Mental Health First Aid Training

The well-being of the community has always relied on our strong sense of togetherness and a willingness to pitch in, help out and lend an ear. This latest round of Mental Health First Aid training is another opportunity to support the community.

The Barossa Australia Wellbeing Fund, established with Foundation Barossa is to better equip members of the region’s wine and grape growing community and people working in a field related to the visitor economy to engage in meaningful conversations and provide active support for people affected by poor mental health.

The next free two-day (9 am – 4 pm) Mental Health First Aid Training will be held on 28 and 29 May 2025. The training will be conducted by St John Ambulance at The Barossa Cellar to teach you how to provide initial support to adults who are developing a mental illness or experiencing a mental health crisis. The course is accredited by Mental Health First Aid Australia.

There will be up to 18 positions available to adults from the region’s wine and grape growing communities and people working in a field related to the visitor economy, with a maximum of two places per organisation.

Photo of a group of people who have completed the Barossa Australia Mental Health First Aid training

Course content:

This evidence-based course covers how to identify and assist those who may be experiencing issues with their mental health.

Course participants learn about the signs and symptoms of common and disabling mental health conditions and how to use a systematic approach to effectively assist those who are experiencing a mental health crisis.

It also covers strategies that have been proven to be effective in treating and managing mental health conditions, as well as how and where to access professional help.

Please note this course is not a therapy or support group, rather it is an education course to learn how to give mental health first aid to others.

Mental health first aid training selection criteria:

Applicants must be:

working in a field related to the wine industry or the visitor economy
demonstrate an interest for mental health first aid training to be able to identify and assist themselves / others in identifying the signs and symptoms of common mental health conditions
demonstrate a willingness to implement training outcomes for themselves / others.

“The Mental Health First Aid Training was a great opportunity to build some knowledge and skills about mental health, which is a major concern in our industry, our region, and in a lot of the front line sales arenas that I operate in, on a regular basis. I gained some very straightforward insights and strategies to be able to approach and speak with folks that are showing signs of distress or changed behaviour. I gained an overview of just how prominent various forms of mental health are across the community and a degree of knowledge and services available with respect to mental health that I didn’t know about. The course has given me some perspective, terminology, some solid rudimentary strategies, and the resources to read and study further.” Jane Ferrari – participant