Case Studies

Redesigning Chisholm Institute's Certificate IV in Mental Health for a changing workforce

Written by Curio Group | Aug 10, 2026, 9:00:00 AM

The challenge

The qualification had served learners over time, but the mental health workforce was changing. Employers increasingly expected new practitioners to bring digital confidence, trauma-informed approaches and cultural capability into their work.

Updating a handful of resources wouldn't ensure those capabilities were developed consistently across the qualification.

The approach

Curio reviewed workforce trends and emerging skill demand before redesigning the curriculum. Chisholm educators contributed teaching and sector expertise, while Curio helped map emerging capabilities through the program in alignment with formal qualification requirements.

The design aimed to remain practical for Chisholm's team to deliver without ongoing external dependence.

What Curio delivered

  • Mental health workforce and market analysis
  • Identification of emerging skill requirements
  • Collaborative curriculum redesign
  • Integration of digital literacy
  • Integration of trauma-informed practice
  • Integration of cultural capability
  • Alignment with qualification requirements
  • A design Chisholm educators could deliver consistently

The result

Chisholm gained a future-focused Certificate IV design more closely connected to contemporary mental health support work and the capabilities employers expected of graduates.