Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work
Overview
The Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work is designed for people with lived experience of mental illness – either as a consumer or carer – who wish to transform that experience into a professional capability within the mental health sector. This qualification prepares learners to work in peer support roles across government, public, private, and community managed services, where demand continues to grow in response to national mental health priorities and the expansion of lived experience led workforces.
This is a nationally approved vocational course that is recognised throughout Australia.
Apply ATAR-free and secure your future
The best move you’ll make in Year 12 is not leaving your future to chance. Apply for Swinburne’s Early Entry Program now and you could secure an offer before exams – no ATAR required.
Your industry experience
As part of the Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work, students complete an 800‑hour industry placement, gaining valuable hands‑on experience in mental health peer support settings. This placement provides an opportunity to apply learning in real‑world contexts, build professional confidence, and develop skills aligned with peer work practice, including recovery‑oriented support, lived‑experience advocacy, and working collaboratively with services to support others in their recovery journey.
Swinburne has strong industry partnerships and provides guidance and support throughout the placement application process. Students are required to apply to host organisations, which will include an interview. Placement hours may be completed during the day, evening, overnight, or on weekends, and may involve travel depending on the placement location.
Topics you'll cover
- Peer work practice in mental health, including the role, boundaries, and ethics of peer work
- Using lived experience professionally to support others in their recovery journey
- Recovery‑oriented and trauma‑informed approaches to mental health support
- Promoting self‑advocacy and empowerment for people accessing mental health services
- Supporting social, emotional and physical wellbeing
- Working with diverse communities, including culturally safe and inclusive practice
- Continuous improvement in mental health services from a peer perspective
- Work health and safety in mental health and community service settings
Skills you'll learn
- Peer practitioner
- Mental health peer support worker
- Consumer advocate
- Carer
- Family peer support
Your career opportunities
- Consumer Mental Health Peer Worker
- Peer Support Worker (Consumer)
- Mental Health Consumer Advocate
- Peer Recovery Support Worker
- Consumer Consultant / Lived Experience Worker
- Community Mental Health Peer Worker
- NDIS Peer Support Worker (consumer‑focused roles)
Study Community Services at Swinburne
Have a passion to work in the community services industry? Put your learnings into practice with our Diploma of Community Services.
Admissions
Applicants for this course must meet the following entry criteria:
- Satisfactory completion of Year 12 or equivalent.
- Students must be 18 years of age at the commencement of the course.
- Non school leavers without formal qualifications are welcome to apply.
Mandatory documentation
Applicants are required to hold and submit the following documentation:
- National Police Check required prior to placement (students should wait until commencing their course to apply, as Swinburne will provide a personalised link with a student discount. If an applicant believes there would be a disclosable outcome on their National Police Check, a confidential conversation will be required prior to enrolment to determine suitability for the course and work within the selected qualification).
- a Working with Children Check (Volunteer or Employee) for the duration of the program.
Admission requirements
Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course does not guarantee an offer of a place. See admission requirements for general information about the admission process.
Course pre-requisites
Language, literacy and numeracy
Applicants are required to complete a language, literacy and numeracy skills assessment as part of the application process. This will assist in determining course suitability and identifying whether additional support may be required.
The approved online skills assessment tool used to determine language, literacy and numeracy skills within the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) is Basic Key Skills Builder (BKSB).
The levels required for this course are:
- Language and literacy: ACSF Level 2
- Numeracy: ACSF Level 2
Successful completion of the course is aligned to ACSF Exit Level 3.
Other requirements
The following additional criteria for entry apply for this course:
- Students may be required to obtain a NDIS worker screening check prior to placement. Please wait to be advised if you require the NDIS worker screening check for your placement.
- Access to a computer with an internet connection, a microphone and a webcam
Inherent requirements
Inherent requirements are the essential tasks that define a job and must be performed for successful execution. This course involves practical and physical demands, as well as behavioural abilities, required for assessments and professional placements in nursing.
These skills are crucial for career progression in the field. The Inherent Requirements information helps applicants assess their ability to successfully participate in and complete the course.
You must be able to manage multiple demands with focus and composure, engage respectfully with clients and colleagues, and respond appropriately to feedback. Community Services work often involves sensitive or confronting content, requiring resilience, objectivity, and professional boundaries.
Clear communication is critical for supporting clients and coordinating services. Without it, client needs cannot be accurately identified, and interventions may fail. Community service workers interact with diverse individuals, families, and professionals, requiring adaptable and respectful communication.
You must be able to:
- Speak clearly and provide information promptly.
- Interpret and use non-verbal cues to enhance understanding.
- Build trust and rapport through effective communication.
- Adjust your style for different clients and contexts.
- Demonstrate empathy and respect in all interactions.
- Write clear case notes, court reports, and budget reports.
- Accurately record and interpret numerical data for budgets and service planning.
- Perform basic maths (addition, subtraction, percentages, ratios) for funding and resource management.
- Read and understand client histories, legal documents, and professional reports.
- Contribute to online client records and prepare professional documentation.
You’ll develop essential digital skills to succeed in the sector, including:
- Microsoft Word – create professional reports, case notes, and documentation.
- Microsoft Excel – manage budgets, track data, and analyse service outcomes.
- Microsoft Outlook – communicate effectively with clients and stakeholders.
- Online systems – update client records and collaborate across teams.
Informed Choices Statement
View the Informed Choices statement, which provides information about the inherent requirements of community services, specifically the essential physical and behavioural abilities needed to perform assessment tasks, professional placements and progress to a career in this field. This information is intended to assist you to choose whether you can successfully participate in and complete a course.
English language requirements
Satisfactory completion of one of the following:
- IELTS overall band of 6.0 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 6.0
- Swinburne’s English for Academic Purposes (EAP 5 Advanced level) with overall 65%, all skills 65% or above
- or equivalent measures available at English language requirements.
Need to undertake an English assessment for entry?
A prerequisite for many courses, the Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic) can now be done at our Hawthorn campus.
Credit transfer
Credit transfer is a formal recognition process that allows students to receive credit for units of competency achieved through previous accredited study at another registered training organisation (RTO).
The number of credits granted will vary and is based on the:
- unit/s that have been successfully completed
- unit currency and status
- qualification requirements
- relevance to the qualification
- Swinburne policy
Recognition of prior learning
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is the process of transferring the skills and knowledge that you have acquired over your lifetime (irrespective of how they were obtained) against the requirements of the unit.
RPL is an assessment process that requires you to provide evidence that demonstrates how you meet the requirements of the unit/s. The amount and types of evidence you will need to provide will depend on the unit requirements.
Finding your fit
At Swinburne, we recognise that not one size fits all. If this course doesn’t meet all your study criteria, check out these alternatives.
-
Certificate IV in Youth Work
-
Certificate IV in Mental Health
Course structure
To be awarded the Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work, students complete 15 units of competency, comprising 8 core units and 7 elective units, as well as an 80‑hour industry placement. Swinburne provides guidance and support to assist students in identifying and securing a suitable placement opportunity.
The course is delivered using a blended learning approach, which includes face‑to‑face classes, online learning activities, and project‑based work to support different learning styles.
Assessment methods are varied and industry‑relevant and may include group work, simulated activities with actors, role plays, and written assessments.
From time to time, students may be required to attend other campuses to participate in events or course‑related activities.
While Swinburne makes every effort to support students with placement opportunities, placement availability is dependent on industry capacity and host organisation availability.
Delivery
Standard part-time delivery includes a combination of on‑campus classes and supported work placement.
Study requirements
Timetable
- Classes run Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 3:30pm, with approximately 14 hours over two days of on-campus attendance per week.
- Scheduled days depend on group allocation, and may vary according to the stage, with semester and terms breaks included in the timetable.
- Students must access online resources and attend on-campus classes to consolidate learning.
- Practical skills are taught and assessed in a simulated environment and on placement, where applicable.
- Students are expected to engage in approximately 10 hours of self-managed study outside of scheduled classes.
- Students may be required to attend other campuses from time to time for events and other course engagements.
Assessment
- Assessments occur throughout the course and include various methods such as quizzes, case studies, practical observations, group work, actor simulations, role plays and written assessments.
- Students must demonstrate required skills and knowledge by satisfactorily completing assessments at different points in the course.
Your units
| Units of study | Unit code |
|---|---|
| Core units | |
|
Work with diverse people
Core unit |
CHCDIV001 |
|
Work effectively in trauma informed care
Core unit |
CHCMHS007 |
|
Promote and facilitate self advocacy
Core unit |
CHCMHS008 |
|
Assess and promote social, emotional and physical wellbeing
Core unit |
CHCMHS011 |
|
Apply peer work practices in the mental health sector
Core unit |
CHCPWK001 |
|
Contribute to the continuous improvement of mental health services for consumers and carers
Core unit |
CHCPWK002 |
|
Apply lived experience in mental health peer work
Core unit |
CHCPWK003 |
|
Participate in workplace health and safety
Core unit |
HLTWHS001 |
| Elective units | |
|
Recognise and respond to crisis situations
Elective unit |
CHCCCS019 |
|
Plan and conduct group activities
Elective unit |
CHCGRP002 |
|
Work with people with mental health issues
Elective unit |
CHCMHS001 |
|
Establish self-directed recovery relationships
Elective unit |
CHCMHS002 |
|
Provide services to people with co-existing mental health and alcohol and other drugs issues
Elective unit |
CHCMHS005 |
|
Reflect on and improve own professional practice
Elective unit |
CHCPRP003 |
|
Work effectively in consumer mental health peer work
Elective unit |
CHCPWK004 |
2026 fees
Free TAFE eligible students
Full fee* ($AUD)
$14,550
Skills first government-subsidised place* ($AUD)
$3,970
Concession rate* ($AUD)
$
2026 fees
Fees are estimates only
Fees published on this page are estimates only and are subject to change depending on individual circumstances at the time of enrolment. The above fees apply for units studied in 2026 only and may change for units studied in future years. There may be additional costs related to learning material and equipment.
Fees are estimates only
The indicative course fees shown apply to international students for the relevant year, based on a standard study load per year. Fees are assessed according to actual study load each semester, with variations to study load resulting in tuition fee adjustments. These fees generally include the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) and are subject to annual review. Enrolled students will receive reasonable notice of any fee changes before payment is due.
Skills first government-subsidised place
This training is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding. To qualify for a government-subsidised place, you must meet various eligibility criteria. The course you’ve applied for must also be offering government-subsidised places. Swinburne will determine your eligibility by conducting a full assessment of your eligibility during the course application process.
How do I pay my fees?
You can pay your Swinburne fees in person, via credit card, BPAY, or at Australia Post. Check to see if loans and employer sponsored training are also available.
International students need to pay tuition fees up-front by the relevant due date. You can find the due dates on your Statement of Account.
To pay your fees:
- log in to My Finances
- check your Australian bank account details are correct
- check your Statement of Account to see how much you owe
- pay using your preferred payment method.
Concessions rates for vocational students
If you’re enrolling in a Certificate IV-level program or below, are eligible for a government-subsidised training place and hold a valid concession card, you may be eligible for a concession of 80 per cent off the published fee of your unit(s) tuition – which means you’ll only be charged 20 per cent of the published fee.
-
Study this course for free in 2026
You could have your tuition fees covered in 2026 thanks to the Victorian Government's Free TAFE initiative.
Free TAFE is available to any Australian citizen, permanent resident or New Zealand citizen.
There are other factors, too. The best way to find out if you’re eligible is to apply!
Scholarships
Scholarship applications for 2026 are open. Scholarships at Swinburne are about providing opportunity, promoting equity and recognising excellence and achievement. We want you to reach your potential and achieve your life and career goals.
Our handy guide will assist you to gather documents for your application.
When you apply for a Swinburne course, we automatically consider you for an international scholarship of up to 30 per cent off your course fees – no separate application required! Just apply for your Swinburne course of choice and when we review your course application, we will also assess you for an international scholarship.
Apply through an agent
Most international students use an education agent to help them through the application process. Swinburne has agents all over the world that can help you with your application to study. Search for a Swinburne representative in your country. If your country is not listed, please contact us.
Apply directly
Ready to take on a new challenge and reach your academic goals? If you already know which course you want to study and understand the entry requirements, what are you waiting for? Apply online! Remember, you cannot apply direct if you have an active VTAC application.