VAFA Clubs Undertake Mental Health and First Aid Training

On Sunday, the VAFA played host to a Mental Health First Aid course and a First Aid training course for VAFA Club Stakeholders. This was a complimentary professional development opportunity offered to all VAFA Clubs, culminating in $6,000 worth of value administered through training courses on this occasion.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training was delivered by Mental Health Education Group and was attended by 16 people from a variety of VAFA clubs including Mazenod Old Collegians, Wattle Park AFC, Ajax AFC, and West Brunswick AFC. The training helped participants gain a greater understanding of the challenges associated with mental health and provided tools and support material to help manage the mental health conversation. All participants will also receive a formal accreditation for being a part of the training.

Simultaneously, First Aid training was delivered by Sports Medicine Australia to a different group of VAFA Stakeholders; predominantly VAFA Sports Trainers. The training consisted of practical CPR, wound care, management of fractures and dislocations, injury reporting, and concussion and neck injuries. Participants walk away with a nationally recognised accreditation, HLTAID011 – Provide First Aid.

Both MHFA and First Aid training were delivered for free to VAFA Clubs and Stakeholders through VAFA’s partnership with Thick & Thin, Mental Health Education Group and AFL Victoria. The cost of MHFA is normally $250 and the cost of First Aid accreditation is normally $150.

The VAFA has many more free opportunities to undertake Mental Health First Aid and First Aid Training and would ask all Clubs or Stakeholders who are interested to please contact VAFA Clubs & Community Manager, Sean Walker.