Professional Development Resources
Over the past several years, Australian mental health and wellbeing organisations and publicly funded mental health initiatives have created many incredibly helpful resources - including resources for mental health and wellbeing professionals who would like to grow their skills in and understanding of key topic areas.
We have curated a list of free, high-quality resources for the broad mental health and wellbeing workforce to use when furthering their professional development. Individuals and organisations can use these evidence-based resources and tools to facilitate workforce development or explore in their own time to learn more about areas of interest.
Find professional development resources by area of interest
Emerging Minds – National Workforce Centre for Child Mental Health
Emerging Minds develops mental health policy, services, interventions, training, programs and resources in response to the needs of professionals, children and their families. They partner with family members, national and international organisations to implement evidence-based practice into the Australian context. Our resources are freely available at this web hub.
Orygen
Orygen is Australia’s centre of excellence in youth mental health. Orygen develop new approaches to mental health care by incorporating our research discoveries into clinical practice
headspace
headspace is the National Youth Mental Health Foundation providing early intervention mental health services to 12-25 year olds. headspace can help young people with mental health, physical health (including sexual health) alcohol and other drug services, and work and study support.
ReachOut
ReachOut is a digital community space for young people. Their goal is to be a non-judgemental space where young people can feel comfortable with who they are and learn more about mental health, resilience and how to manage challenges.
Black Dog Institute
Today, our focus has expanded to address new challenges and opportunities in mental health – suicide prevention, digital innovation, lived experience, youth and workplace mental health. Our work in mood disorders continues through our investigation of new and better ways to treat and prevent conditions like anxiety and depression through digital tools and novel treatments.
Beyond Blue
Beyond Blue strives to help people with their mental health, wherever they are along their mental health journey. They’ve produced many downloadable written materials that can be helpful for those in the mental health field to share with the populations they serve.
Mind Australia
The goal of Mind Australia is to support those experiencing mental health and wellbeing concerns, including helping them find resources. They provide multiple professional development programs for mental health workers, including peer workers, to equip them with information and skills in best practice.
THIS WAY UP
THIS WAY UP emphasises online, evidence-based tools that can be used to help others reduce their anxiety or other mental health symptoms. They offer access to a free Cognitive Behavioural Therapy program called iCBT.
Head to Health
Head to Health was created by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care to collate all digital resources available across the country, including apps, online programs, forums and phone services. They offer a wide range of resources for mental health professionals.
PANDA
PANDA stands for Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia. This organisation helps parents and families during pregnancy and in their first year of parenthood. They’ve created many resources and trainings to help health and mental health professionals work with these groups.
Open Arms
Open Arms is a counselling service for veterans and their families. They offer many educational resources on the topic, including resources about mental health management, research and collaboration.
Phoenix Australia
Phoenix Australia has, for over 25 years, served as Australia’s National Centre for Excellence in Posttraumatic Mental Health. They offer many different types of training, including courses and educational resources for health and mental health practitioners.
1800RESPECT
As the National Domestic Family and Sexual Violence Counselling Service, 1800RESPECT has created many resources that cover domestic, family and sexual violence while also connecting people with the services that can help them. They have many resources for professionals who would like to grow their knowledge of this area.
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia
As the peak organisation for gender and sexual identity-based health programs, LGBTIQ+ Health Australia aims to equip the mental health and wellbeing workforce with the knowledge and resources they need to offer high quality care.
Transcultural Mental Health Centre
Based in New South Wales, the Transcultural Mental Health Centre supports health and mental health professionals to offer culturally and linguistically competent services. They offer a Knowledge Hub, which has many resources based in the latest evidence.
Butterfly
Butterfly understands that eating disorders and issues of body image require tailored, effective services. The resources they share have backing from the National Eating Disorders Collaboration, incorporating recent research from leaders in the field.
Find resources to further your professional development by area of interest
Emerging Minds – National Workforce Centre for Child Mental Health
Welcome to the Emerging Minds podcasts. Listen to conversations with experts on a variety of topics related to children’s social and emotional wellbeing.
Our episodes offer insightful evidence-informed wisdom from experts in the field and will give you a flavour of the work and values of the National Workforce Centre for Child Mental Health.
See a list of Emerging Minds Podcasts here
See a list of Emerging Minds Webinars here
Black Dog Institute
Explore the use of evidence-based online resources by participating in our webinars for health professionals.
Delivered by the eMHPrac team, these live and pre-recorded webinars have been developed to help health professionals like GPs and Allied Health Professionals integrate online tools and programs into their practice.
The webinars are completely free and are CPD accredited.
See a list of Black Dog Institute Webinars here
See a list of Black Dog Institute Webinar-based Podcasts here
1800RESPECT
Find webinars presented by the 1800RESPECT team, partners and sector stakeholders.
See a list of 1800RESPECT Webinars here.
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia
As the peak organisation for gender and sexual identity-based health programs, LGBTIQ+ Health Australia aims to equip the mental health and wellbeing workforce with the knowledge and resources they need to offer high quality care.
See a list of LGBTIQ+ Health Australia MindOut Webinars here.
See a list of LGBTIQ+ Health Australia Podcasts here.
Victorian Transcultural Mental Health
This organisation hosts many workshops and webinars that help health and mental health professionals understand the transcultural and intersectional aspects of care.
See a list of Victorian Transcultural Mental Health events here.
Emerging Minds – National Workforce Centre for Child Mental Health
Emerging Minds develops mental health policy, services, interventions, training, programs and resources in response to the needs of professionals, children and their families. They partner with family members, national and international organisations to implement evidence-based practice into the Australian context. Our resources are freely available at this web hub.
Visit their online resource library here
headspace
headspace has developed free accredited online training for allied health professionals working with young people.
Visit their list of current resources for allied health professionals and for General Practitioners
THIS WAY UP
THIS WAY UP’s Clinican Hub gives free access a suite of tailored online treatment programs that focus on anxiety and depression.
Visit THIS WAY UP's Clinician Hub
Black Dog Institute
Black Dog Institute Health Professional education is for GPs, psychologists, counsellors, social workers and mental health care workers looking to expand their knowledge and skills in the area of mental health. As a world leading translational research institute, our accredited programs draw on the most current research and clinical evidence. Our interactive, case-based workshops are led by expert clinician facilitators who inform theory with practical, real world examples.
See a list of upcoming workshops and forums here