Mind Australia is now accepting applications for the inaugural round of the Earn and Learn Traineeship program for Victorian students undertaking a Certificate IV in Mental Health.
Mind is providing 12 traineeships as part of the Victorian government initiative, which will help develop the state’s mental health workforce.
Each trainee will undertake placement opportunities at different Mind services, receive tailored mentoring from the program manager and an allocated staff buddy, and be part of a collaborative learning community to share ideas and engage with other trainees.
Trainees will experience working in Mind service settings including youth residential rehabilitation services, Haven Foundation residences and adult and youth Prevention and Recovery Care centres.
These Earn and Learn Traineeship positions are fixed-term (12 months) and full-time for people undertaking a Certificate IV in Mental Health (CHC43315).
Mind CEO Gill Callister said the program will provide students with practical experience so they can effectively transition from the classroom to a career in mental health care.
“The Earn and Learn Traineeship program will give people invaluable real-life experience, mentorship and insight while they study. This will help us continue to build the strong, capable and motivated workforce the reformed mental health system needs,” Ms Callister said.
“These traineeships will help us at Mind Australia to continue to mentor frontline staff from a range of backgrounds and circumstances, especially those with lived experience. That helps us to provide recovery support for the widest range of people experiencing mental health and wellbeing concerns.”
Belinda McCullough, Mind’s Executive Director of Operations for Victoria, said the Earn and Learn Traineeship program would also help strengthen the mental health workforce in regional Victoria.
“It’s vital that regional areas have a strong, local mental health workforce and Mind is keen to work with regional TAFEs to help build and strengthen those pathways,” Ms McCullough said.
“It’s a very fulfilling career and at Mind, students and graduates can experience the best in mental health support – especially our work enabling people with their own lived experience of mental health and wellbeing concerns to become peer practitioners.
“I’m optimistic this will mean that graduates will not only have a chance to work in the mental health sector but they won’t have to move to Melbourne to do so.”
To apply for an Earn and Learn Traineeship with Mind, visit Jobs at Mind or email [email protected]
If this article raises concerns for you, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders can also call 13 YARN (13 92 76) a 24/7 national crisis support telephone service staffed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
If you would like more information about Mind services near you, please contact us via Mind Connect or phone: 1300 263 463.