Residents in outback Queensland are enrolling in online TAFE courses to provide mental health support for their communities. The Australian Association of Psychologists highlights the high need for mental health services in rural towns and the workforce shortage. A former miner, Melinda Haig, is taking the initiative to address the lack of services by completing a mental health TAFE course.
Residents in outback Queensland are training to provide mental health support for their communities by enrolling in online TAFE courses.
She said she identified a desperate need for mental health services while working part-time as a carer. "Having more knowledge and having the certificate behind me will help me to … know a little bit more about , to be able to have the conversation with people," she said."People realise they can trust you … trust is a really big thing, especially in a small community," she said.The demand for mental health services is "extremely high" in rural, regional and remote parts of Australia, according to Australian Association of Psychologists director Tegan Carrison.
Ms Carrison believes support from within the community from people such as Ms Haig is important but does not replace the need for qualified professionals. "Over the last five years, TAFE Queensland's noticed … people taking training up in our mental health qualifications has increased by 135 per cent," Ms Galaud said.
Outback Queensland Mental Health Support Online Courses TAFE Rural Towns Workforce Shortage Australian Association Of Psychologists Melinda Haig Miner Carer Support Officer
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