MHFA
Also known as: Mental Health First Aid
A Mental Health First Aider is a trained worker who can recognise mental-health issues in colleagues and connect them to appropriate support. The standard course is Mental Health First Aid Australia's 12-hour Standard MHFA, with certifications valid for 3 years.
Legal context
Mental Health First Aid Australia's training was developed at the ANU in 2000 and is now delivered globally. The Standard course teaches the ALGEE action plan (Approach, assess and assist; Listen non-judgementally; Give support and information; Encourage appropriate professional help; Encourage other supports). MHFA certifications are valid for 3 years and must be refreshed. MHFAs are not therapists — they are first-line responders who can defuse a crisis and connect a worker to EAP, GP, mental-health professional, or emergency services. A well-designed psychosocial risk-management plan includes a defined ratio of MHFA cover (e.g. 1 MHFA per 25 workers) with expiry tracking and refresher scheduling.
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Related terms
EAP
An Employee Assistance Program is a confidential counselling and short-term-support service provided to workers (and often their immediate family) by an external provider. EAP access is the most common mental-health control in Australian workplaces and a near-baseline requirement for psychosocial risk management.
Psychosocial hazard
A psychosocial hazard is a hazard that may cause psychological or physical harm and arises from how work is designed, organised and managed, or from the social context of work. Examples include high job demands, low job control, poor support, role conflict, exposure to traumatic events, harassment and bullying.
Critical incident
A critical incident is a workplace event with the potential to cause significant psychological distress — fatality, serious injury witnessed by colleagues, armed robbery, assault, near-miss to self or co-worker, large-scale evacuation. The PCBU's response triggers Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) processes including EAP activation, structured debrief and return-to-work follow-up.
Platform pillars
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47 WHS and HSWA terms with legal context, FAQs and regulator references.