Tier
Tier 2: Early Intervention and Cohort Specific Support
Program Description
The Youth Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health First Aid Program (YAMHFA) is an informative, strength-based early intervention education program, delivered to adults who support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in their school or broader community.
The course teaches participants social and emotional well-being from an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspective and gives them the skills to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people who may be experiencing a mental health problem or crisis until appropriate professional support is received or the crisis resolves.
The course is delivered by independent Accredited Instructors. Schools are also able have a member of staff apply for and attend a three-day Youth Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander MHFA Instructor Training Course to enable them to deliver the course .
Detailed Cost
To engage an external instructor to deliver Youth Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander MHFA courses for your school:
Face to face course: $400 per person
Blended course: $300 per person
Online course: $220 per person
*All costs are GST inclusive where applicable.
Please note that Mental Health First Aid Australia are working with national Youth Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander MHFA Instructors to deliver training at the above fixed prices. To connect with an Instructor and access this fixed pricing, please email mentalhealthmenu@mhfa.com.au
To become an Accredited Youth Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander MHFA Instructor:
Until 2023, only Instructors of the Adult Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander MHFA Program are eligible to upskill via a masterclass to become an Instructor of Youth Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander MHFA course. Please see below the costs associated with becoming a Youth Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander MHFA Instructor via this pathway:
Public Adult Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander MHFA Instructor Training Course: $3,550 per person (GST not applicable)
Public Youth Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander MHFA Instructor Training Masterclass: $2,180 (GST inclusive)
For schools interested in training groups of 10, 12 or 24 Youth Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander MHFA Instructors, Private Instructor Training Courses can be requested.
Prices per participant for Private Instructor training are below, and are inclusive of GST:
Adult Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Instructor Training Course: $3,240 per person if the school provides the venue and training.
Adult Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Instructor Training Course: $3,450 per person if the venue and catering is provided by Mental Health First Aid Australia.
Youth Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Instructor Training Masterclass: $1,870 per person if the school provides the venue and training.
Youth Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Instructor Training Masterclass: $2,080 per person if the venue and catering is provided by Mental Health First Aid Australia.
Implementation Considerations
Target population: Adults that support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people.
Program adaptability: Accredited MHFA Instructors have a vast range of expertise and local community knowledge they can draw on to create a meaningful and inclusive experience for participants. They also have access to supplementary course materials, to best meet the needs of the schools and participants.
Staffing: Schools will need to consider backfilling of any staff who attend Youth Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander MHFA courses or Instructor Training.
Training requirements: Depending on the chosen delivery mode, schools and participants will need access to either a physical training space or reliable internet and working computer/laptops with camera facilities.
Factors to consider: Schools will need to consider the minimum and maximum number of participants permitted in Youth Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander MHFA courses:
• Face to face or blended delivery: 6-22 participants
• Online delivery: 6-12 participants
Australian context: YAMHFA was developed in Australia.
Strength of Evidence
Level 3: Foundational and emerging evidence for program
Geographic Location
State-wide
Intended Outcomes
• Improved culturally informed knowledge of mental illnesses, their treatments and appropriate first aid strategies
• Confidence in providing first aid to an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student
experiencing a mental health problem
• Decreases in stigmatising attitudes
• Increases in the amount and type of support provided to others