Become a Mental Health First Aid instructor
Are you interested in becoming a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Aotearoa instructor, in our Standard or Youth programme?
Accredited MHFA instructors are essential to delivering Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa across the country. They are skilled facilitators with a passion for improving the mental health of their workplaces, schools, sports clubs, organisations and communities.
Why become a MHFA instructor?
Make a transformative difference to mental health in Aotearoa New Zealand by training as a MHFA instructor or Youth MHFA instructor.
- As an accredited MHFA instructor, you can deliver the two-day MHFA workshop and give people the confidence and skills to support co-workers, whānau, and friends experiencing mental health challenges.
- You’ll be part of a community of more than 67,000 accredited MHFA instructors worldwide.
MHFA is evidence-based.
- Since it began in 2000, MHFA has been committed to evaluating its programmes using rigorous, scientific processes.
- Courses are independently and academically peer-reviewed.
- Feedback consistently shows that MHFA training has a positive impact on course participants and their communities.
- The MHFA Aotearoa programme (4th edition) was developed by Te Pou with the support and guidance of Mental Health First Aid International and MHFA Australia.
- It has been adapted for Aotearoa New Zealand through the expert contributions of New Zealand-based mental health professionals, cultural advisors, and people with lived experience of mental health challenges, ensuring it reflects our cultural context and use relevant local research and clinical treatment pathways.
You’ll benefit from ongoing training and support.
- At MHFA Aotearoa, we are here to help you be the best instructor you can be.
- Receive high-quality, comprehensive training from skilled MHFA trainers.
- Community of Practice sessions ensure your skills remain up-to-date and are a vital part of MHFA Aotearoa accreditation requirements for all our instructors.
How do I become an accredited MHFA instructor?
Eligibility criteria
All MHFA instructors must show they have the skills and experience to successfully deliver MHFA workshops. Applicants will need to show they have:
- good knowledge about mental health challenges and treatments
- good teaching and communication skills
- good interpersonal skills
- empathy and compassion to people experiencing mental health challenges
- personal and/or professional experience with people experiencing mental health challenges
- good background knowledge of mental health services in Aotearoa
- the passion and enthusiasm to deliver MHFA workshops
- a good business plan or organisational support.
Apply to become an accredited MHFA instructor
- Find a MHFA new instructor training course that you want to attend. Courses are listed on our website's Events page or can be seen at the bottom of this page.
- Review the MHFA Aotearoa instructor agreement and confirm that you are happy to agree to the requirements. All MHFA Aotearoa instructors must sign the agreement before they can deliver MHFA courses.
- Complete and submit an Expression of Interest form for the programme you want accreditation in. Your suitability for the role will be assessed according to the responses given.
- Once your Expression of Interest has been received and reviewed, along with your acceptance of the MHFA Aotearoa instructor agreement, the MHFA team will be in touch about your application.
- If your application is accepted, you will need to pay the new instructor training course fee. You will not be registered for the training until payment is received.
- Have a fantastic time at the new instructor training course and pass your instructor assessment.
Please note:
- Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa reserves the right to reject any individual application at its sole discretion
- once accredited, MHFA instructors must deliver a minimum of two workshops per year and pay an annual instructor registration fee of $150 +GST to maintain their instructor accreditation.
- Accepted applications for one accreditation type does not guarantee acceptance or suitability for other accreditation types.
For more information
For questions or queries, please contact the MHFA Aotearoa team at mhfa@tepou.co.nz.
