The 11379NAT Course in Initial Response to a Mental Health Crisis is a nationally recognised program that teaches people how to identify, respond to, and support someone experiencing an acute mental health emergency. This article explains what it covers, how it compares with a Mental Health First Aid course (MHFA) in Australia, who each option is best for, and why accredited crisis response skills are increasingly important in workplaces and communities.
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Key Takeaways
- The 11379NAT Course in Initial Response to a Mental Health Crisis is a nationally recognised VET course, while a standard mental health first aid course (MHFA) is widely respected but not AQF-accredited.
- MHFA training focuses on mental health literacy and early support, whereas 11379NAT is designed for immediate crisis response, safety and structured decision-making.
- Youth Mental Health First Aid courses are ideal for teachers, youth workers and coaches supporting young people aged 12–25, while 11379NAT suits workplaces and services where acute crises are more likely.
- Some providers offer an online mental health first aid course or blended MHFA options, but 11379NAT generally requires face-to-face assessment to safely practise communication and de-escalation skills.
- Workplaces managing psychosocial hazards often prefer the 11379NAT crisis response course because it delivers competency-based, nationally recognised training that supports WHS compliance and real-world risk management.
What is a Mental Health First Aid Course in Australia
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) courses are widely known and accessible across Australia. These programs help people recognise common mental health conditions and provide initial support before professional help is available.
What a Mental Health First Aid Course Covers
MHFA focuses on building mental health literacy and early intervention confidence. It is not a VET-accredited course, but it is nationally recognised as best-practice community education.
MHFA Focus Area | What Learners Develop |
Mental health literacy | Understanding common conditions such as depression, anxiety, psychosis and substance use problems |
Early recognition | Spotting early signs of emerging mental health problems |
ALGEE action plan | A structured approach for offering initial support |
Encouraging help-seeking | Techniques for guiding someone towards professional care |
Youth Mental Health First Aid Course
The Youth MHFA course is designed for people who work with or support young people aged 12–25, including:
- Teachers and school staff
- Youth workers
- Sports coaches
- Community leaders
It focuses on challenges more common among adolescents, such as social withdrawal, self-harm, and bullying-related stress.
Online Mental Health First Aid Course Options
Mental Health First Aid courses are available in face‑to‑face, blended face‑to‑face (eLearning plus classroom), and blended online (eLearning plus live videoconference) formats. These flexible options are ideal for learners in rural or remote areas and for those who find it difficult to attend two full days of in‑person training.
What Is the 11379NAT Course in Initial Response to a Mental Health Crisis?
The 11379NAT Course in Initial Response to a Mental Health Crisis is a nationally accredited short course that trains people to recognise, assess, and provide initial support to someone experiencing a mental health crisis, then connect them with appropriate professional help. It is designed as practical “first aid for mental health” rather than therapy training, and is recognised across Australia, including in Queensland.
What the course covers
The course centres on one accredited unit, NAT11379001 Identify and respond to mental health crisis situations, which focuses on recognising signs of distress, assessing immediate risk (including self‑harm or harm to others), and responding safely and ethically. Learners also develop communication and de‑escalation skills so they can support a person in crisis while maintaining appropriate boundaries and self‑care.
Training commonly includes:
- Early warning signs and behavioural indicators for common mental health conditions and crises (such as suicidal ideation, panic, acute psychosis, or severe distress).
- A structured action plan (often taught as the “RULES” or similar framework) for approaching, assessing, assisting, and referring someone in crisis to professional services.
- Legal, ethical, and safety considerations, including when to contact emergency services and how to document or hand over concerns appropriately.
Who it is for
The course is intended for people who may encounter mental health crises in workplaces or the community, such as managers, HR staff, frontline workers, educators, community workers, and interested members of the public. There are usually no formal prerequisite qualifications, but participants are expected to meet basic language, literacy and numeracy standards and have sufficient emotional readiness to engage with sensitive content.
Duration, delivery and outcomes
Many providers such as First Aid Pro, deliver 11379NAT as an intensive, one‑day, face‑to‑face program with practical scenarios and assessment, sometimes with same‑day issuance of a Statement of Attainment on successful completion. Graduates receive nationally recognised certification for the course, which can support workplace requirements, enhance roles involving duty of care, and form part of broader mental health or safety training strategies.
11379NAT vs Mental Health First Aid Course: Key Differences
While both training pathways aim to improve safety and confidence, they have different purposes.
At a Glance: MHFA vs 11379NAT
Feature | Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) | 11379NAT Crisis Response Course |
Accreditation | Not VET-accredited | Nationally recognised (AQF) |
Focus | Mental health literacy | Immediate crisis response |
Audience | General public | Workplaces + high-risk industries |
Assessment | Knowledge checks | Practical simulations + assessed skills |
Duration | Usually 2 days | Typically 1 full day |
Outcomes | Confidence to support early signs | Competency in crisis management |
The 11379NAT Course in Initial Response to a Mental Health Crisis complements both physical first aid and Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) rather than replacing either one. It effectively fills the gap between broad mental health literacy (like MHFA) and the kind of structured, procedural response you see in physical first aid qualifications.
Relationship to physical first aid
- Physical first aid (e.g., HLTAID011 Provide First Aid) focuses on injuries and medical emergencies such as bleeding, fractures, cardiac arrest, or anaphylaxis, with step‑by‑step protocols like DRSABCD.
- 11379NAT mirrors this “first response” idea but for psychological emergencies, giving a structured approach to assessing immediate mental health risk, de‑escalating, and handing over to professionals.
- Many workplaces now treat 11379NAT and physical first aid as complementary core skills for staff with duty‑of‑care or safety responsibilities.
Relationship to Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)
As discussed above, Mental Health First Aid is a non‑accredited (though widely recognised) course that builds general understanding of mental health problems, stigma reduction, and supportive conversations over time.
On the other hand, 11379NAT is nationally accredited and more tightly focused on acute crisis situations, formal assessment of competence, and safe escalation pathways, rather than broad education alone.
Many organisations use Mental Health First Aid to build culture and awareness across teams, then add 11379NAT for key roles such as Mental Heath Support Officers that need a documented, assessable crisis‑response skill set.
How they work together in practice
A typical integrated approach in workplaces is: physical first aid for medical events, Mental Health First Aid for ongoing mental health conversations and early support, and 11379NAT for when a situation escalates into a crisis requiring immediate, structured action.
11379NAT is “the crisis‑response pillar” that sits alongside physical first aid (for the body) and MHFA (for ongoing mental wellbeing), giving employers a rounded, documentable risk‑management package
Benefits of the 11379NAT Course For Employers
Offering the 11379NAT Course in Initial Response to a Mental Health Crisis gives employers clear benefits in risk management, culture, and performance. It helps meet growing legal and psychosocial safety expectations while signalling that mental health is taken seriously at work.
Risk, compliance and safety
- Supports WHS obligations around psychosocial hazards by equipping staff to recognise, respond to, and escalate mental health crises safely.
- Reduces the likelihood and impact of psychological injury claims by encouraging early intervention rather than waiting for issues to escalate into long absences or compensation cases.
- Provides nationally accredited, documented training (via 11379NAT and NAT11379001) that can be referenced in policies, audits, and incident reviews as part of an employer’s duty‑of‑care framework.
Productivity, absenteeism and costs
- Workplaces that invest in mental health training generally see lower absenteeism, better return‑to‑work outcomes, and improved productivity, delivering a positive return on investment for employers.
- Training key staff such as Mental Health Support Officers to respond to crises quickly can prevent issues from spiralling into long‑term disengagement, presenteeism, or burnout across teams.
Culture, retention and employer brand
- Mental health training contributes to a mentally healthy workplace where stigma is lower and workers feel safer speaking up early, which strengthens engagement and trust.
- In addition employees increasingly prioritise mental health support when choosing and staying with employers, so visible investment in accredited crisis‑response skills helps attract and retain talent.
- When combined with physical first aid and broader mental health awareness programs, 11379NAT rounds out a wellbeing offering that positions the organisation as genuinely committed to staff safety and care.
Want accredited mental health crisis training for your workplace?
Book the 11379NAT course with First Aid Pro and build capability that meets WHS standards.
Skills You’ll Gain from the 11379NAT Crisis Response Course
The 11379NAT Course in Initial Response to a Mental Health Crisis builds three core skill areas: recognising warning signs, communicating safely, and following a clear crisis response framework.
Participants learn to identify indicators of escalating risk and respond before the situation becomes critical.
- Suicidal thoughts or actions
- Severe panic, fear, or dissociation
- Aggression, agitation, or sudden behaviour changes
- Disorientation, confusion, or withdrawal from reality
- Self-harm behaviours or visible injuries
Learners practise calm, structured communication techniques that support safety for the person in crisis, bystanders, and themselves.
- Calm, controlled verbal communication
- Grounding techniques to reduce overwhelm
- Using non-threatening posture and body language
- Setting safe, respectful boundaries
- Knowing when to call emergency services or escalate
Training includes evidence-based frameworks such as RULES, helping responders act quickly and consistently under pressure.
Delivery and Assessment of the 11379NAT Course
How the Course Is Delivered
Most learners complete the course in a one-day face-to-face format to ensure skills are practised in realistic scenarios. Some providers may offer blended modes where theory is completed online first.
Assessment Requirements
Participants must demonstrate:
- Crisis recognition and risk assessment
- Effective communication and de-escalation
- Supporting access to emergency and professional services
- Maintaining safety procedures throughout the scenario
Certification and Recognition
Upon successful completion, participants receive a Statement of Attainment under the AQF. This certification is recognised across all Australian industries and states.
Choosing the Right Course: MHFA or 11379NAT?
Both Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and the 11379NAT Course in Initial Response to a Mental Health Crisis build valuable skills. The best choice depends on your goals, risk profile, and compliance needs.
MHFA is a strong fit when you want broad mental health understanding and early support skills across your team or community.
- When the goal is general understanding of mental health conditions
- When teams need broad skills to support early signs of mental health problems
- For volunteer organisations and community groups building general awareness
- For youth programs, schools and sports clubs supporting young people
The 11379NAT course is ideal when you need accredited, competency-based crisis response skills for higher-risk environments.
- When workplaces face acute or frequent mental health crisis scenarios
- When employers must demonstrate competency-based training and clear learning outcomes
- For industries where incidents can escalate quickly (e.g. health, community services, customer-facing roles)
- When WHS compliance or risk management requires accredited training under the AQF
How to Enrol in Accredited Mental Health Crisis Training
Enrolling in the 11379NAT course is straightforward. First Aid Pro delivers nationally recognised training with experienced instructors and scenario-based learning.
- Choose your course date and location
- Complete online enrolment
- Attend the full training day and assessments
- Receive your Statement of Attainment
Take the next step today — enrol in the accredited 11379NAT mental health crisis response course with First Aid Pro and strengthen your ability to help when it matters most.
Knowledge Test: Mental Health Crisis Response Quiz
Test your understanding with this short interactive quiz. Select the best answer for each question, then click “Check answers”.
References
- Safe Work Australia – Model Code of Practice – Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work
- Mental Health First Aid Australia – Course Information
- Healthdirect (Aust. Gov.): Mental Health First Aid
- Australian Bureau of Statistics – National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing
- Australian Government: Training.gov.au – 11379NAT Nationally Recognised Training
