How to become a Mental Health Worker

Also called: Mental Health Recovery Worker

Assists individuals, families and groups with a range of mental health conditions, and those experiencing emotional difficulties, distress and crisis. Supports and empowers clients to improve their quality of life.

Main tasks

• Assesses needs of individuals, families and groups, and supports them with recovery planning by helping them manage and adapt to the complex challenges of mental health
• Provides coaching to increase recovery skills and personal capacity, including motivation, strengths, resilience and decision-making
• Provides counselling to individuals or groups, and advocates for access to necessary services and resources
• Develops and facilitates referrals to other useful services in the community
• Prepares reports and maintains client records
• Develops new services and mental health community programs, and educates families and community groups about mental health issues
• Connects individuals to relevant services and activities in the community
• May assist with making appointments and accompanying individuals to appointments or therapy sessions

Ways in

• University: Health & Public Health degrees, Offered by 39 universities in Australia
• TAFE and VET: Certificate IV in Mental Health (CHC43315); Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work (CHC43515); Diploma of Mental Health (CHC53315)

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Typical full-time pay: $101,920 a year
• About 40,500 people work in this job group now, and about 49,900 are projected by 2035. (+23.4%)
• AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Mental Health Worker?

Ways in include: Health & Public Health degrees; Certificate IV in Mental Health; Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work.

How much does a Mental Health Worker earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $101,920 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is a Mental Health Worker a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 23% by 2035, from about 40,500 to about 49,900 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Mental Health Worker?

Not always. 58% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Health & Public Health degrees; Certificate IV in Mental Health; Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work.

Will AI change the work of a Mental Health Worker?

AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.

Sources

• Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04