SKillness Institute - Unlock Your Potential

SKillness Institute: Unlock Your Potential, Master Your Craft

Experience Excellence, Create Something Extraordinary

SKillness Institute is more than just a training provider. It is a place where learning meets passion, creativity leads to mastery, and potential turns into real-world impact. Whether you want to start a career, refine a skill, or explore a creative pursuit, our programs provide the tools and knowledge you need to succeed.

With hands-on, industry-focused training, we connect learning with practical experience. Our nationally accredited qualifications, professional workshops, and community-based programs are designed to develop skills, confidence, and career pathways.

A Pathway to Mastery

SKillness Institute offers more than just basic skills. Every program is designed to develop practical expertise, foster creativity, and create opportunities.
✔ Industry-led training with experienced professionals, including chefs, artists, photographers, and baristas.
✔ Hands-on experience using professional equipment and real-world training environments.
✔ Pathways to employment and further study through recognised qualifications.
✔ A supportive and inspiring learning community with mentors and peers who encourage growth.

Programs That Inspire and Transform

SKillness Institute offers a diverse range of training opportunities.
• Hospitality and Barista Training – Learn from professional baristas and chefs in a real café environment.
• Creative Arts and Photography – Develop skills with professional artists and photographers.
• Sustainable Design and Permaculture – Explore eco-friendly design and food production.
• Mental Health and Peer Support – Train for a career in mental health support with nationally accredited courses.
Whether you are looking for a career-focused qualification or a creative learning experience, there is a program to suit your goals.

A Practical and Career-Focused Approach

SKillness Institute provides professional-grade training that prepares people for real-world opportunities.
✔ Learn from industry experts with practical experience and a passion for teaching.
✔ Gain hands-on skills in real workplaces, creative studios, and training kitchens.
✔ Build connections with professionals and industry networks.
✔ Develop confidence and career pathways through accredited training and workshops.
✔ Contribute to real projects that make a positive impact on the community.

Who Can Join?

SKillness Institute welcomes anyone who wants to develop their skills and explore new opportunities. Many of our programs are funded to support people living with long-term mental health conditions, but no referral or diagnosis is required.
✔ Open to beginners, career changers, and creative learners.
✔ Flexible programs that adapt to different skill levels.
✔ Accredited courses and skill-based workshops for personal and professional growth.

Start Your Journey Today

SKillness Institute recognises potential and provides the training, confidence, and experience to achieve success. Whether you are looking for career-focused qualifications, hands-on skills, or a creative challenge, there is a program to help you move forward.

Our Current Course Offering

Barista Essentials

(Delivered by SKillness Institute – a trading name of Primary & Community Care Services Ltd RTO 45887)

☕ Discover your passion & make an impact!

Jumpstart your career in hospitality with our hands-on Barista Essentials Program. Learn from experienced baristas using commercial-grade espresso machines and gain industry-relevant skills that set you apart in the job market. This short course equips you with the essential skills for working in cafés, restaurants, and hospitality venues – or simply making the perfect coffee at home!

FREE for PCCS clients | Available to the public

Why Choose Barista Essentials?

✔ Master the art of coffee-making – Learn to craft espresso, cappuccino, lattes, and more
✔ Gain customer service skills – Provide excellent service & manage customer interactions
✔ Hands-on training – Use professional café equipment with expert guidance
✔ Industry pathways – Explore careers as a Barista, Café Assistant, or Food & Beverage Attendant

What You’ll Learn

This program includes three nationally recognised units of competency:
📜 SITXCCS014 – Provide Service to Customers
✔ Communicate effectively & deliver high-quality service
✔ Handle customer interactions & complaints professionally
📜 SITHFAB025 – Prepare and Serve Espresso Coffee
✔ Operate commercial coffee machines & grinders
✔ Extract quality espresso & texture milk for different coffee styles
✔ Take customer orders & serve beverages professionally
✔ Explore latte art techniques
📜 SITXFSA005 – Use Hygienic Practices for Food Safety
✔ Maintain food safety & hygiene standards
✔ Prevent food contamination & cross-contamination
✔ Follow correct handwashing & hygiene procedures
🎓 Outcome: Statement of Attainment in key barista and food safety competencies

Course Details

📅 Duration: 6 weeks (18 hours/week) – Total 70 hours
📍 Location: 2580 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach, QLD 4218
💰 Tuition Fee: $700* (Currently FREE for PCCS clients)
📜 Certification: Statement of Attainment upon completion
🛠 Delivery: Face-to-face, hands-on training

Who Should Enrol?

This program is perfect for:
✔ Those wanting to start a career in hospitality
✔ Coffee lovers looking to refine their barista skills
✔ Anyone keen to learn latte art & master espresso coffee
✔ Job seekers looking to boost their employability
No prior experience is needed—just a passion for coffee & customer service!

Cert IV in Mental Health

Certificate IV in Mental Health (CHC43315)

Empower Others Through Your Lived Experience

The Certificate IV in Mental Health is a nationally recognised qualification. This course provides the skills, knowledge, and confidence to support others, advocate for change, and contribute to mental health services.

This qualification is ideal for those who want to work in support roles within mental health services, offering recovery-oriented assistance to people navigating their own mental health journeys.

Why Choose This Course?

✔ Learn how to apply your skills to support others in recovery.
✔ Develop practical skills in self-advocacy, trauma-informed care, and support.
✔ Gain a nationally recognised qualification that meets industry standards.
✔ Build confidence to work in community mental health services.
✔ Study in a supportive and inclusive learning environment.

What You Will Learn

This course consists of 15 units of competency, including 11 core units and 4 elective units.

Core Units (11)

📜 CHCDIV001 – Work with Diverse People
Learn how to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds, promote inclusivity, and develop cultural awareness in mental health settings.

📜 HLTWHS001 – Participate in Workplace Health and Safety
Understand workplace safety requirements, identify risks, and implement safe work practices in a mental health environment.

📜 CHCMHS007 – Work Effectively in Trauma-Informed Care
Gain knowledge of trauma-informed care principles, self-care strategies, and approaches to supporting individuals with past trauma.

📜 CHCMHS011 – Assess and Promote Social, Emotional, and Physical Wellbeing
Learn how to assess a person’s overall wellbeing and develop strategies to promote their social, emotional, and physical health.

📜 CHCMHS008 – Promote and Facilitate Self-Advocacy
Support individuals to express their needs, make informed choices, and advocate for themselves within mental health services.

📜 CHCLEG001 – Work Legally and Ethically
Understand legal and ethical responsibilities in mental health peer work and learn how to uphold best practices in service delivery.

📜 CHCMHS002 – Establish Self-Directed Recovery Relationships
Develop strategies for building recovery-focused relationships, fostering hope, and supporting individuals in self-directed recovery.

📜 CHCMHS003 – Provide Recovery-Oriented Mental Health Services
Facilitate collaborative recovery planning, provide ongoing support, and empower individuals in their recovery journey.

📜 CHCMHS004 – Work Collaboratively with the Care Network and Other Services
Build effective relationships with support networks, families, and service providers to ensure holistic mental health care.

📜 CHCMHS005 – Provide Services to People with Co-Existing Mental Health and Alcohol or Other Drug Issues
Learn how to support individuals experiencing both mental health and substance use challenges, with a focus on harm reduction and recovery

📜 CHCDIV002 – Promote Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islanders cultural safety
Learn how to identify cultural safety issues in the workplace, model and develop strategies to improve and evaluate cultural safety.

Elective Units (4)

📜 CHCCCS019 – Recognise and respond to crisis situations
Identify warning signs of crisis, provide immediate support, and refer individuals to appropriate crisis services.

📜 CHCCCS 040 – Support Independence and Wellbeing
Recognise and support individual differences, promote independence, support physical wellbeing. Support social, emotional and psychological wellbeing.

📜 CHCADV001 – Facilitate the interests and rights of clients
Facilitate the realisation of client interests, rights and needs. Advocate in according with client preferences and requests to optimise client outcomes. Provide ongoing support to clients, support clients by making a complaint and review progress.

📜 BSBINM201 – Process and maintain workplace information
Collect information, processes workplace information and maintain information systems.

Career Pathways

Graduates of this course can pursue roles in mental health services, community organisations, and advocacy groups. Possible job outcomes include:

✔ Mental Health Support Worker
✔ Community Support Worker
✔ Lived Experience Practitioner
✔ Mental Health Recovery Coach

This qualification can also serve as a stepping stone to further study in community services or mental health.

Course Details

📅 Duration: 16 weeks (two 3-hour sessions per week, excluding holidays)
📍 Delivery: Face-to-face, interactive training sessions
💰 Tuition Fee: $TBA* (*scholarships may be available, please enquire with us)
📜 Certification: Nationally recognised Certificate IV in Mental Health

Who Should Enrol?

This course is designed for individuals who:
✔ Want to use their experiences to support others in mental health recovery.
✔ Are interested in working in community mental health services.
✔ Want to gain an entry level formal qualification.

No prior experience or formal education is required. The most important requirement is a passion for helping others through shared lived experiences.

Start Your Journey Today

Skillness Institute provides a supportive and empowering learning environment where your lived experience is recognised as a strength. This course equips you with the skills to make a meaningful impact in the lives of others.

Cert IV in Mental Health (Peer Work)

Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work (CHC43515)

Empower Others Through Your Lived Experience

The Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work is a nationally recognised qualification designed for individuals who have lived experience of mental health challenges as a consumer or carer. This course provides the skills, knowledge, and confidence to use lived experience to support others, advocate for change, and contribute to mental health services.

This qualification is ideal for those who want to work in peer support roles within mental health services, offering recovery-oriented assistance to people navigating their own mental health journeys.

Why Choose This Course?

✔ Learn how to apply your lived experience to support others in recovery.
✔ Develop practical skills in self-advocacy, trauma-informed care, and peer support.
✔ Gain a nationally recognised qualification that meets industry standards.
✔ Build confidence to work in community mental health services.
✔ Study in a supportive and inclusive learning environment.

What You Will Learn

This course consists of 15 units of competency, including 8 core units and 7 elective units.

Core Units (8)

📜 CHCDIV001 – Work with Diverse People
Learn how to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds, promote inclusivity, and develop cultural awareness in mental health settings.

📜 HLTWHS001 – Participate in Workplace Health and Safety
Understand workplace safety requirements, identify risks, and implement safe work practices in a mental health environment.

📜 CHCMHS007 – Work Effectively in Trauma-Informed Care
Gain knowledge of trauma-informed care principles, self-care strategies, and approaches to supporting individuals with past trauma.

📜 CHCMHS008 – Promote and Facilitate Self-Advocacy
Support individuals to express their needs, make informed choices, and advocate for themselves within mental health services.

📜 CHCPWK001 – Apply Peer Work Practices in the Mental Health Sector
Develop key peer work skills, apply ethical peer support practices, and build strong working relationships.

📜 CHCPWK002 – Contribute to the Continuous Improvement of Mental Health Services for Consumers and Carers
Learn how to identify service gaps, contribute to improvements, and actively support the growth of peer work in mental health services.

📜 CHCPWK003 – Apply Lived Experience in Mental Health Peer Work
Use personal lived experience to establish supportive peer relationships, share insights responsibly, and create positive impact in mental health services.

Elective Units (7)

📜 CHCLEG001 – Work Legally and Ethically
Understand legal and ethical responsibilities in mental health peer work and learn how to uphold best practices in service delivery.

📜 CHCMHS002 – Establish Self-Directed Recovery Relationships
Develop strategies for building recovery-focused relationships, fostering hope, and supporting individuals in self-directed recovery.

📜 CHCMHS003 – Provide Recovery-Oriented Mental Health Services
Facilitate collaborative recovery planning, provide ongoing support, and empower individuals in their recovery journey.

📜 CHCMHS004 – Work Collaboratively with the Care Network and Other Services
Build effective relationships with support networks, families, and service providers to ensure holistic mental health care.

📜 CHCMHS005 – Provide Services to People with Co-Existing Mental Health and Alcohol or Other Drug Issues
Learn how to support individuals experiencing both mental health and substance use challenges, with a focus on harm reduction and recovery.

📜 CHCCCS019 – Recognise and Respond to Crisis Situations
Identify warning signs of crisis, provide immediate support, and refer individuals to appropriate crisis services.

📜 CHCPWK004 – Work Effectively in Consumer Mental Health Peer Work
Develop skills in working with individuals who have lived experience of mental health challenges, promoting recovery-oriented support.

Career Pathways

Graduates of this course can pursue roles in mental health services, peer work, community organisations, and advocacy groups. Possible job outcomes include:

✔ Mental Health Peer Support Worker
✔ Community Support Worker
✔ Lived Experience Practitioner
✔ Peer Advocate
✔ Mental Health Recovery Coach

This qualification can also serve as a stepping stone to further study in community services or mental health.

Course Details

📅 Duration: 32 weeks (one 3-hour session per week, excluding holidays)
📍 Delivery: Face-to-face, interactive training sessions
💰 Tuition Fee: $4,000* (*scholarships may be available, please enquire with us)
📜 Certification: Nationally recognised Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work

Who Should Enrol?

This course is designed for individuals who:
✔ Have lived experience as a mental health consumer or carer.
✔ Want to use their experiences to support others in mental health recovery.
✔ Are interested in working in community mental health services.
✔ Want to gain a formal qualification in peer support.

No prior experience or formal education is required. The most important requirement is a passion for helping others through shared lived experiences.

Start Your Journey Today

The SKillness Program

Taking Improved Daily Living to another level

Good Design Australia Award Logo Do you want to approach work or study with more confidence?

Join the industry-backed SKillness Group and gain support to access work, study and personal endeavours with a greater sense of empowerment and self-determination.

Our fun and dynamic pre-vocational program is a place for people to explore their strengths and passions. Our sessions feature workshop activities and peer learning opportunities. A team of expert mentors, facilitators and occupational therapists will assist you with creating a strengths-based plan to help achieve your goals.

Referral pathways are made available when nearing completion including DES engagement, TAFE enrolment and links to services that help entrepreneurs.

For further information, please email or phone us: in Sydney on (02) 9477 8700 or in the Gold Coast on (07) 3186 4000.

Selection Criteria

Aged 16 years or over
Has experienced mental ill-health or have had mental health concerns
Are interested in being more involved in vocation. Areas of vocation covered include:
- Study
- Enterprise
- Work
- Volunteering
- Other.

NDIS Funding

You can use your NDIS funding to participate in the SKillness Group.

Referrals can come from local health service, Disability Employment Services, TAFE or self-referral.

Call us on (02) 9477 8700 for more details on how to use your NDIS funding to join the group.

Enquire Now

Fill out this form to express your interest in joining our next intake semester!

Peer led learning: meet Daniel

Daniel joined the SKillness Group in 2019. He discovered so much about his passions that he was inspired to start his own business, Dan’s Mindful Fishing Tours and began working as a support worker for disability services. Now, in 2020, Dan joins us as one of two alumni co-facilitators who will be assisting with some of the peer led topics featured in the SKillness group.

When first participating in SKillness, Dan was challenged to develop a strength-based view of himself and encouraged to think about the ways he could use his unique skills and attributes in the workforce. It was through this process that he founded Dan’s Mindful Fishing Tours.

“I love fishing because my dad was a fisherman and he taught me how to fish when I was young. It (fishing) is an escape in a way,” he says.

Now he shares his passion with others as part of his working life and he couldn’t be more thrilled.

“You can figure anything out with PCCS’ help. The care and support from PCCS works and I’m getting somewhere,” he says.

He’s also since worked as a support worker in the disability sector driving clients to do their shopping or attend appointments and has thrived on the social interactions the work allows.

As a past graduate of the SKillness Group, Dan is an advocate for taking the time and space to explore your strengths, values and beliefs to develop your vocational journey accordingly.