POSITION DESCRIPTION

ConsultantTrainer of Instructors of the teen and Youth MHFA Courses

Reporting to: / Youth MHFA Program Manager
Direct reports / Nil
Working with / -Trainee youth and teenMHFA Instructors
-MHFA Australia staffmembers, MHFA Trainers of Instructors
Status / Consultancy, hourly rate to be negotiated
Location / As required within Australia

1. Position Summary

The Consultant Mental Health First Aid Trainer of Instructors will work with the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Australia team, which develops, delivers and evaluates the MHFA Australia program. MHFA Australia’s core work involves developing MHFA Courses and training and supporting suitably experienced Instructors to deliver MHFA courses. The particular focusof the Consultant Mental Health First Aid Trainer of Instructors within the team will be co-facilitating the 5.5 dayYouthMental Health First Aid Instructor Training Course or facilitating the 4 day teen Mental Health First Aid Instructor Training Course (as a single Trainer).

2. The organisation

MHFA Australia is a national not for profit health promotion charity dedicated to furthering the work of the Mental Health First Aid Training and Research Program which was established in 2000 by Betty Kitchener AM and Professor Tony Jorm. MHFA Australia is funded by government and philanthropic grants and through the delivery of fee-for-service Instructor training courses.

Instructor Training courses accredit suitable candidates to become MHFA Instructors who deliver the MHFA courses to their communities or workplaces. MHFA coursesteach members of the public how to provide initial help to someone developing a mental health problem, experiencing a worsening of a mental health problem or ina mental health crisis. MHFA currently offers a Standard (12-hour) course for adults helping other adults (tailored versions also available for certain professions), a Youth (14-hour) course for adults helping adolescents, a teen course for adolescents helping their peers, an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (14-hour) course and will commence an Older Person (12 hour) course in late 2017. All the MHFA courses arebased on national and international guidelines developed with a panel of English speaking experts, including consumers, carers, clinicians and researchers.

The MHFA courses have been thoroughly evaluated using randomized controlled trials and qualitative studies and been found to be effective at improving the course participants’ knowledge of mental illnesses, reducing stigma, and increasing the amount of evidence- based help provided to others. MHFA has won a number of awards in Australia and overseas and has been licensed in over 20 other countries.

MHFA Australia has a research partnership with the Population Mental Health Group led by Professor Tony Jorm at the University of Melbourne. The main contributions of this group are to conduct national and international research on mental health literacy including the development and evaluation of Mental Health First Aid courses.

Key Stakeholders
Internal: / External:
-The Chair, Deputy Chair & Board Directors
-The MHFA Australia Executive (CEO and General Manager)
-MHFA Australia Team Members and Volunteers
-MHFA Instructor Training Team
-MHFA Contractors and Consultants
-Advisory Committee Members and Reference Groups / -Instructors
-Supporting organisations
-Suppliers
-The general public
-Friends of the MHFA email list
-Population Mental Health Group, University of Melbourne
-MHFA International Partners

3. Key Responsibilities

  • To train instructors in how to deliver the 14-hr YouthMHFA Courses. This will involve interactive co-facilitation with another trainer, of a class of a size usually no larger than 25adults, for 5.5 days (on average 8.30am – 5.30pm each weekday, and 11.30 – 5.30 on Sunday).
  • To train instructors in how to deliver the teen MHFA Program. This will involve interactive teaching a class size usually no larger than 18 adults for 4 days of training (on average 8.30am – 5.30pm each day).
  • To participate in other Mental Health First Aid Australia training and research activitiesas directed or approved by your supervisor
  • Other duties as directed or approved by your supervisor.

Organisational:

  • Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) and Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) responsibilities
  • Exemplifying the values of MHFA Australia
  • Maintaining MHFA Australia’s standard of training and research excellence
  • Maintaining and practicing a commitment to mental health literacy.

4. Selection Criteria

Essential:

  • Current accreditation as a Master Mental Health First Aid Instructor with accreditations in Youth MHFA and teen MHFA
  • Demonstrated outstanding teaching ability, particularly for delivery to people outsidethe mental health sector
  • A high level of knowledge and experience about mental illnesses and mental health services, for young people
  • Willingness and ability to travel interstate for periods up to 6 days at a time
  • A commitment to evidence-based practice in mental health
  • Ability to work as a member of an existing training and research team
  • Demonstration of a non-stigmatising attitude towards mental illness
  • A full unrestricted work permit / visa for Australia
  • A current Working with Children Check.
  • Available to attend at least three of the following scheduled dates of Instructor training:
  • 26 Nov – 1 Dec 2017 – Brisbane (Youth)
  • 10 – 15 Dec 2017– Sydney (Youth)
  • 11 – 14 Dec 2017– Melbourne (Mornington Peninsula) (teen)
  • 18-23 Feb 2018– Melbourne (Youth)
  • 8-13 April - Sydney

Desirable:

  • Experience in mentoring or coaching role
  • Experience in the development of curriculum materials
  • A full unrestricted Australian driver’s licence.

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