Sunlight Centre Training
Sunlight is a recognised leader in delivering practical mental health workshops and training across workplaces, schools, communities and for mental health practitioners. Our programs equip participants with real-life tools that strengthen teams, improve communication and increase psychosocial safety.
All Sunlight training and programs directly cross-fund our core service of free counselling for people experiencing suicidal distress and self-harm. By choosing Sunlight for your training needs, you are also directly supporting life-saving support in your community.
Our Training is suitable for all levels: from volunteers and front-facing staff through to leadership and executive teams. Speak to us today about how we make our Training suit your needs.
Training Sectors
Practical mental health training that strengthens teams, improves communication, and builds psychosocial risk awareness so workplaces can support safer, healthier and more productive environments.
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Workshops that equip students, teachers and school communities with practical tools to understand mental health, support peers and build resilience in the challenges young people face today.
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Training and advanced workshops for counsellors, psychologists, social workers and mental health practitioners of all levels. Designed to sharpen clinical skills, deepen therapeutic understanding and expand practical tools used in real client work.
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Accessible mental health workshops designed for community groups, parents, clubs and organisations, providing practical tools that help people support their own wellbeing and those around them.
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The Sunlight Insight Workshop
Sunlight’s flagship 3-hour workshop delivers practical, engaging psychoeducation on some of the most common and relevant mental health challenges affecting Australians today. Delivered by an experienced mental health clinician, the workshop combines current mental health insight with real-life, usable tools that participants can apply in everyday life, at work, at school and in the community.
- Build greater self-awareness and emotional intelligence
- Understand Australia’s most common mental health challenges
- Learn practical tools used in real counselling settings
- Strengthen communication and mental health literacy
- Support psychosocial safety in workplaces and communities
“One of the most practical and engaging mental health workshops we’ve attended. The tools were simple, powerful and immediately useful.”
Workshop Participant
Make 3-Hours Matter
At the heart of this workshop is the Sunlight Centre Insight Therapy Model, the same practical model used by Sunlight clinicians with clients since 2017. The model helps build self-awareness, strengthen emotional intelligence, empower participants, and provide simple, effective tools that support overall wellbeing and psychosocial safety.
Every Sunlight Insight Workshop includes our S.U.N. Action Plan. A practical tool to help you remember and apply what you’ve learned when supporting a friend, colleague or loved one in distress. Participants also receive course handouts and a pocket guide featuring the Insight Model and S.U.N. Action Plan.
Training Modules
Extend the impact of your Sunlight training with a range of practical add-on modules designed to deepen learning, target specific needs, and create lasting outcomes for your organisation. These modules can be tailored and combined to support everything from team development to psychosocial WHS requirements and real-world workplace challenges.
Sunlight also offers consultation across critical incidents, psychosocial WHS compliance, and complex mental health matters within workplaces, schools and organisations, with the option to integrate this support alongside your training.
Below is a sample of available Modules for any Sector.
Active Listening & Communication
Module Time:
3 Hours
Main Takeaways:
Clinician-level active listening skills used in real counselling settings
Techniques to ensure others feel heard, validated and professionally cared for
Awareness and reduction of unhelpful or “toxic” language
Stronger communication across teams and environments
Best Suited For:
Front-line staff, volunteers, team leaders, managers, directors
Overview:
Through an engaging and interactive workshop style, participants learn by doing. Practising real skills through guided activities, group interaction and evidence-informed teaching methods that support lasting learning. Participants will learn clinician-level active listening and communication skills, including summarising, identifying and reducing toxic language, and techniques that ensure others feel heard, validated and professionally cared for. This module provides lifelong skills that can be used across both professional and personal settings.
Conflict to Connect: a practical conflict resolution workshop
Module Time:
3 Hours
Main Takeaways:
Practical tools to manage and de-escalate conflict
Understanding emotional triggers and reactive patterns
Techniques to move conversations from conflict to connection
Improved confidence in handling difficult conversations
Best Suited For:
Front-line staff, volunteers, team leaders, managers, directors.
Overview:
Through an engaging and highly interactive workshop style, participants learn by doing. Practising real conflict scenarios through guided activities, group interaction and evidence-informed teaching methods that support lasting learning. Participants will learn practical frameworks to manage conflict, understand emotional responses, and shift from reactive behaviours to constructive, connection-based communication. This module includes real-life scenarios and equips participants with tools they can immediately apply in both workplace and personal interactions.
QLD Workplace Health & Safety compliance with Psychosocial Risks & Hazards
Module Time:
3 Hours
Main Takeaways:
Understanding & identifying psychosocial hazards and workplace risks
Practical strategies to support a psychologically safe environment
Awareness of individual and organisational responsibilities under WHS
Tools to strengthen culture, communication and early intervention
Best Suited For:
Team leaders, managers, directors – a front-line and volunteer tailored module can be delivered.
Overview:
Through an engaging and interactive workshop style, participants learn by doing and will apply practical concepts through discussion, reflection and evidence-informed teaching methods that support lasting learning.Participants will develop a clear understanding of psychosocial risks in the workplace and their role in supporting a safe and compliant environment. This module provides practical strategies aligned with WHS expectations, helping organisations build safer, more aware and supportive cultures.
Trauma-Informed Practice
Module Time:
1.5 Hours
Main Takeaways:
Understanding what trauma is and how it impacts us
Recognising signs of trauma in others
Practical, respectful ways to respond and support
Maintaining professional boundaries while supporting others
Best Suited For:
Front-line staff, volunteers, team leaders, managers, directors – especially Organisations that engage with complex cases.
Overview:
Participants gain an understanding of what trauma is, the many types of trauma, and how trauma can affect any of us. This module provides practical, respectful approaches to support others while maintaining appropriate boundaries and creating psychologically safe environments.
Leadership Development
Module Time:
3 Hours
Main Takeaways:
Strengthen communication skills for leading individuals and teams
Build emotional intelligence to support team wellbeing and performance
Practical tools to manage conflict, supervision and difficult conversations
Develop the ability to create psychologically safe and supportive team environments
Best Suited For:
Front-line staff stepping into leadership, team leaders, managers, supervisors, directors.
Overview:
Aimed at staff who are new, current or stepping into leadership roles, this module is designed to build and strengthen leadership capability within a mental health and psychosocial framework. Through an engaging and interactive learning environment, participants will learn by doing; strengthening their communication skills, increasing emotional intelligence, and learning additional practical tools to support team wellbeing and navigate workplace challenges. This workshop builds on existing leadership strengths while equipping participants with additional techniques to lead psychologically safe, connected and high-performing teams.
Consultation & Critical Incident Support
Module Time:
3 Hours
Main Takeaways:
Clear, practical guidance on responding to critical mental health incidents in the workplace
How to safely support a team member impacted by suicide, self-harm or serious mental health concerns
Confidence in having appropriate conversations and knowing what to say (and what not to say)
Understanding boundaries, duty of care, and when to refer to professional support
Strategies to support teams during return-to-work and ongoing recovery
Best Suited For:
Team leaders, managers, supervisors, directors, HR and leadership teams.
Overview:
Aimed at leadership and teams navigating complex and sensitive situations, this module is designed to build confidence and capability in responding to critical mental health incidents. Through an engaging and interactive learning environment, participants will explore real-world scenarios such as suicide, self-harm, mental health crises, and return-to-work situations.
Sunlight brings extensive experience in supporting individuals and organisations through these moments. This module strengthens existing leadership skills while adding practical tools to respond safely, appropriately and with care. Sunlight can also be engaged to provide direct consultation and support following a specific incident, helping your organisation navigate these situations with confidence and compassion.
WHS Psychosocial Training. Are you WHS Compliant?
Not being mental health ready or WHS Psychosocial compliant in your organisation can affect both your team and your organisation.
We, at the Sunlight Centre run our consultation and training through both the ‘Personal Filter’ and ‘Organisational Filter’ so you know both your Team and your Organisation are in good hands.
Data from Safe Work Australia, Key Work Health and Safety Statistics Australia, 2023–24
4 to 5 times longer off work
On average, when staff take Leave for a mental health injury claim, the time they take is 4 to 5 times longer than staff taking leave for physical injury claims. that’s an increase of over 380%.
3 to 4 times higher compensation costs
The average payout amounts for a successful mental health claim is on average, 4 to 5 times greater when compared to physical injury claims. That’s an increase of over 310%.
The Sunlight Centre can support your organisation in two key ways. Through our workshops and consultation, we equip your team with practical mental health skills and tools that support day-to-day wellbeing, helping individuals better manage challenges and potentially reducing time away from work due to mental health concerns.
At the same time, engaging Sunlight demonstrates a proactive approach to identifying and addressing psychosocial risks in the workplace. Our training supports organisations in strengthening their WHS practices and evidencing their commitment to creating a psychologically safer work environment.
Learn how to identify psychosocial risks and hazards within your organisation
Build practical skills to respond early to mental health concerns in your team
Strengthen communication and support strategies across all levels of staff
Contribute to a safer, more proactive workplace aligned with WHS psychosocial expectations
Workplace / Corporate Training
Your team and your organisation can stay on top of mental health in the workplace by engaging The Sunlight Centre’s experienced clinicians to deliver practical, sector-specific training tailored to your needs. Our workshops are designed for all levels of staff from front-facing teams and volunteers through to leaders and Directors, ensuring a consistent and confident approach to mental health across your organisation.
We can also work alongside your HR team to tailor or refine training based on current challenges, workplace dynamics, or specific incidents your organisation may be navigating. At the Sunlight Centre, we have found this approach helps staff feel heard, validated and professionally cared for by their organisation, while also strengthening communication, awareness and overall team wellbeing.
“One of the most practical and engaging mental health workshops we’ve attended. The tools were simple, powerful and immediately useful.”
Workshop Participant
Sector Modules
- Active Listening & Communication
- Psychosocial Safety & WHS
- Conflict to Connection
- Trauma-Informed Practice
- Leadership Development
- Consultation & Critical Incident Support
Contact us Today for Availability
Schools & Youth Training
At the Sunlight Centre, we know it takes a village to raise and support a young person. Within schools and youth settings, there are many layers of support surrounding each student from peers and families through to teachers, volunteers and leadership teams. That is why Sunlight delivers sector-specific training across all key groups, including students and young people of all ages and backgrounds, families and caregivers, and staff at every level; from volunteers and teacher aides through to middle leadership, senior leadership, Principals and Directors. Each module is designed to provide practical, age-appropriate and role-specific skills that participants can apply in real life.
A key part of this approach is our multi-layered Conflict to Connection program, which can be delivered across different groups within the same school community. Our recommended model includes a youth-focused workshop delivered during the school day (e.g. Year 9 or equivalent), followed by a caregiver-focused workshop delivered that evening. Both groups engage with similar concepts, language and tools, and receive handouts and a take-home resource (such as a fridge magnet), supporting young people and the adults around them to meet in the middle with shared understanding and skills.
“One of the most practical and engaging mental health workshops we’ve attended. The tools were simple, powerful and immediately useful.”
Workshop Participant
Sector Modules
- Here to Hear — Active Listening skills for school staff and volunteers
- Leadership Development (Youth-Focused) — building emotionally intelligent, mentally healthy school leaders
- TALKs Program — peer-to-peer support training for students, equipping young people with active listening, communication skills, and current mental health knowledge relevant to their age group
Contact us Today for Availability
Professional Development
“One of the most practical and engaging mental health workshops we’ve attended. The tools were simple, powerful and immediately useful.”
Workshop Participant
Sector Modules
- Introduction to Counselling
- Masterclass: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Masterclass: Anxiety Disorders
- Masterclass: Mindfulness
- Clinical Supervision & Reflective Practice
Contact us for our Training Calendar
Community Mental Health Workshops
The Sunlight Centre is committed to supporting the wider community through accessible and affordable mental health training, with many workshops offered free of charge. Our aim is to psychoeducate the community with practical, easy-to-use skills that help individuals better understand and monitor their own mental health, while also equipping them to recognise and respond to signs of distress in family members, friends and neighbours.
Our community workshops are designed to be engaging, relatable and immediately applicable, giving participants the confidence to support themselves and those around them in everyday situations. By building these skills at a community level, we help create stronger, more connected and mentally aware environments where people feel more supported and less alone.
Local Businesses can contact Sunlight about sponsoring Community Workshops
“One of the most practical and engaging mental health workshops we’ve attended. The tools were simple, powerful and immediately useful.”
Workshop Participant
Sector Modules
- Sunlight Insight Workshop — practical tools for self-awareness and everyday mental wellbeing
- Conflict to Connection & Family Conflict Resolution — supporting healthier communication within families
- Teens & Tech — understanding the impact of technology and social media on youth mental health
- Understanding Mental Health — recognising common signs and knowing how to respond
- Supporting Others in Distress — practical guidance for helping friends, family and community members