Office of the Chief Psychiatrist - Mental Health Act Training Program

The Office of the Chief Psychiatrist provides training on the Mental Health Act 2009 (SA) ('the Act). This training helps officers with powers under the Act to understand their legislative obligations. It is not a clinical program. This training also provides pathways for persons wishing to be admitted as Authorised Mental Health Professionals and maintaining registration in this role.

Office of the Chief Psychiatrist - Mental Health Act 2009 (SA) Training Program

Office of the Chief Psychiatrist Training: 'Working with the Mental Health Act and the Role of Authorised Officers'

An 'Authorised Officer' is a person authorised by the Mental Health Act 2009 (the Act) to have certain responsibilities and take certain actions regarding people who appear to have, or have, a mental illness. Of the roles described in the Act, authorised officers are usually the first to encounter people who may be mentally unwell and at risk.

The Office of the Chief Psychiatrist provides a free fortnightly online presentation for Authorised Officers (and others who work in mental health). The training talks about the legal role and obligations of authorised officers.

Each online presentation is available every second Monday between 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM. Registration is required [this session is repeated every two weeks].

OCP also provides a longer 3 hour training session on the above content through the SA Mental Health Training Centre. This training may be accessed via their enrolment process and is for staff wanting face to face training.

To understand if the role of an authorised officer is relevant to you or people that you work with, please first consider the following factsheets and Instruments:

Request for presentation: ‘Working with the Mental Health Act 2009 and the Role of Authorised Officers'

The Office of the Chief Psychiatrist may also be available to deliver training on the Act and the role of Authorised Officers to mental health clinicians as part of an in-service.

Please email healthocp@sa.gov.au with proposed dates and other details of the request, service, expected number of attendees and location. OCP may be able to travel to regional locations to deliver training if there is enough staff available (more than 8 staff members must be able to attend in each training session).

Please note, all training is subject to availability and scheduling.

Office of the Chief Psychiatrist Training: Authorised Mental Health Professional Training Program

What is an Authorised Mental Health Professional (AMHP)?

An 'Authorised Mental Health Professional' (AMHP) is a specially trained mental health clinician who has been formally approved by the Chief Psychiatrist to be able to make level 1 community treatment orders and level 1 inpatient treatment orders [section 94, Mental Health Act 2009 (SA)].

Authorised Mental Health Professional - Ongoing Support Session Program

You must be an Authorised Mental Health Professional to attend the AMHP Online Support Session Program (not a candidate). You are only required to attend 6 AMHP Support Sessions across the 3-year period of your appointment.

2 of the 6 support sessions may be pre-recorded material.

In 2024 all AMHP support sessions will be delivered online with a selection recorded (depending on consent from presenters).

Pre-recorded AMHP training is available for viewing here (password protected - AMHPs may email healthocp@sa.gov.au for the password). Record attendance/viewing of training through this online form.

AMHP OCP FORM - Application for Renewal of AMHP Appointment

AMHP Candidate Orientation Training Program

There are two mandatory training requirements for AMHP Candidates.

1.Online training modules (2 hours total):

Online webinar module: Working with the Mental Health Act 2009 (SA) and the Role of Authorised Officers: (2 hours). Training is available online every second Monday.

2. Candidates must also attend one full day the Workshop: AMHP Candidate Orientation and Training Workshop at Glenside Learning Centre (7 hours total).

In 2024 the dates for AMHP Candidate Orientation and Training Workshops are:

Prior to securing a place in this training, AMHP Candidates must first submit a completed AMHP OCP FORM - Application for Nomination. AMHP Candidates should nominate their preferred training date from the above list.

Please note, all training is subject to availability and scheduling.

Office of the Chief Psychiatrist Mental Health Act Training Programs - Online Registration

South Australian Mental Health Training Centre - Mental Health Learning & Development Program

The National Mental Health Plan identified the need to invest in our work force and foster a culture of research, innovation and sustainability. South Australia’s 2020-2025 Mental Health Services Plan (MHSP) also identified learning as key to providing a first-class health service and a work force with high level skills and capacity.

The MHSP states that training and development is based on contemporary models of care and practise, and on improving identified areas of need across the state.

The South Australian Mental Health Training Centre (SAMHTC) aims to create consistent opportunities for training and development for other workforce cohorts, including the lived experience and peer workforce.

There is also opportunity for non-mental health staff to benefit from mental health specific training, as many staff in general health areas or other social services sectors have limited skills and knowledge for working in mental health even though they interact with the mental health system regularly.

Through the MHSP, SAMHTC has identified 3 key principles to improving knowledge, skills and delivery of care:

• General and discipline-specific training needs are identified through the development of core competencies based on evidence-based therapies

• Performance development supports all staff in continuous growth and lifelong learning

• The whole workforce is trained in contemporary models of practice including Mental Health First Aid, trauma informed care practice, culturally appropriate care and recovery-based approaches.

Training, Learning and Development Links

MHPOD Learning Portal

What is the MHPOD Learning Portal?

The MHPOD Learning Portal is an evidence-based online learning resource for people working in or connected to mental health service delivery. Currently, there are over 100 hours of material across 74 topics, written and produced in Australia. The topics range from recovery to legislation and dual disability. Each topic includes an overview, activity, in-practice section, and resources such as checklists, templates, or links to further information. The content of MHPOD is linked to the National Practice Standards for the Mental Health Workforce.

Who is it for?

MHPOD was originally designed for nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, psychiatrists and psychologists working in mental health in Australia, particularly those in their first two years of practice in Australian clinical mental health services. While this remains the case, it is expected that other people, including general practitioners (GPs), lived experience workers, carer workers, Aboriginal health workers, and other allied health workers will also find it useful. Moving forward, the MHPOD Program is seeking to expand MHPOD's audience to sit within the broader public health and human service system i.e. social services and those professions whose clientele are at risk of developing a mental illness.

How was it developed?

The MHPOD Learning Portal is funded by the Commonwealth government and all states and territories. It aims to support Australia's broader public health workforce involved in delivering mental health and associated services to improve access to evidence-based educational programs. All content is developed through engagement with expert groups including consumer and carer representatives, clinicians and academics as part of a quality assurance process. The South Australian Mental Health Training Centre is the state administrator for the MHPOD program.

Further information is available at MHPOD eLearning Portal

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