MHCN runs a range of free training and educational sessions for mental health carers, families and friends in NSW.
MHCN runs a range of free training and educational sessions for mental health carers, families and friends in NSW, and any other individuals or organisations who are interested in learning more about supporting carers.
Our training courses are designed to inform, empower, and support mental health carers and the people that they care for.
Training sessions are run in person, online on ZOOM, or self paced modules online that you can watch in your own time.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
Madeleine Fabian brings her own lived experience and two decades of professional experience to the delivery and development of MHCN training and education program. Maddy worked in the disability, community and mental health sectors before beginning Well Informed; a business that specialises in bringing best practice mental health skills and research into schools, workplaces and communities.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Social Policy, a Master of Development Studies in Community Development and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, is an IUHPE Registered Health Promotion Practitioner, a Master Mental Health First Aid Instructor and was on the Board of MHCN and an Assessor for the National Register of Health Promotion Practitioners for 6 years.
Maddy believes that training is most effective when it is enjoyable, practical and relevant and this philosophy is reflected in her warm and engaging training style.
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:
Training information:
Upcoming training session:
Online on demand module:
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:
Training information:
Upcoming training session:
Online on demand module:
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:
Training information:
Upcoming training session:
Online on demand module:
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:
Training information:
Upcoming training session:
Online on demand module:
Funded by the National Disability Insurance Agency.
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:
Training information:
Upcoming training session:
Online on demand module:
Funded by the National Disability Insurance Agency.
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:
Training Information:
Upcoming training session:
Online on demand module:
Funded by the National Disability Insurance Agency.
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:
Training Information:
Upcoming training session:
Online on demand module:
Funded by the National Disability Insurance Agency.
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:
Training Information:
Upcoming training session:
Online on demand module:
Funded by the National Disability Insurance Agency.
Humanitix
Please note that when you successfully register for an in person or online on ZOOM course, Humanitix will automatically send you:
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
The 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 as part of the Information Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) Program by the National Disability Insurance Agency.