Professional development military awareness

Our free online training courses and webinars are designed to help clinicians, practice nurses and other clinical practice staff to better support the mental health needs of veterans.

Where a certificate is awarded through DVA Train, health professionals may use it to claim Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points.

Essential online training

A range of essential training courses is available online to support your work with veterans.

  • lived experience peer
    Online training
    One hour

    Open Arms Practitioner’s Guide

    A program for counsellors and providers to understand common mental health impacts from military service, clinical treatment expectations, psychological and resilience training used by the ADF.

    New users can register using the code 'ext'.

    Registered users login via DVA Train.

  • tri service
    Online training
    Two hours

    Understanding our veterans: the ADF and the people who serve

    A program to provide an overview of military history, the impact of a veteran's military service, special issues impacting a veteran and DVA support for veterans.

    New users can register using the code 'ext'.

    Registered users login via DVA Train.

  • case study mick image
    Online training - CPD points
    Two hours

    Understanding the military experience

    A program for mental health clinicians to better understand veteran patients, the long-term effects of military service on mental health, and how military training and culture shape behaviours after service.

    New users can register using the code 'ext'.

    Registered users login via DVA Train.

  • Online training - CPD points
    Four to six hours

    PTSD psychological interventions program

    A program for mental health clinicians to better understand treatments for PTSD, including: case studies, active learning activities and video demonstrations. Users may tailor training by focusing on what they are most interested in.

    New users can register using the code 'ext'.

    Registered users login via DVA Train.

  • Online training - CPD points
    Three hours

    Case Formulation

    This program assists clinicians to identify presenting problems likely to have the most impact on recovery and set priorities for treatment. Users will learn about the case formulation approach from experts, watch demonstrations of case formulation and practice case formulation based on veteran case studies.

    New users can register using the code 'ext'.

    Registered users login via DVA Train.

Mental Health Professionals Network (MHPN) webinars

DVA collaborated with the MHPN to develop a series of 15 free online webinars. Health professionals accessing recordings through DVA Train can generate certificates under ‘Achievements’ to be used for claiming CPD points.

New users register using the code 'ext'.

Registered users login via DVA Train.

  • 1 hour webinar - CPD points

    Understanding the veteran experience

    The webinar explores the meaning of military culture. Including veterans mental health at home, deployment and transition, and evidence-based treatment and practices available

    Webinar supporting documents

  • 1 hour webinar - CPD points

    The military experience and mental health

    Better understand the experience and meaning of military culture in relation to veteran mental health in order to gain increased confidence in responding to veterans’ mental health needs.

    Webinar supporting documents

  • 1 hour webinar - CPD points

    A snapshot of Australian veterans' mental health research

    A facilitated panel discussion about the Transition and Wellbeing Research Programme Mental Health Prevalence and Pathways to Care research initiatives.

    Webinar supporting documents

  • 1 hour webinar - CPD points

    Impact of veterans' mental health on families Part 1

    Better recognise how families, partners and children of veterans struggling with mental health issues may be impacted, and the support options available.

    Webinar supporting documents

  • 1 hour webinar - CPD points

    Impact of veterans' mental health on families Part 2

    Better recognise how families, partners and children of veterans struggling with mental health issues may be impacted, and the support options available.

    Webinar supporting documents

  • 1 hour webinar - CPD points

    Military member to civilian

    Highlights the unique challenges relating to identity and sense of self, and presents evidence-based interventions to minimise the negative impacts and maximise the individual strengths of veterans transitioning out of military service

    Webinar supporting documents

  • 1 hour webinar - CPD points

    Responding to and treating PTSD

    This webinar gives you the essential knowledge to understand and treat PTSD in the veteran community. Responding to and Treating Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

    Webinar supporting documents

  • 1 hour webinar - CPD points

    Treating PTSD in Veterans

    This webinar explores a range of clinical comorbidities and systemic issues that may impede successful treatment of PTSD - even when you are following evidence based best practice.

    Webinar supporting documents

  • 1 hour webinar - CPD points

    Insomnia and nightmares

    Promoting Healthy Sleep: Recognising, Responding to and Treating Common Sleep Disorders in Veterans provides evidence-based insights into common sleep disorders experienced by veterans

    Webinar supporting documents

  • 1 hour webinar - CPD points

    Assessment and treatment of anger

    Better recognise the characteristics, prevalence and risks associated with anger among military personnel and veterans, and effective evidence-based approaches to support veterans struggling with anger

    Webinar supporting documents

  • 1 hour webinar - CPD points

    Veterans in Pain

    Better recognise the complex relationship between chronic pain and mental health, presentations specific to the veteran community, and evidence based approaches to treatment

    Webinar supporting documents

  • 1 hour webinar - CPD points

    Addiction and avoidance

    Better understand the characteristics, prevalence and risks associated with substance abuse among military personnel and veterans, including the the evidence-based psychological and medical treatment options available.

    Webinar supporting documents

  • 1 hour webinar - CPD points

    Comorbid Mental Health Conditions

    Better recognise the risk indicators, warning signs and protective factors for psychiatric comorbidities in veterans, and evidence-based assessment, formulation and treatment options available.

    Webinar supporting documents

  • 1 hour webinar - CPD points

    Suicide prevention and the veteran community

    Better recognise the risk indicators, warning signs and protective factors for suicide in the veteran community, and support services available for veterans and their families.

    Webinar supporting documents

  • 1 hour webinar - CPD points

    Suicide Prevention and Safety Planning

    This webinar explores current American and Australian research and perspectives on suicide prevention and safety planning.  Participants will learn tips and take-away tools to assist in safety planning in the veteran community

    Webinar supporting documents

Other eLearning programs and opportunities

Other useful training courses are available online.

  • PE_web
    Interactive training program

    Prolonged Exposure

    An online, interactive training program designed to teach mental health providers how to implement Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy, with a particular focus on the treatment of military and combat-related PTSD.

    See: PE web

  • CPT_web
    9 hour online training

    CPT web

    A web-based learning course for CPT with particular focus on the treatment of military and combat-related PTSD. Developed by the Medical University of South Carolina.

    See: CPT web

  • PTSD 101

    US Department of Veteran Affairs

    US Department of Veteran Affairs National Center for PTSD offers online training on assessment, prolonged exposure and cognitive processing therapy.

    See: National Center for PTSD continuing education

  • ISTSS

    ISTSS continuing education

    Low cost access to webinars and expert training courses related to PTSD and trauma provided by the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.

    See: ISTSS

  • NCTSN logo

    NCTSN Learning Center for Child and Adolescent Trauma

    US-based organisation that provides online courses on a range of topics including psychological first aid, complex trauma and military families with a focus on children, adolescents and families.

    See: NCTSN

  • TPI

    Traumatic brain injury (TBI) training

    Self-study modules on understanding cognitive and behavioural changes following TBI, and managing related mental health problems.

    See: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) training

  • deployment physch

    Center for Deployment Psychology

    US-based organisation that provides introductory level web-based courses relevant to clinicians who treat serving members and veterans.

    See: Center for Deployment Psychology

  • MHPOD logo

    Mental Health Professional Online Development (MHPOD)

    Provides evidence-based online learning resources on topics including recovery, engagement, assessment, relevant legislation, ethics and managing comorbidity.

    See: MHPOD