Carer roles already employ about 370,000 people around the country, and the projection carries that up 18.1% over the decade, which adds about 67,000 people to the count by 2035. Community worker numbers are smaller at about 96,500, and that line is projected up 11.9% over the decade. Neither occupation is labelled mental health on paper, and that is worth understanding. The work sits inside broader community and care roles, so their growth is the growth behind this job. Ten year projections describe whole occupations, and they can't speak to any single application you send.
The 2025 shortage list treats the two occupations differently. Carer roles are recorded in national shortage, which means employers report genuine difficulty filling them. Community worker roles carry no shortage rating at all, so those get filled from the applicants who already come forward. For mental health work specifically, the second picture is the more relevant one. What tends to matter is the specialist qualification and any supervised hours you have behind you. Employers in this space are careful about who they put in front of vulnerable clients, and they hire accordingly.
Two Cert IVs sit below, and they split by specialty rather than by level. One of them covers mental health and the other covers alcohol and other drugs. Open Colleges delivers both with supervised placement attached. The register records a broader starting point for these occupations. That one is the Certificate III in Individual Support, and the register codes it CHC33021. It drew 101,140 enrolments in 2025. That certificate is the general care qualification most people hold, and the recognised ladder around it runs to 34 qualifications. If mental health is where you actually want to work, the specialist Cert IV tends to be the more direct route. Plenty of people take it that way.
Compare what each one covers, then enquire on the one that fits you. The provider sorts out the details with you directly.
The Counselling Career Sampler is a 20 hour online taster drawn from the full Mental Health, Psychology & Counselling Bundle.
120 study hours across three micro-credentials.
Study 90 hours of practical counselling skills online, earn CPD Points, and receive a Credly digital badge upon completion.
190 hours of practical, self-paced training earning 32 CPD Points and a verifiable Credly digital badge — study online, anytime.
310 study hours across 6 courses.
The CHC43315 Certificate IV in Mental Health Online takes about 12 months, self paced, built to fit around work and life.
The CHC51015 Diploma of Counselling is a nationally recognised AQF qualification.
The CHC53315 Diploma of Mental Health builds advanced skills for leadership-focused roles in one of Australia's fastest-growing sectors.
The Dual Certificate IV in Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs covers both fields in one 17 month program.
The Dual Diploma of Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs is built for stepping up to senior support and coordination roles.
A self-paced mental health short course covering 8 units of competency, with credit pathways toward a Certificate IV or Diploma of Mental Health.
Gain an ICOES-accredited Advanced Certificate and CPD-recognised skills to support children and young people in counselling and wellbeing roles.
The Advanced Certificate in Family Wellness and Crisis Intervention covers youth mental health, child development, and family support through crisis.
The Advanced Certificate in Psychology & Counselling covers psychology foundations, counselling techniques, and approaches like CBT.
Learn practical techniques for managing anger and supporting emotional health.
The Certificate in Mental Health builds a working understanding of adult mental health, common conditions, and stress.
The Certificate in Psychology & Counselling introduces stress, behaviour, group dynamics, and communication skills.
Introduction to Abnormal Psychology walks through anxiety, depression, addiction, schizophrenia, and personality disorders, and how each is identified.
The Life Coaching Pathway combines psychology, counselling, and coaching foundations across about 400 study hours.
Psychology Fundamentals explores how the brain, personality, perception, and motivation shape behaviour.
Three ICOES-accredited, CPD-endorsed courses in one bundle — study online at your own pace and gain practical skills for a career in mental health support.
The CHC43315 Certificate IV in Mental Health prepares you for meaningful roles in community mental health — with 90 hours of real work placement included.
If you already work in counselling, the CHC51015 Diploma of Counselling RPL pathway formally recognises the skills and experience you've built on the job.
The CHC53315 Diploma of Mental Health prepares students for hands-on roles in mental health and community services — online, self-paced, with real workplace experience.
What does a mental health support worker actually do?
They work alongside people living with mental illness rather than treating them. That means practical help with housing, appointments, daily routines and crisis planning, and it means a lot of listening. The alcohol and other drugs side overlaps constantly, which is why both Cert IVs sit here together.
Do I need a degree to work in mental health?
Not for support roles. Employers hire these positions on vocational qualifications, and the two Cert IVs below are the recognised ones. Clinical work like psychology and psychiatry runs on a different track entirely, and that one does require a degree.
What's the difference between the two courses?
Specialty, not seniority. One Cert IV focuses on mental health and the other on alcohol and other drugs, and the two fields overlap constantly in practice. Open Colleges runs both online with supervised placement, and it had both up in September 2026.