New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing - Mental Health and Addiction Support

Certificate

Gain an understanding of what it means to be mentally healthy, develop the skills you need to support those who need mental health or addiction support, and learn how to meet their needs to the highest standard.

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Key details

Degree Type

Certificate

Intake Months

Feb, Jul

Domestic Fees

$6,700 per year

About this course

This programme is suitable for people who want to, or who already, work in the mental health and addiction sector (including peer support). You will develop a solid understanding of mental health and addiction issues, as well as the important skills you'll need to work with people, whanau groups, and communities.

This programme emphasises kindness, caring, and compassion, and respects individual identities and experiences, particularly when it comes to recognising te ao Maori. You'll also learn about relevant legal issues such as human rights and privacy. A combination of classes and work-based learning means you'll apply skills as you learn them.

You'll use your own experiences and values to come away with a clear understanding of your own role within the mental health and addiction sector in Aotearoa. You'll then be able to harness your own unique qualities to assist and encourage the people you work alongside to develop and then maintain their own mental health and wellbeing.

Please note: While this programme is full-time, you are only required to be on-campus for 3 days a week. The remaining time can be spent on self-directed learning or work experience.

Highlights

You'll be able to practice safely and professionally as a mental health support worker.
You'll learn by doing, by completing at least 200 hours in work placements in a mental health or addiction setting. This can be prearranged, or we can arrange a placement for you when you start the programme.
You'll receive up-to-date knowledge about mental health, addictions, and co-existing issues.
You will learn more about yourself and others by examining different cultures, values, and attitudes around mental health and addiction support.
You'll learn how to be a highly skilled communicator to create a trusted and open relationship with the people you work with, as well as their families/whanau, and community networks.
You'll be taught by lecturers who specialise in mental health.

Where to from here?

If you want to continue on to further study upon successful completion of this programme, you could consider the Bachelor of Social Practice, where you'll have the chance to become a registered social worker.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

Please note: Future immunisations for COVID-19 may be required for all students in this programme.

For this programme, you'll need the following:

Be at least 16 years old on the programme's start date;
At least 4 years of secondary school education;
At least one of the following academic requirements:
- 12 Level 1 NCEA credits in at least two subjects, or;
- A pass in at least 2 School Certificate subjects, or;
- A New Zealand Certificate in a relevant discipline at either Level 2 or Level 3, or equivalent
Consent to a Safety Check which meets the requirements of the Children Act 2014 (formerly known as the Vulnerable Children's Act) including:
- Provide two forms of verified ID and evidence of any name changes;
- Consent to a Police vetting check;
- Provide the names of two referees who Unitec can contact;
- Pass a mandatory interview process;
- Provide a Curriculum Vitae (CV) detailing a chronological summary of your work history for the past 5 years and the name of any professional organisations, licensing authorities and registration authorities that you have been, or are, a member of;
Complete a self-declaration of criminal convictions and medical conditions form.

If you don't meet the academic criteria above, we have a range of Foundation and Bridging Education programmes which will help you prepare for further academic study.

English requirements

If English is not your first language you will also need at least 12 credits in English at NCEA level 1.

If you don't meet these requirements, you may still apply under special or discretionary entrance.

For more information download the programme regulations:

Programme Regulations

Study locations

Waitakere

Career pathways

- Mental Health Support Worker - Peer Support Worker - Addiction Support Worker - Psychiatric Assistant - Drug Treatment Support Worker

Unitec Institute of Technology