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VMHPAA Comittment for the Public

Group Lecture
Empowering Practitioners, Transforming Lives
Supporting You and Your Community Through Safe, Skilled, and Compassionate Mental Health Care
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At the Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA), our mission is to uplift not only mental health practitioners, but also the communities they serve.
 
We exist to ensure that individuals, families, and service users across Australia have access to a safe, ethical, and professionally supported mental health workforce.
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Our members work on the frontlines of care - in schools, community centres, hospitals, homes, and recovery services - providing crucial support for people navigating mental health challenges. Many bring lived or living experience to their practice, offering genuine empathy alongside professional skills.
Who Are VMHPAA Members?
 
VMHPAA members are Vocational Mental Health Practitioners - trained professionals with nationally recognised qualifications at Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Levels 3 to 6, including Certificate IV, Diploma, Advanced Diploma, and Associate Degree programs in mental health and related fields.
These practitioners work in a variety of vital, community-facing roles and provide support such as:
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  • One-on-one mental health and emotional support
  • Counselling and active listening
  • Wellbeing and recovery planning
  • Advocacy and navigation of services (e.g., NDIS)
  • Peer support grounded in lived experience
  • Community education and early intervention
 
They play an essential role in making mental health care more accessible, personalised, and recovery-focused - especially for individuals and families who may not have easy access to traditional clinical services.
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Examples of Practitioners and Recognised Qualifications
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Below are some of the professional roles and qualifications VMHPAA recognises for membership. This list is not exhaustive - if you work in mental health and hold a vocational qualification not listed, we invite you to contact us for a free eligibility assessment.
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  1. Mental Health Support Worker – Certificate IV in Mental Health
  2. Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Worker – Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs
  3. Mental Health Peer Worker – Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work
  4. Community Rehabilitation & Support Worker – Diploma of Mental Health
  5. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health Worker – Diploma of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care (Practice)
  6. Counsellor – Diploma of Counselling
  7. Family Support Worker – Certificate IV in Child, Youth and Family Intervention
  8. Youth Worker – Diploma of Youth Work
  9. Disability Support Worker – Certificate IV in Disability
  10. Enrolled Nurse (Mental Health Focus) – Diploma of Nursing
  11. NDIS Support Coordinator / Psychosocial Recovery Coach – Certificate IV in Mental Health or Disability
  12. Allied Health Assistant (Mental Health Focus) – Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance with a mental health specialisation
  13. Indigenous Mental Health Worker – Associate Degree in Indigenous Professional Practices (Curtin University), majoring in Indigenous Mental Health
 
What You Can Expect from a VMHPAA Member
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When you or a loved one receives care from a VMHPAA member, you can feel confident that they are:
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  • Qualified – holding a nationally recognised vocational credential
  • Professional – bound by a strict Code of Ethics and Conduct
  • Supported – engaged in clinical supervision and ongoing training
  • Accountable – part of a national peak body that promotes safe and effective practice
 
VMHPAA members deliver:
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  • Respectful, non-judgemental, person-centred support
  • Confidential and ethical service delivery
  • Culturally safe and inclusive care
  • Focused attention to your wellbeing and recovery goals
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Our Commitment to Communities

We believe everyone - no matter where they live or what their circumstances - deserves access to quality, ethical, and compassionate mental health support. Through the professional standards we set, the supervision we require, and the ongoing development we promote, VMHPAA is working every day to strengthen our community-based mental health workforce.
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Together, we are building a better future for mental health - one practitioner, one relationship, and one community at a time.
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