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Professional development military awareness
Our free online training courses and webinars are designed to help clinicians, practice nurses and other clinical practice staff to better support the mental health needs of veterans.
Where a certificate is awarded through DVA Train, health professionals may use it to claim Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points.
Open Arms Practitioner’s Guide
A program for counsellors and providers to understand common mental health impacts from military service, clinical treatment expectations, psychological and resilience training used by the ADF.
New users can register using the code 'ext'.
Registered users login via DVA Train.
Mental Health Care for Veterans: Case-based insights and practical strategies
Join us for "Mental Health Care for Veterans: Case-based insights and practical strategies," a focused session designed to equip health professionals with critical knowledge and skills for managing depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance use disorders.
In this webinar, we will explore:
- Understanding Veteran Mental Health: Gain insights into the common mental health conditions affecting veterans, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance use disorders.
- Differentiating Veteran Patients: Learn how the mental health of veterans differs from that of other patients, with specific emphasis on the impact of military service.
- Crisis Management Skills: Develop practical skills for managing veterans in mental health crises, ensuring timely and effective interventions.
- Family Impact: Recognise the effects of mental health conditions on veterans' families and the importance of a holistic care approach.
- Connecting to Services: Discover how to navigate the full range of DVA mental health services, including clinical, social, and family support.
Through engaging case studies, interactive discussions, and expert insights, this webinar will provide you with the essential tools to enhance your practice and support the mental well-being of veterans. Don't miss this opportunity to advance your knowledge and make a difference in the lives of those who have served.
This course is formally accredited for 1.5 hours of CPD. To learn more visit Medcast.
Mental Health Professionals Network (MHPN) webinars
DVA collaborated with the MHPN to develop a series of 15 free online webinars. Health professionals accessing recordings through DVA Train can generate certificates under ‘Achievements’ to be used for claiming CPD points.
New users register using the code 'ext'.
Registered users login via DVA Train.
Understanding the veteran experience
The webinar explores the meaning of military culture. Including veterans mental health at home, deployment and transition, and evidence-based treatment and practices available
The military experience and mental health
Better understand the experience and meaning of military culture in relation to veteran mental health in order to gain increased confidence in responding to veterans’ mental health needs.
A snapshot of Australian veterans' mental health research
A facilitated panel discussion about the Transition and Wellbeing Research Programme Mental Health Prevalence and Pathways to Care research initiatives.
Impact of veterans' mental health on families Part 1
Better recognise how families, partners and children of veterans struggling with mental health issues may be impacted, and the support options available.
Impact of veterans' mental health on families Part 2
Better recognise how families, partners and children of veterans struggling with mental health issues may be impacted, and the support options available.
Military member to civilian
Highlights the unique challenges relating to identity and sense of self, and presents evidence-based interventions to minimise the negative impacts and maximise the individual strengths of veterans transitioning out of military service
Responding to and treating PTSD
This webinar gives you the essential knowledge to understand and treat PTSD in the veteran community. Responding to and Treating Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
Treating PTSD in Veterans
This webinar explores a range of clinical comorbidities and systemic issues that may impede successful treatment of PTSD - even when you are following evidence based best practice.
Insomnia and nightmares
Promoting Healthy Sleep: Recognising, Responding to and Treating Common Sleep Disorders in Veterans provides evidence-based insights into common sleep disorders experienced by veterans
Assessment and treatment of anger
Better recognise the characteristics, prevalence and risks associated with anger among military personnel and veterans, and effective evidence-based approaches to support veterans struggling with anger
Veterans in Pain
Better recognise the complex relationship between chronic pain and mental health, presentations specific to the veteran community, and evidence based approaches to treatment
Addiction and avoidance
Better understand the characteristics, prevalence and risks associated with substance abuse among military personnel and veterans, including the the evidence-based psychological and medical treatment options available.
Comorbid Mental Health Conditions
Better recognise the risk indicators, warning signs and protective factors for psychiatric comorbidities in veterans, and evidence-based assessment, formulation and treatment options available.
Suicide prevention and the veteran community
Better recognise the risk indicators, warning signs and protective factors for suicide in the veteran community, and support services available for veterans and their families.
Suicide Prevention and Safety Planning
This webinar explores current American and Australian research and perspectives on suicide prevention and safety planning. Participants will learn tips and take-away tools to assist in safety planning in the veteran community
Other eLearning programs and opportunities
Other useful training courses are available online.
Prolonged Exposure
An online, interactive training program designed to teach mental health providers how to implement Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy, with a particular focus on the treatment of military and combat-related PTSD.
See: PE web
CPT web
A web-based learning course for CPT with particular focus on the treatment of military and combat-related PTSD. Developed by the Medical University of South Carolina.
See: CPT web
US Department of Veteran Affairs
US Department of Veteran Affairs National Center for PTSD offers online training on assessment, prolonged exposure and cognitive processing therapy.
ISTSS continuing education
Low cost access to webinars and expert training courses related to PTSD and trauma provided by the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.
See: ISTSS
NCTSN Learning Center for Child and Adolescent Trauma
US-based organisation that provides online courses on a range of topics including psychological first aid, complex trauma and military families with a focus on children, adolescents and families.
See: NCTSN
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) training
Self-study modules on understanding cognitive and behavioural changes following TBI, and managing related mental health problems.
Center for Deployment Psychology
US-based organisation that provides introductory level web-based courses relevant to clinicians who treat serving members and veterans.
Mental Health Professional Online Development (MHPOD)
Provides evidence-based online learning resources on topics including recovery, engagement, assessment, relevant legislation, ethics and managing comorbidity.
See: MHPOD