Mental Health First Aid Australia

What Mental Health First Aid Australia does

Mental Health First Aid Australia (MHFA Australia) is a non-profit, ACNC-registered charity founded in 2000 and headquartered in Parkville, Victoria, that designs and disseminates evidence-based mental health first-aid training programs. Its core product is the Standard MHFA course, delivered through a licensed-instructor model: the organisation trains and accredits instructors (3,000+ in Australia and 55,000+ globally through MHFA International), who in turn train approximately 130,000 participants per year in Australia. The product portfolio has been deliberately segmented by audience and use case, including Youth MHFA, Teen MHFA, an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander program, specialised modules on suicide and non-suicidal self-injury, sector-specific courses for financial services, legal, and pharmacy professionals, an Older Person MHFA course, and programs for tertiary students and veterans.

The underlying methodology is built around the proprietary ALGEE action plan and is grounded in published Australian-first research, which has driven institutional adoption and policy recognition (including by Suicide Prevention Australia and the National Mental Health Workforce Strategy). MHFA Australia monetises through four streams: per-participant course fees (pricing set by accredited instructors); government and institutional grants, including a $6.7 million Health Professional Students program and DVA-funded Mental Health Protect; an annual Workplace Recognition Program subscription used by approximately 300 organisations including named corporates (Toll, Sanofi, Lendlease among the disclosed logos); and donations plus merchandise revenue. The most recent strategic posture in 2024–2025 emphasises expansion of the curriculum into employer-facing programs (The Working Mind), federally funded segments (veterans, health-professional students), and adjacent verticals such as problem gambling, while leveraging the international replication footprint to reinforce global brand authority.

Name

Mental Health First Aid Australia

Legal name

Mental Health First Aid International

Website

https://mhfa.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mental Health First Aid Australia is a non-profit founded in 2000 that trains and accredits instructors to deliver evidence-based mental-health first-aid courses to workplaces, schools, health professionals, and community groups across Australia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Education & Training Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Emergency Response, First Aid/CPR/AED & Incident Management Training (BPAKAOAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Staff Training, Coaching & Professional Development (SEL/Mental Health) (EDAKAMAL), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGAEAH)

Keywords

• Mental health training
• Workplace wellness programs
• Suicide prevention education
• First aid certification
• Health professional education

Headquarters

HQ city

Parkville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Course Fees: Licensed MHFA Instructors set their own course fees independently. Fees vary based on course type, instructor qualifications, venue, location (metropolitan vs regional), catering, and available subsidies. Mental Health First Aid Australia does not employ instructors directly.
2. Workplace Recognition Program: Fee-for-service program with tiered recognition framework (Skilled, Advanced, Master tiers) that provides structured support, resources, recognition opportunities, and exclusive benefits to participating organisations. NFP bursaries and discounts available. Free for education settings.
3. Government Grants: Funded programs including $6.7 million Australian Government grant for Health Professional Students program, Department of Veterans' Affairs funding for Mental Health Protect program, and Office of Responsible Gambling NSW funding for GambleAware program.
4. Donations: Tax-deductible donations accepted to support the organisation's vision of a community where everyone has first aid skills to support people with mental health problems.
5. Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling merchandise through shop.mhfa.com.au

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Mental Health First Aid Australia is a national not-for-profit provider of evidence-based mental health first aid education. It develops and licenses a portfolio of standardized mental health first aid courses (Standard MHFA, Youth MHFA, Teen MHFA, specialised crisis courses, and industry- and culture-specific variants), trains and accredits a nationwide network of over 3,000 Licensed Instructors who deliver the courses in workplaces, schools, tertiary institutions, and community settings, and operates a tiered Workplace Recognition Program along with several fully funded government programs (Mental Health Protect for veterans, Health Professional Students, and GambleAware).

Product overview

Mental Health First Aid Australia offers a comprehensive portfolio of mental health first aid training programs and courses designed to equip individuals and organisations with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to support people experiencing mental health problems or crises. The core offering includes Standard MHFA courses available for general adults as well as specialized versions for Financial, Legal, and Pharmacy professionals, plus courses for Older Persons (65+) and Tertiary Students. Cultural-specific programs include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander MHFA for both adults and youth. Youth MHFA and Teen MHFA (peer-to-peer) address support for young people aged 12-18. Specialized crisis courses cover Suicide, Non-Suicidal Self-Injury, and Gambling harm in both standard and Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander versions. Supporting products include Refresher Courses to maintain accreditation, Instructor Training to build the trainer network, and The Working Mind workplace program. Funded programs include Mental Health Protect for veterans (DVA-funded) and Health Professional Students program. The GambleAware partnership provides free gambling-specific training in NSW. The Workplace Recognition Program offers tiered recognition for organisations committed to MHFA training.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Standard Mental Health First Aid
• Standard MHFA for Tertiary Students
• Standard MHFA for Financial Professionals
• Standard MHFA for Legal Professionals
• Standard MHFA for Pharmacy
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander MHFA
• Older Person MHFA
• The Working Mind
• Youth MHFA
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Youth MHFA
• Teen MHFA
• Conversations About Suicide MHFA
• Talking about Suicide: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander MHFA
• Conversations About Non-Suicidal Self-Injury MHFA
• Talking about Non-Suicidal Self-Injury: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander MHFA
• Conversations About Gambling MHFA
• Talking about Gambling: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander MHFA
• MHFA Refresher Courses
• Instructor Training Courses
• Mental Health Protect
• MHFA for Health Professional Students
• GambleAware Program NSW
• Workplace Recognition Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 1 in 5 Australians will experience a mental health problem in any given year, making MHFA training highly relevant
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers22 records

Segments12 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LivingWorkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLivingWorks delivers suicide prevention training (Start, safeTALK, ASIST) as part of the Mental Health Protect program. Focuses on teaching skills and strategies to keep individuals safe from suicide, providing gold standard suicide first aid training.
• Phoenix AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAppointed by DVA as independent program evaluators to determine the reach and effectiveness of Mental Health Protect training and identify program insights and improvements.
• Australian Council of Deans of Health SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of three Council of Deans leading the Health Professional Students MHFA program. Funded by $6.7 million Australian Government grant aiming to reach 115,000+ students over four years.
• Council of Deans of Nursing and MidwiferycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of three Council of Deans leading the Health Professional Students MHFA program. Partners with Medical Deans Australia and New Zealand and Australian Council of Deans of Health Sciences.
• Medical Deans Australia and New ZealandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of three Council of Deans leading the Health Professional Students MHFA program. The program was officially launched by Federal Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Emma McBride in September 2024.
• Mental Health Commission of CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported the successful implementation of The Working Mind program in Canada before MHFA International launched it in Australia.

Scale indicators22 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Black Dog Institute: Australian medical research institute focused on depression and suicide prevention, providing clinical training, workplace programs, and digital tools. Comparable in the workplace mental health training market with a more research-led positioning.
• RUOK?: Australian suicide prevention nonprofit promoting everyday conversations about mental health. Comparable as a complementary awareness and conversation-skills brand, frequently co-promoted with MHFA training and targeting the same workplaces and schools.
• Beyond Blue: Australia's largest mental health nonprofit, providing awareness, information, and support services. Comparable as a major domestic mental health nonprofit with overlapping employer and community audiences, but focused on information/support rather than skills training.
• headspace (National Youth Mental Health Foundation): Australian government-funded youth mental health service network providing clinical care, work and study support, and school-based programs. Comparable in the youth and education segments, where MHFA's Teen MHFA and Youth MHFA also operate.
• Lifeline Australia: National crisis support and suicide prevention service providing phone, text, and in-person training. Comparable as a major Australian mental health nonprofit with overlapping crisis intervention training and government funding relationships.

Direct peers

• Mental Health First Aid England: Licensed MHFA delivery organisation for England, operating the identical ALGEE-based curriculum and Licensed Instructor model. Directly comparable as a country-level peer with the same training methodology, product taxonomy, and target audiences (workplaces, schools, communities).
• LivingWorks: Global provider of suicide prevention training (safeTALK, ASIST, LivingWorks Start) that is already a delivery partner within Mental Health Protect. Highly comparable as a direct competitor in suicide prevention and mental health skills training, particularly for government and veteran contracts.
• National Council for Mental Wellbeing (Mental Health First Aid USA): Operates Mental Health First Aid in the United States under licence from MHFA International, delivering the same evidence-based curriculum and instructor network model. The largest international peer by training volume, with millions trained across US workplaces and communities.
• Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHFA Canada): Hosts MHFA delivery in Canada and originally co-developed The Working Mind workplace program that MHFA Australia now offers. Direct peer with overlapping curriculum, instructor network, and government-funded delivery model.

Others

• Suicide Prevention Australia: National peak body for suicide prevention that has formally recognised MHFA courses. Comparable as an ecosystem stakeholder providing accreditation, policy advocacy, and standards-setting that directly influences MHFA's regulatory standing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@MHFAInternational
• Facebookfacebook.com/mentalhealthfirstaid
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mental-health-first-aid-international
• Instagraminstagram.com/mhfa_international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mental Health First Aid Australia