Studying the Bachelor of Community Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs (CMHAOD) at Chisholm helped Tracey build her confidence, find community, and discover how capable she truly is. Moving from Kenya to Melbourne to pursue her education was a big change, but the experience has strengthened her academically, personally, and professionally.

Tracey realised she didn’t fully understand mental health until she began exploring it more deeply, which motivated her to study the Bachelor of CMHAOD at Chisholm’s Berwick campus. As an international student who had completed Year 12 in her home country, the transition into higher education initially felt daunting. However, through her studies, Tracey developed strong critical thinking skills, deepened her understanding of mental health, and learned to approach complex issues with confidence. The combination of theory and hands‑on experience has given her a solid foundation for her future career and broadened her perspective on mental health in ways she hadn’t expected.

Georgina Hubbard, Coordinator of the Bachelor of Community Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs (CMHAOD), explains that the three‑year degree covers a wide range of subjects, such as counselling, research, community development, and lifespan development. Students also complete 200 hours of fieldwork placement to build practical skills and prepare for industry roles. She says the qualification opens multiple pathways into further study or employment and is highly regarded across the sector. As Georgina explains, the Bachelor of Community Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs is a Community Work Australia accredited course, “very well respected in the industry, with lots of opportunities for postgraduate students.”

Adapting to a new country came with challenges for Tracey. Finding her independence, building social networks, and navigating a new education system was difficult, but says the support at Chisholm made her feel she could truly thrive. Student Services helped her secure accommodation close to campus, and the counselling and wellbeing teams were a constant source of reassurance. She also found comfort in the small class sizes, which created a welcoming, family‑like environment where she could form real connections with her educators and peers. With academic learning support, orientation programs and a careers team guiding students through placements and future employment, Tracey felt supported at every stage of her studies.

For Tracey, community has been one of the most meaningful parts of her journey. She has formed strong friendships with classmates from different cultural backgrounds, sharing lived experiences that have been both motivating and empowering. These connections encouraged her to persist and helped build the confidence she now carries.

Tracey
“The course has helped me believe in myself, my goals, and my future career possibilities. I now feel confident discussing mental health openly and reassuring others that it is okay not to be okay.”

When she graduates, Tracey hopes to become a Community Mental Health Worker or Case Coordinator. In the long term, she aspires to contribute to policy development to help improve mental health outcomes for others.

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