Group
Occupation
441333 Mental Health Worker
Latest release
Consultation draft: Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA)
Reference period
August 2026
Released
17/08/2026
First release
441333 Mental Health 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.
Alternative titles
- Community Mental Health Worker
- Mental Health Recovery Worker
Specialisations
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social and Wellbeing Worker (SEWB)
- Lived Experience Mental Health Peer Worker
- Psychosocial Support Worker
Skill level: 3
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
- May use lived experience to provide peer coaching and support to individuals or groups through intentional sharing, active listening and reflective practice