The Queensland Centre for Mental Health Learning (Learning Centre)
is a Queensland Health based training provider offering a range of
core mental health, alcohol and other drugs education programs for
mental health professionals.
Through our training courses, we aim to initially provide practical
foundational knowledge for professionals who work with clients that
experience mental health problems. In addition, we provide
intermediate and advanced-level knowledge and specific skills that
focus on consumer safety and mental health recovery plus clinical
supervision skills.
Since our establishment in 2006, we have continued to expand our range
of training modalities and content. We now provide a series of
accessible face-to-face courses including a nationally accredited
program, as well as a suite of eLearning courses, online resources and
blended learning opportunities.
We can also help your organisation develop tailored training to suit
the needs of your staff using a range of learning modalities that
meets your scope, timeframe and budget.
The Learning Centre continues to grow, develop, and nurture a skilled and sustainable mental health workforce to provide a quality recovery focused approach to mental health care.
Laura Chandler
BA (Hons), BSc (Psych): BSocWk, MEd
Director
Laura is a social worker bringing over 25 years’ practice in supporting learner engagement in higher education and workforce development. She specialised in student counselling,.. supporting access for students with a disability and peer support initiatives. Laura has developed a passion for the proactive use of training to build workforce capability and to support change initiatives. She's a specialist in training, peer learning, leadership and mentoring approaches.
Laura continues to find working with learners of all types to be energising, inspiring and hopeful.
Laura has degrees in social work, psychology and medieval and renaissance studies from the University of Queensland, a Graduate Certificate of Higher Education from Griffith University and a Master of Education specialising in Higher Education from the University of New South Wales. She is an accredited Mental Health First Aid Instructor and certified PASS (Peer Learning) Supervisor. She was recognised for her work supporting learning with a University of Southern Queensland citation for outstanding contribution to student learning and induction into the USQ Teaching Academy.
Debbie (Deb) Whittington
CertIVMentalHlthPeerWrk, CertIVTraing&Assess
Lived Experience & Training Manager
Deb leads the Lived Experience and Training Team to design, deliver, assess and evaluate core skills training for the lived experience... and wider multidisciplinary mental health, alcohol and other drugs professional workforce across Queensland.
Deb has worked in Queensland Health for 11 years with eight of these dedicated to the area of lived experience, bringing a commitment to draw on her personal lived experience to drive workforce and system improvements.
Previously Deb worked within a regional Hospital and Health Service, initially as Senior Peer Coordinator and sole lived experience staff member before progressing to Peer Team Leader where she led the establishment of their lived experience workforce.
With a strong background in lived experience workforce and service development, Deb brings her skills and expertise to understanding the learning needs of the lived experience workforce. Along with her dedication to the ongoing development and professionalisation of the workforce, she brings a genuine belief in the benefit that the lived experience can offer consumers, carers, staff and organisations. She is committed to ensuring training products are developed collaboratively and with enhanced outcomes and experiences at the forefront.
Diane
Business Manager
Diane is responsible for leading the Infrastructure Team who provide administrative, finance, and resourcing support to all areas in the Learning Centre. Diane has worked in Queensland...
Health for 23 years with 16 of these years in financial teams and the last 14 years in mental health services. Diane has worked in the Department of Health, Metro South Health and lastly West Moreton Health.
Whilst it seems longer, Diane has been at The Park for nine years and has a passion for the consumers and the history of the facility.
Irene Francisco
BOccThy (Hons)
Program
Manager
Meet Irene Francisco, a dynamic mental health occupational therapist and program manager for a cutting-edge training and development team. Irene is dedicated to the art of healing and growth, ...seamlessly blending her clinical expertise with a passion for cultivating impactful learning experiences.
As a visionary leader, she spearheads initiatives that bridge the gap between theory and practice, ensuring a holistic, diverse approach to mental health care. Irene's leadership style fosters a collaborative and innovative environment, fostering the strengths in her team to create high quality, evidence-based education. With a heart committed to improving lives, Irene strives for values-based, compassionate mental health training.
Michelle Coleman-Charters
BSc, GDipPsychSc
Research Manager
Michelle has over 13 years’ experience as a researcher, including roles in Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, West Moreton Health Service Evaluation and Research Unit and the Queensland Mental Health... Benchmarking Unit. The role of systems management was added to her repertoire in 2013
Dr Mohamed
MSc (InfTechMgt), PhD (Information Technology)
Systems Manager
Mohamed is a systems manager who holds over a decade of expertise in his field. His experience involves serving various organisations and industries in strategising, overseeing, ... and upholding their technical infrastructure.
Backed by a solid foundation in technology and communication, Mohamed's wealth of skills and experience is instrumental in keeping the Learning Centre's technical infrastructure aligned with contemporary learning trends.
Furthermore, Mohamed holds a PhD in Information Technology.
Dr Wendy Ducat
BA (Psych)(Hons), PhD (Clinical Psychology)
Program Manager
Dr Wendy Ducat is a clinical psychologist with a passion for innovative workforce development, supervision, professional support, and research relating to mental health...and workforce development. In addition to her postgraduate studies, Wendy has worked over 15 years across metropolitan and regional, rural and remote government settings, as well as university settings, in clinical service delivery, research, project management, education and workforce development. Her work has been particularly focused on non-metropolitan health settings, and she maintains active collaborations with the university sector.
She completed her undergraduate psychology studies at the University of Queensland before completing her clinical psychology postgraduate study at Griffith University. Wendy maintains her Certificate IV in Training and Assessment currency and recently completed the Emerging Clinical Leaders program through Queensland Health. Wendy currently works part time at the Learning Centre on a parental leave arrangement.
Alexandra
BA(Psych)(Hons)
Research Development Advisor
Alex has a professional background in policy, project management, and research across both public and university sectors. She has applied her skills in project management, ...
policy drafting, survey design and data analysis to various research and evaluation projects, including population trials and training interventions. Currently, Alex works as a Research Development Advisor at the Learning Centre, where she oversees the evaluation processes for several training courses. In this role, she collaborates with colleagues to develop reports, papers and submissions related to research and evaluation activities.
Alex completed her psychology honours research thesis in clinical human factors. She is interested in applied cognitive psychology research areas.
Daniel
CertMentalHlthNurs, RN, BA, GradCertHigherEd, GradDipComn, MGesTherapy
Clinical Educator
Daniel is a mental health nurse with 30 years of experience as a clinician in front line public sector mental health services, ...particularly child and youth mental health services.
Daniel is interested in approaches to therapy and
supervision and how they dovetail with methods of workshop facilitation that activate learner’s practice
wisdom.
Emma Martin
BOccThy, BPsych, MCouns
Clinical
Educator
Emma is an occupational therapist with over 20 years’ experience in mental health practice, specialising in trauma recovery, acute stress response, grief and loss, suicidal crisis... and severe mental illness across the service spectrum.
As a clinical educator, Emma's intention is to support practitioners with tools to enable safe, therapeutic and humanistic service while also providing the highest standards of mental health care. Alongside clinical education, Emma has focussed this practice on clinical supervision and trauma-impacted workplace, with emphasis on dealing with compassion fatigue, and secondary and vicarious trauma.
Emma holds Bachelor's degrees in Occupational Therapy and Psychology and a Masters in Counselling. Emma is a Teacher Trainer in Mindful Self Compassion (University of San Diego) and has completed the Leadership for Disaster Response and Recovery Program (QUT).
Emma has published several peer-reviewed articles and presented at numerous conferences on processes related to challenges and journeys of recovery through the tertiary mental health system and ways to hold hope in the process.
Kat Baxter (she/her)
CertIVMentalHlthPeerWrk, DipSoundProdn, DipYouthWrk
Lived Experience Educator
Kat is a lived experience peer worker with over 7 years’ experience in her field. During her time working for Queensland Health, Kat has worked within many Hospital and Health... Services supporting people in their recovery both inpatient and community.
Kat has worked on many projects within the mental health sector and brings her lived experience scope to the Learning Centre.
Kat has extensive experience facilitating and cofacilitating therapeutic groups and loves to educate through shared experiences. Kat has a passion for change and advocacy and in her spare time she sits on the board of directors for Queensland Injectors Voice for Advocacy and Action (QuIVAA), is an active member of the Queensland Mental Health Alliance and is on the LGBTIQ+ West Moreton Steering Committee.
Kat has a passion for changing and improving service delivery within mental health for the people we care for and wants to use her lived experience expertise and knowledge by educating the workforce.
Kat is also an active part time foster carer, musician and roller hockey player at a national level.
Lauren
CertIVHumR, DipCom, CDec
Information Support Officer
Lauren is a dedicated and versatile professional in the field of Learning Management Systems, multimedia support and eLearning. With a keen eye for detail, strong organisational skills, and a passion for technology, ... Lauren has become a valuable member of the team.
In her role, Lauren excels in providing comprehensive eLearning support, demonstrating proficiency in various multimedia elements such as video and audio production and graphic design. Her commitment to excellence extends to supporting the Learning Centre's learning management system, where she efficiently manages administrative responsibilities, troubleshoots login issues, and ensures a seamless experience for users.
Lisa
CertIVTraing&Assess, DipTeach(Sec), DipSocWk, BA(Psych),
PostGradELearning
Instructional Designer
Lisa is a learning designer with over 25 years’ experience designing learning products for the VET sector, Queensland Ambulance,..Queensland Police, Victoria Police and currently the Learning Centre.
She is currently completing a Master of Cognitive Psychology in Educational Practice.
Lisa is an award-winning eLearning designer.
Lisa will tell you it’s not just about creating visually stunning materials, it’s about provoking curiosity and igniting a passion for excellence. From designing immersive simulations to crafting engaging multimedia content, Lisa designs meaningful and transformative learning experiences that empower our learners to reach their full potential. Combined with her strong foundation in learning theory and an intuitive understanding of learner needs, Lisa seeks to reshape the landscape of education by connecting with the different ways and places where people learn.
Mandie Nicoll
CertIVTraing&Assess, BSc(OccThy), MSc(AdvOccThy)
Clinical Educator
Mandie is an occupational therapist with over 20 years’ experience working in both the Victorian and
Queensland mental health systems. She is passionate about improving the... outcomes of those who come into contact with mental health services and values an approach
that is strengths based, person-centered and recovery focussed.
Prior to joining the Learning Centre, Mandie worked in community adult, child and youth, early psychosis and
workforce training and development roles.
Mandie has co-authored several peer-reviewed articles and clinical manuals in the Early Psychosis field,
which is a particular area of interest and passion.
As a clinical educator, she aims to provide a space where learners feel safe, supported and open to
reflecting on their own practice with the aim of working together to build skills, knowledge and confidence
in their chosen field of mental health practice.
Marisa
DipBus(ProjMgt), BVisArts(FineArt)
Program Delivery Coordinator
Marisa has contributed over 16 years to the support of Queensland Health mental health services, with more than 10 years as the Learning Centre’s Program Delivery Coordinator. As our main point of liaison for key... stakeholder engagement, she monitors trends in learner needs and in turn provides detailed oversight of the planning and implementation of our training schedule across Queensland. Marisa is also responsible for our marketing, course catalogue and quarterly e-newsletter, and if you’re not sure which course to undertake she can also assist in planning a suitable learning pathway.
When not busy planning our core activities, Marisa is keen on all things outdoors. An active rock climber, hiker, mountain biker and camper, she loves spending her personal time travelling and exploring. Most weekends she’s out doing just that; getting dirt under her nails and photographing our spectacular natural world while she’s at it.
When not suffering ‘creative block’ Marisa is also a lifelong artist and writer. But these days her creativity is more often expressed through her much-loved garden where she experiences many flashes of inspiration that she brings back to the workplace.
Melissa Branjerdporn
BSocWk, MCouns, MSuicid
Clinical Educator
Melissa is a social worker with over 27 years of experience across various fields, including child protection, youth justice, sexual abuse counselling and child and youth mental health... services. Before joining the Learning Centre in 2018, she worked as a clinical educator within Evolve Therapeutic Services (Child and Youth Mental Health Service) for 10 years.
Melissa has also worked within the Child and Youth Mental Health Services Eating Disorders Program, the Rural and Remote Supervision Program and Forensic Child and Youth Mental Health Service. She brings significant experience working therapeutically and systematically with children, young people and their significant others. Melissa has completed a Master in Suicidology in 2024 (Griffith University) and is responsible for the suicide prevention portfolio within the learning centre.
As an educator, her priority is providing learners with opportunities to reflect on their practice experience, share their wisdom, and strengthen their knowledge, confidence and skills to provide compassionate care. She is keen to ensure her training is practical, applied and fun. Melissa's qualifications include a Bachelor of Social Work (UQ) and a Master of Counselling (QUT), and she maintains her Certificate IV in Training and Assessment currency. She is also an accredited trainer in Youth Mental Health First Aid training, Mental Health First Aid for Suicidal Persons and Mental Health First Aid for Non-suicidal Self-Injury.
Melissa
BNursing, GradDipMentalHlthNursing, MForMentH, CertIVTraing&Assess
Clinical Educator
Melissa is a clinical educator with over 20 years’ experience in her field of mental health nursing. Melissa has worked in a variety of mental health settings including student... support services, crisis response, and extended mental health care.
Melissa has a special interest in forensic mental health and has extensive experience in this area including roles in forensic inpatient settings and the custodial environment.
Melissa’s knowledge and mental health experience ensures learning is relevant and is focused on improving consumer outcomes and recovery, while supporting professional growth of the mental health workforce.
Pauline
DipQualAudit, GCertHlthMgt(QH)
Quality and Compliance Coordinator
Pauline's career journey with Queensland Health began in 1994. Over the years, she has accumulated a wealth of experience, that in 2007, she brought to her role within ...the Learning Centre.
Pauline has actively participated in a wide array of programs spanning West Moreton Health. This hands-on engagement has cultivated a keen sense of focus on matters of quality and compliance.
Pauline possesses the ability to structure, monitor, and refine processes, ensuring that the Learning Centre consistently elevates its training resources and practices. Her attention to detail and commitment to continuous improvement play a vital role in the centre’s success.
Sandi Darling
BDesSt, C.Dec
Program Development Coordinator
Sandi is our Program Development Coordinator, responsible for designing and administering initiatives developed to achieve goals set out under Better Care Together... This has included the establishment of our Lived Experience Training Team and the creation of additional identified scholarship places within the established Mental Health Scholarship Scheme which are prioritised for meritorious Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and culturally and linguistically diverse applicants.
Sandi is a seasoned public servant, having developed her project management, codesign and governance skills in fields as diverse as clean energy, capital works, heritage, the arts, and health.
Sandi’s passion is crafting elegant solutions to complex problems with a focus on the end user – she can often be heard saying “we can improve that if we just…”
Dr Stephanie
PhD (Cognitive Psychology), BSc (Hons, Psychology)
Research Development Coordinator
Stephanie is a cognitive psychologist with expertise in the areas of thinking, reasoning, and decision making. Her research career as an academic... has focused on human rationality; specifically, intuitive logic, biased reasoning, and moral judgement.
She is currently acting as the Research Development Coordinator at the Learning Centre. In this capacity, she is responsible for the analysis and evaluation of data derived from the centre’s diverse learning programs, ensuring strict adherence to National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines. Proficient in research methodology, she aims to stay current with the latest research-based developments, making significant contributions to systematic reviews and program reports.
With a solid foundation in psychometrics and advanced statistical analysis, she is well equipped to validate and effectively communicate research findings to stakeholders. Her strategic thinking, collaborative work style, and project management skills are in alignment with the Learning Centre's objectives. She also expresses eagerness to apply her cognitive psychology background to contribute meaningfully to the impactful work in mental health education, wherever possible.
The Learning Centre provides a state wide training service. Our educators travel throughout Queensland to make attending training easier for you. Whilst Queensland Health mental health service professionals are our primary target audience, training is highly appropriate to others. You can enrol in our training if you are a:
This short video provides an overview as to what services the
Learning Centre can offer your organisation to support the
development of eLearning and online resources for your workforce.
You can select closed captions by clicking
on the video.
