Mental Health Social Worker

Written By Cristy Houghton

Mental Health Social Workers (MHSW) are an integral profession to promote recovery and restore personal and social well-being.

Social work advocates for fairness, social justice, human rights and inclusion and is in high demand with mental health settings being historically the traditional setting in which they would be employed (Bland et al, 2009).  

What does a MHSW do?

Social workers to play a vital role as an intermediary between the client and community or government services. Social workers are skilled at assessing, analysing, connecting and monitoring a person’s health and welfare.  As such, they are employed across the lifespan and through various levels of recovery in mental health settings (Bland et al, 2009). 

According to AIHW in 2022, there were 2900 MHSWs working in the field within Australia. MHSWs work as a vital part of a multidisciplinary team and have long championed valuing the lived experience and, overarchingly, the complexity of the person/environment interface. It can be argued that SW is like other allied health and nursing professions in mental health, as evidenced by the similarity of tasks, ethics and values. However, Bland et al. (2009) highlight that SW are trained differently and with a unique worldview (p. 11) grounded in sociology and social justice, and in MH settings, the consequences of these. 

Social workers have a strong grasp of logic, scientific inquiry, and sound reasoning. They utilise critical thinking skills, which are further enhanced by creativity and a desire for knowledge. This critical thinking involves the ability to synthesise information and communicate it effectively. Social workers assess and evaluate different sources of knowledge, integrating research-based insights with practical wisdom (Wyder, 2024). 

 Social Workers support individuals, families, groups and communities experiencing a range of difficulties. They provide practical support in the form of counselling, advocacy and referrals to promote wellbeing.  

How to become a MHSW

Undergraduate /Qualifying

Social work requires a Bachelor of Social Work (4-year bachelor's degree) or a Master of Social Work (2-year post-graduate degree). Each degree requires a work placement. 

Clinical placement

Social work students typically have two longer clinical placements in the latter stage of their 3rd year and early stage of their 4th year. Placement length totalling approximately 1000 hours, which can be divided across direct client work and indirect learning within a connection via community setting, policy or research.  

Postgraduate

You can become a qualified Social Worker if you have another undergraduate degree by completing a recognised Master's Social Work. Postgraduate study options in the field include a Doctorate in Social Work 

Credentialling

Accredited Mental Health Social Workers (AMHSWs) use a range of strategies to support people experiencing mental health issues. These social workers have completed advanced training and education in mental health and are recognised providers with Medicare Australia. Accreditation eligibility requires a minimum of two years in a mental health role in the past five years, CPD requirements, and completing a case study assessment. (Australian Association of Social Workers, 2025). These social workers need to demonstrate they have completed advanced training and education in mental health and are recognised providers with Medicare Australia. 

Career pathways in Social Work 

MHSW have the opportunity to explore further development and specialisations. This might include a focus on additional training in specialised areas of practice and advanced focused psychological strategies, for example: eye movement desensitisation reprocessing therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy.  

In the public sector, social workers are typically employed under the relevant state health or community services award (e.g. in New South Wales, the NSW Health Service Health Professionals Award or the SCHADS Award for NGO roles). Public sector roles offer structured pay scales, formal supervision, and access to leave entitlements, while private practice and NGO roles may offer greater flexibility and, for AMHSWs in private practice, the ability to set their own fees above the Medicare schedule fee. In rural areas, many employers offer additional incentives including rural health allowances, accommodation support, and enhanced leave provisions to attract social workers to hard-to-fill positions (ACAP, 2025; AASW, 2024).

Under the Medicare scheme, Accredited Mental Health Social Workers (AMHSWs) are eligible to deliver services under the Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative (Department of Health and Aged Care, 2026; AASW, 2024). AMHSWs may also provide services under other Medicare arrangements such as Chronic Disease Management, where appropriate. Historically, AMHSWs were providers within the Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS) program, which is now largely replaced by PHN‑commissioned mental health services. Better Access services may be delivered via telehealth, with expanded availability for clients in rural, remote and very remote areas. Current Medicare rebates for AMHSW services are approximately $87.25 per session, while AASW suggested private practice fees for accredited members are around $289 per hour (AASW, 2025).

Disclaimer: The information contained in this download is intended to make career options in mental health more transparent and should only be used as a broad guide only. It illustrates example grades, steps and career directions for health professionals and does not represent an exhaustive or guaranteed career pathway. Progression may vary depending on role, discipline, experience, qualifications, organisational requirements and applicable industrial instruments. Examples of government rebates and general hourly rates for private services are only to be used as a guide and for accurate and up to date figures, please consult original sources.

Cristy Houghton
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