Mental Health Carers NSW

MHCN runs a range of free training and educational sessions for mental health carers, families and friends in NSW.

Our training courses are designed to inform, empower, and support carers and the people that they care for.

Who are the courses for?

All of our training courses are designed to build the capacity of mental health carers, families and friends.

However, others such as people living with mental health conditions, mental health organisations and professionals, students and other interested individuals are welcome to attend and will still benefit from the training.

Why attend one of our courses?

Our training courses embody an appreciation for lived experience – all courses have been through a co-review or co-design process with mental health carers and are delivered by a carer peer. All courses offer the opportunity to provide feedback via pre and post evaluation surveys.

Post-training, participants receive a ‘Learner Toolkit’ which contains information from the slides, helpful links and documents, and more so they can continue with their capacity building journey.

Meet our Carer Peer Trainers!

Anne Stedman

Anne Stedman

MHCN Trainer, Anne Stedman, brings her passion, knowledge and lived experience of mental health caring to developing and delivering training workshops for MHCN. Anne has a BA and a Masters in International Communication, TAFE Training qualifications for Certificate IV Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs, and Diploma Mental Health. She is a member of LEAG (Lived Experience Advisory Group) Hunter PIR, LEAG Mental Health Commission, and has extensive volunteering and Board member experience as well as a keen interest in community development and empowerment.

This philosophy is reflected in the interactive training sessions where participants gain and share knowledge to provide a rich range of learning and problem-solving opportunities. It also reflects Anne’s interest in developing sustainable group learning and participation in advocacy for communities.

Melissa Goldman

Melissa Goldman

Melissa Goldman, brings both lived experience and professional expertise to her role as MHCN’s Carer Peer Trainer. As a mental health carer, Melissa draws deeply on her personal journey to create safe and engaging learning spaces for carers, families, and kinship groups.

In addition to her carer experience, Melissa holds a PhD in Psychology, providing her with a strong academic and evidence-based understanding of mental health theory and practice. She also contributes her skills and knowledge as a member of the Board of the Choice Foundation, an organisation dedicated to supporting initiatives and programs that improve the lives of people with disabilities, including those living with psychosocial disability.

Melissa is very passionate about sharing her carer experiences to challenge mental health stigma, promote greater understanding of mental health conditions, and encourage individuals to seek the support they need. Her work is grounded in a strong commitment to carer capacity development, empowering carers with knowledge, skills, and confidence to advocate for themselves and those they support.

Our Courses

Purposeful Storytelling

Purposeful Storytelling introduces participants to sharing their lived experience safely, to protect themselves and others from physical/emotional harm.

This course covers the principles and practices that inform purposeful storytelling, elements to consider when crafting your story and how to prepare for sharing your story.

By the end of this course, you should:

  • Have an understanding of Purposeful Storytelling foundations.
  • Have knowledge of how to craft a purposeful story.
  • Have knowledge how to tell a purposeful story.

Training information:

  • Cost: Free
  • Target Audience: mental health carers, families and friends of those living with a mental illness (and interested others.)

Upcoming training session:

  • TBA

In person or online on ZOOM:

  • Participant limit: 15
  • Duration: 4 hours (inclusive of breaks.)

Online on demand modules:

  • Duration: 40m
  • Delivery format: on demand module (Demio)
  • Please see ‘Important Booking Information’ at the bottom of the page.

Register for Online Module

Carers & Advocacy: Foundations

Carers & Advocacy: Foundations introduces participants to the beginning of their advocacy journey, so carers can develop a general understanding and start to build their capacity to advocate for themselves and their loved ones.

This course covers the basics of advocacy, the types of advocacy, whose involved, and features of the journey.

By the end of this course, you should:

  • Have an understanding of advocacy.
  • Have knowledge of the types of advocacy.
  • Have knowledge of the groups in advocacy.
  • Have knowledge of the stages of caring, and barriers and strategies in advocacy.

Training information:

  • Cost: Free.
  • Target Audience: mental health carers, families and friends of those living with a mental illness (and interested others.)

Upcoming training session:

  • TBA

In person or online on ZOOM:

  • Participant limit: 15
  • Duration: 4 hours (inclusive of breaks.)

Online on demand module:

  • Duration: 53m
  • Delivery format: on demand module (Demio)
  • Please see ‘Important Booking Information’ at the bottom of the page.

Register for Online Module

Healthy Boundaries

Healthy Boundaries introduces participants to the importance of setting healthy boundaries, to protect and take care of themselves.

This course covers the properties of boundaries, some general steps that can be followed to set healthy boundaries, and approaches for maintaining healthy boundaries.

By the end of this course, you should:

  • Have an understanding of boundaries.
  • Have knowledge of how to set healthy boundaries.
  • Have knowledge of how to maintain healthy boundaries.

Training information:

  • Cost: Free
  • Target Audience: mental health carers, families and friends of those living with a mental illness

Upcoming training session:

  • TBA

In person or online on ZOOM:

  • Participant limit: 15
  • Duration: 4 hours (inclusive of breaks)

Online on demand modules:

  • Duration: 47m
  • Delivery format: on demand module (Demio)
  • Please see ‘Important Booking Information’ at the bottom of the page.

Register for Online Module

The Caring Journey

The Caring Journey introduces participants to theories relevant to the caring role. In addition to lived experience knowledge, learning about theory can help us develop better awareness of ourselves and others around us, and to be more mindful in the way we experience things.

The course explains each theory, why it is relevant, and then how you can use it in your caring role to inform your understanding and take action. Overall, the aim is to increase unlock further self-empowerment.

By the end of this course, you should:

  • Have an understanding of change theory.
  • Have an understanding of power dynamics theory.
  • Have an understanding of solution focused theory.
  • Have an understanding of resilience theory.
  • Feel like you have the appropriate knowledge and resources to guide you in your caring role.

Training information:

  • Cost: FREE!
  • Target Audience: mental health carers, families and friends of those living with a mental illness

Upcoming training session:

  • TBA

In person or online on ZOOM:

  • Participant limit: 15
  • Duration: 4 hours (inclusive of breaks)

Online on demand module:

  • Duration: 1hr 19m
  • Delivery format: on demand module (Demio)
  • Please see ‘Important Booking Information’ at the bottom of the page.

Funded by the National Disability Insurance Agency.

Register for Online Module

Navigating Carer Support Systems

Navigating Carer Support Systems introduces participants to the major support systems for people with a lived experience of caring and a lived experience of a psychosocial disability and/or mental illness in NSW – the Family and Carer Mental Health Program, the Integrated Carer Support Service/Carer Gateway and the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

The course provides a general overview of each scheme and discusses the importance of goal setting in NDIS plans. Overall, the aim is to break down information barriers.

By the end of this course, you should:

  • Have general knowledge about the Family and Carer Mental Health Program
  • Have general knowledge about the ICSS/Carer Gateway
  • Have general knowledge about the NDIS
  • Have an understanding of how to set achievable goals for an effective NDIS plan
  • Feel like you have the appropriate knowledge and resources needed to seek out supports

Training information:

  • Cost: FREE!
  • Target Audience: mental health carers, families and friends of those living with a mental illness

Upcoming training session:

  • TBA

In person or online on ZOOM:

  • Participant limit: 15
  • Duration: 4 hours (inclusive of breaks)

Online on demand module:

  • Duration: 1hr 34m.
  • Delivery format: on demand module (Demio)
  • Please see ‘Important Booking Information’ at the bottom of the page.

Funded by the National Disability Insurance Agency.

Register for Online Module

Recovery Oriented Practice

Recovery Oriented Practice introduces participants to the empowering concept of recovery as a way to view an individual’s journey through mental health.

Recovery oriented practice as a model of care within the mental health system is discussed, as are strategies for supporting a mental health carers self-care.

By the end of this course, you should:

  • Have an understanding of the concept of recovery in the mental health field
  • Feel confident in navigating the recovery model of care in diverse settings
  • Be aware of how to use a WRAP to support your and your loved one’s recovery journey
  • Feel like you have the appropriate knowledge and resources to help assist an individual with their recovery

Training Information:

  • Cost: FREE!
  • Target Audience: mental health carers, families and friends of those living with a mental illness

Upcoming training session:

  • TBA

In person or online on ZOOM:

  • Participant limit: 15
  • Duration: 4 hours (inclusive of breaks)

Online on demand module:

  • Duration: 1hr 41m
  • Delivery format: On demand module (Demio)
  • Please see ‘Important Booking Information’ at the bottom of the page.

Funded by the National Disability Insurance Agency.

Register for Online Module

Inclusive Care Planning

Inclusive Care Planning introduces participants to how all persons involved in someone’s care network can work inclusively and collaboratively to achieve positive outcomes.

The standards and acts which should govern how the mental health system interacts with carers are discussed, as are strategies for communicating with all persons involved in care.

By the end of this course you should:

  • Be aware of the National Standards for mental health services and your rights within these settings
  • Understand the principles of working collaboratively in mental health settings
  • Feel confident in using the practice of Open Dialogue to improve planning and communication
  • Feel like you have the appropriate knowledge and resources to help assist an individual in inclusive care planning situations

Training Information:

  • Cost: FREE!
  • Target Audience: mental health carers, families and friends of those living with a mental illness

Upcoming training session:

  • TBA

In person or online on ZOOM:

  • Participant limit: 15
  • Duration: 4 hours (inclusive of breaks)

Online on demand module:

  • Duration: 1hr 31m
  • Delivery format: On demand module (Demio)
  • Please see ‘Important Booking Information’ at the bottom of the page.

Funded by the National Disability Insurance Agency.

Register for Online Module

User’s Guide to the NSW Mental Health System

The User’s Guide to the NSW Mental Health System introduces participants to the complexities of the NSW mental health system and provides basic knowledge to help one navigate it and be a better advocate for themselves and others.

This course touches on mental health and the processes and systems that are in place to support people experiencing different degrees of mental health issues.

By the end of this course, you should:

  • Understand the concepts, prevalence and principles of mental health
  • Be aware of how to seek basic mental health care and support
  • Have the knowledge of the steps of how to respond to escalating mental illness situations
  • Be aware of your rights in mental health settings, relevant acts and how to make a complaint
  • Feel confident in navigating related mental health system processes and supports
  • Feel like you have appropriate knowledge and resources to help assist an individual in the mental health system

Training Information:

  • Cost: FREE!
  • Target Audience: mental health carers, families and friends of those living with a mental illness

Upcoming training session:

  • TBA

In person or online on ZOOM:

  • Participant limit: 15
  • Duration: 4 hours (inclusive of breaks)

Online on demand module:

  • Duration: 1hr 23m
  • Delivery format: On demand module (Demio)
  • Please see ‘Important Booking Information’ below.

Funded by the National Disability Insurance Agency.

Register for Online Module

Important Booking Information

Trybooking:

Please note that when you successfully register for an in person or online on ZOOM course, Trybooking will automatically send you:

  • A confirmation email with a receipt and either the in person or online ZOOM information
  • An automated email again with either the in person or live online ZOOM information, pre-evaluation link and other information.

Please save these emails, so you have easy access to all the necessary information. If you do not receive these emails in your main email inbox, please check your junk folder. If you are sure you have not received these emails, please contact us via email, mhcnadmin@mentalhealthcarersnsw.org

Demio:

Please note that when you successfully register for an online on demand module via Demio, you will automatically be taken to the on-demand module.

Demio will also send the on-demand module link to the email you used to register, please do not distribute this link. Instructions on using Demio are provided at the beginning of each module.

Please save these emails, so you have easy access to all the necessary information. If you do not receive these emails in your main email inbox, please check your junk folder. If you are sure you have not received these emails, please contact us via email, mhcnadmin@mentalhealthcarersnsw.org

Our ILC training sessions (User’s Guide to the NSW Mental Health System, Recovery Oriented Practice, Inclusive Care Planning, The Caring Journey and Navigating Carer Support Systems) are funded by the National Disability Insurance Agency.

Search Mental Health Carers NSW

About

Our Team Annual Reports Strategic Plan

Resources

Resource Library Carer Forums Resources for Carers

Advocacy & Policy

How We Advocate

Subscribe to our newsletter!

Sign up to receive the Mental Health Carers NSW weekly newsletter.