The Working Mind
for Instructors
Equip leaders. Empower teams. Transform workplaces.
The Working Mind is an evidence-based program helping workplaces prioritise mental health – not just manage it.
BE A LEADER
Champion mentally healthy workplaces
EXPAND YOUR SKILLS
Add a globally recognised program to your training toolkit
SCALE IMPACT
Be the catalyst for culture change across industries
Introducing The Working Mind
Mental Health First Aid International is excited to bring The Working Mind (TWM) to Australia – an evidence-based program proven to shift workplace culture and foster mental wellbeing. Those interested in becoming an Instructor are invited to express their interest.
About the program
The Working Mind is a mental health training course designed to initiate a change in how employees and leaders think, feel, and act about mental health.
This program empowers workplaces and employees to:
- Embed conversations about mental health into daily operations
- Facilitate safe and supportive environments through open dialogue and resilience-building strategies
- Apply the Mental Health Continuum Tool to notice changes in themselves and their colleagues.
This is a unique opportunity to lead the charge in transforming workplace culture.
What the program teaches
Instructors of The Working Mind will equip employees and managers to:
- Recognise signs of good, declining, and poor mental health.
- Understand mental health as a continuum
- Understand and reduce stigma and barriers to care in the workplace
- Engage in mental health conversations with others
- Identify stressors and apply coping and self-care strategies
- Support team mental health with tools and resources (managers only).
How the program is structured for workplaces
Instructors will deliver four modules structured for impact:
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Mental health stigmaExamine concepts of mental health and discuss the impacts of stigma on individuals living with mental health or substance use problems. |
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Mental Health Continuum ToolUse the Mental Health Continuum Tool to notice changes in mental health and well-being of yourself and others. Discuss how to have conversations with others about mental health. |
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Stress and resilienceExplore the impacts of stress on mental health, and practice applying the Big 4 Coping Strategies – simple but proven tools to deal with stress effectively and remain resilient. |
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Supporting your team (Managers only)Practise skills to support team’s mental health and wellbeing. Review appropriate actions to take in each colour zone of the Mental Health Continuum and to address related to critical incidents and supporting employees. |
To learn more about what this new program means for instructors, please read the FAQs at the bottom of this page. These will be expanded on as the roll out progresses.
Key information
Instructor Training Course
Expressions of interest are now open.
Delivery format
Online only (during initial launch to allow for flexibility for existing instructors)
Duration
5 days
For workplaces
Opening to the public in 2026
Delivery format
Face-to-Face
Online
Duration
8 hours (for managers)
5 hours (for employees)
Take the next step
Become an Instructor
Apply now to become a The Working Mind Instructor.
Two complementary programs for mental health at work
Mental Health First Aid and The Working Mind are complementary courses, often delivered together in workplaces.
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Building culture Transforming workplace cultures
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Building capacity Conversations and pathways to support
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| Purpose | Build awareness, reduce stigma, and strengthen resilience in the workplace. | Provide practical skills to recognise and respond to someone experiencing mental health problems or crises. |
| Impact | Fosters psychologically safe and supportive workplaces. | Enables employees to take action when it matters most. |
| Why it matters | Without cultural change, stigma persists, and mental health challenges can go unnoticed. | Without response skills, conversations may not lead to help. |
Equip Australian workplaces to address:
Mental health
1 in 5 Australians experience a mental health problem each year
Burnout and stress
3 in 5 employees report being burnt out
Workplace culture
9 in 10 employees believe mental health in the workplace is important
Explore FAQs for Instructors
Who developed The Working Mind?
The Working Mind (TWM) was developed by Opening Minds and has been successfully implemented in Canada with support from the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC). The program was created to reduce mental health stigma and increase awareness and understanding of mental health in the workplace.
TWM has been successfully implemented across Canada across a range of sectors, including public safety organisations, government and workplaces.
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Australia delivers and supports The Working Mind in Australia under licence, working in partnership with Opening Minds to adapt and implement the program for Australian workplaces. Licensed TWM Instructors are trained and supported by MHFA Australia to deliver the program across the country.
How will TWM Instructor Training Courses roll out in 2026?
- 27 April – 1 May – Online
- 18-22 May – Online
- 1-5 June – Online
- 13-17 July – Online
- 10-14 August – Sydney (F2F)
- 14-18 September – Melbourne (F2F)
- 19-23 October – Online
- 2-6 November – Brisbane (F2F)
- 30 Nov – 4 December – Online
How do I apply to become an Instructor for TWM?
Applicants for both public and private courses must complete an online application at least 4 weeks prior to the commencement of the training and demonstrate how they meet the selection criteria, including specific examples where required.
Applications will be reviewed against our stated eligibility criteria.
Once provisionally approved, applicants will need to submit a Working with Children Check and complete payment.
Note: We reserve the right to reject any individual application at our sole discretion. An accepted application for one license type does not guarantee acceptance or suitability for other license types.
What is the difference between MHFA and TWM?
The Working Mind builds a mentally healthy workplace culture by reducing stigma and strengthening resilience.
Mental Health First Aid equips individuals with practical skills to respond when a colleague is in distress or crisis.
The courses are often delivered together as they are complementary focusing on both culture and capacity.
Why is Mental Health First Aid introducing TWM to its offerings?
Mental Health First Aid recognises that fostering mentally healthy workplace cultures is as important as equipping individuals to respond to mental health problems and crises.
The Working Mind complements Mental Health First Aid’s existing programs by focusing on organisational culture change.
We receive feedback from workplaces that a shorter course is needed to train more managers with mental health awareness and skills. This addition meets that need, offering training sessions for 5 hours (employees) or 8 hours (staff).
What is the Mental Health Continuum Tool?
This tool helps individuals recognise changes in their own and others’ mental health. It uses a simple, colour-coded scale to encourage early action, open dialogue, and self-awareness before issues escalate.
How do I contact MHFA if I have further questions?
We have a dedicated team working on the role out of The Working Mind. If you would like to discuss this program further, please email twm@mhfa.com.au
What is the Learner Access Pass (LAP) for The Working Mind and what does it cover?
The Working Mind (TWM) Learner Access Pass (LAP) is a $75 per participant fee (including GST) that applies to all TWM courses.
The LAP supports more than the participant learning materials. It contributes to:
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Licensing and royalty arrangements required to deliver The Working Mind
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Program administration, coordination, reporting and quality assurance
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Ongoing review and contextualisation of TWM training content and participant resources for the Australian context
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Support for Instructors and participants through Delivery and Support Service Specialists
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Development of post-course digital supports
Because MHFA International holds the licence and delivery rights for The Working Mind, the Learner Access Pass pricing reflects this delivery structure.
Is the TWM Learner Access Pass comparable to other MHFA programs?
No. The pricing model for TWM is not directly comparable to programs where MHFA International owns the content outright, due to the different licensing and royalty arrangements that apply.
What are the minimum course pricing requirements?
Instructors are required to charge the following minimum course fees (GST exclusive):
- $100 per participant – Employee version of TWM
- $200 per participant – Manager version of TWM
These minimum prices apply regardless of delivery format.
There is an exemption in place for courses delivered under a charitable purpose or by an Instructor embedded in an organisation training employees (where no charge is applied to the individual undertaking the course).
Are physical materials included in the TWM Learner Access Pass?
No. Physical materials are not included in the TWM Learner Access Pass and are available at an additional cost if used, for example Continuum Cards. However, an Instructor is supplied with all of the digital materials required to deliver the course and print the required materials for their participants.
Why does The Working Mind program use Canadian videos?
The Working Mind was developed by the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s Opening Minds division in Canada, and we license the program from them in a similar way to how MHFA is licensed to a global network of more than 50 countries.
The Canadian videos are high-quality, informed by lived experiences and fully fit for purpose, sharing universal themes for workplaces. We will continue to use these videos and review all course content annually, updating them when required, including potential Australian footage in the future. Any changes to program videos require consultation with Opening Minds.
