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Published on 20 May 2025
Hepburn Shire Council is facilitating free accredited training for adults wanting to equip themselves with the practical skills and confidence to recognise, understand, and respond to a young person experiencing a mental health problem or crisis.
This hybrid training course consists of online and face-to-face components. The online component will take around four hours to complete and the face-to-face component will be delivered over a full day by licensed facilitator Andy Bell from Youth Gurus.
Face-to- face course dates:
Mayor, Cr Don Henderson, said that the program will be beneficial for any adults who interact with young people on a regular basis.
“It is important that we understand and look after our Shire’s youth. We need to equip ourselves with the necessary skills and tools to provide them with the best support,” said Cr Don Henderson.
The course will cover how to recognise the signs and symptoms of common mental health problems in adolescents, how to respond to an emerging or worsening mental health problem, and the treatments and support available.
“According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, around 40 per cent of Australians aged 16 to 24 experienced a mental health disorder between 2020 and 2022. By educating ourselves, we can protect our young people today and into the future,” said Cr Don Henderson.
Using a practical, evidence-based action plan, course participants will learn how to approach a young person they are concerned about and initiate a conversation about those concerns. Participants also learn how to offer initial support and information, and how to help a young person to seek professional help or other supports.
Adults who complete the course become Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAiders), and are equipped with the knowledge, confidence, and skills to provide someone with mental health information and support when it matters most.
Reservations are available via Google Forms.
This course is recognised by Suicide Prevention Australia as a safe, high-quality, and effective suicide prevention program.
For more information about the program, please contact Adam Ford at aford@hepburn.vic.gov.au