health, community services or counselling.
How It Works
Enquire
Send your details and a course advisor gets in touch.
Quick Skills Check
Take a short online literacy and numeracy quiz.
Talk It Through
An orientation call checks you're eligible and ready to start.
Get Started
Get your letter of acceptance and log in to begin.
How to Get Started
Common Questions
Do I need lived experience to enrol?
Yes, it's part of the entry rules. Lived experience of mental health challenges counts. So does experience as a support person, like a carer. The course will show you how to use it safely at work.
What else do I need to enrol?
You need to be 18 or over, with full work and study rights here. You'll pass a literacy and numeracy check at ACSF Level 4. You also need a USI, a computer with good internet, and basic Word skills. A phone interview will confirm you're ready.
How long does it take?
It runs over 12 months. Each week has a 3 hour live class by video. You'll also do 15 hours of self-paced study a week.
How does the work placement work?
You'll complete 80 supervised hours in a mental health service. A Hader assessor will support you the whole way. If you don't have a place, one will be sourced for you, ideally within 30km of home. It's a placement, not a job offer. Before you start, you may need a Working with Children Check, a Police Check, an NDIS Worker Screening Check and some vaccinations.
Is this course government funded?
This course is not government funded. You pay the college directly, weekly or fortnightly interest-free, or upfront. Some payment plans may carry a set-up fee.
What if study brings up hard feelings?
That can happen in this course, and that's okay. Your trainer and Learner Support Officer are there any time. Free services like Lifeline and Beyond Blue are there too.
What jobs could this lead to?
Peer roles in hospitals, community services and NDIS providers. Think consumer or carer peer worker, or mental health support worker. Every role is different, and some ask for more study or experience.
Can I get credit for past study or work?
You may be able to. Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer are open to eligible learners. Ask when you enrol, and bring proof like past qualifications.
Is this course nationally recognised?
Yes. CHC43515 Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work is nationally recognised training. It's delivered by a registered training organisation, RTO 45162. You'll get a certificate and transcript within 30 days of finishing.
Can I get a refund?
Yes, early on. Cancel before or within 3 days of acceptance for a full refund. After that, no refund applies and you stay liable for the full fees.
About the College
Hader Institute of Education is a registered training organisation, RTO 45162, based in Armadale, Victoria. Across all its courses, students rate the college 4.9 out of 5 from 850+ Google reviews.
Your Future Starts Today
In 12 months you could be a qualified peer worker.