Seven participants from across Western NSW have completed Aboriginal Mental Health First Aid (AMHFA) Instructor Training in Dubbo, building local capacity to support stronger mental health literacy, suicide prevention and community wellbeing across the region.
Delivered by Mental Health First Aid Australia, the intensive five-day course equips participants with the skills and accreditation required to deliver Aboriginal Mental Health First Aid training within their own communities and organisations. The nationally recognised program is designed specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and focuses on helping community members recognise and respond to signs of mental health challenges, mental distress and crisis situations.
Participants represented a diverse range of organisations and communities, including Dubbo, Wellington, Condobolin and Brewarrina. Organisations involved included Wellways, Stride’s Medicare Mental Health Centre, Wellington Aboriginal Corporation Health Service, Wiradjuri Condobolin Corporation, Orana Haven Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre, NSW EPA, MACT Consultants and Western NSW Primary Health Network.
WNSW PHN Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Project Officer Keishwa Riley said she found the training to be incredibly insightful.
“I am looking forward to upskilling the community to feel more confident to support an Aboriginal person experiencing a mental health crisis.”
By increasing the number of accredited AMHFA instructors across the region, the training will help improve access to culturally appropriate mental health education and support in rural and remote communities. Participants are now able to deliver two-day Aboriginal Mental Health First Aid courses, sharing practical skills and knowledge with community members, workplaces and local organisations.
The initiative supports WNSW PHN’s commitment to strengthening community-led approaches to mental health and suicide prevention, while investing in a sustainable local workforce that can deliver culturally safe training where it is needed most.
Following strong interest in the program, WNSW PHN is planning a second training cohort in 2027 to further expand the number of Aboriginal Mental Health First Aid instructors across Western and Far West NSW.
