frequently asked questions
Got a question on your mind? You’re in the right place! There’s a chance we may have already answered it.
At discovery college, we believe in learning together. Our courses aren’t about lectures; they’re about conversations. We bring together people with lived experience and professional experience to share stories, explore ideas, and learn from each other in a safe and inclusive space. It’s less about being taught but finding different ways of understanding together.
Yes, we are an initiative of Alfred Health’s Infant, Child and Youth Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Service (ICYAMHWS) and work in partnership with headspace Early Psychosis (South East Melbourne). This means we have strong connections with trusted mental health services, but our approach is unique and community-focused.
Our online courses are not like a webinar, and are equally as interactive as our in-person courses.
A recovery college is a supportive space to learn, share, and build skills for mental health and wellbeing. Courses are co-created and co-facilitated by people with professional expertise together with those who have lived or living experience.
Recovery colleges recognise that recovery is unique to each person, and offer practical tools and a sense of community to support anyone experiencing mental health challenges, their families, friends, and supporters.
Learn more about Recovery Colleges here.
At discovery college, we work through co-production. So, what does that actually mean? Simply put, it means we create our learning spaces – whether it’s a course, panel, or podcast episode – together with people who bring real expertise and experience on the topic.
Our courses are co-designed and co-delivered by a mix of mental health professionals, young people with lived experience, families, friends, and carers. We involve them at every step of the process, from shaping the content to sharing their perspectives in sessions. This collaborative approach makes our courses relevant, relatable, and grounded in real-life experiences.
Learn more about co-production here.
Lived and living experiences are at the heart of our courses. We believe that everyone’s story matters.
Our courses are created through co-production. This means we create our learning spaces – whether it’s a course, panel, or podcast episode – together with people who bring real expertise and experience on the topic.
Our courses are co-designed and co-delivered by a mix of mental health professionals, young people with lived experience, families, friends, and carers. We involve them at every step of the process, from shaping the content to sharing their perspectives in sessions.
Learn more about co-production here.
By sharing diverse perspectives, we create an environment where learning is authentic, empathetic, and deeply connected to real-world experiences.
Our facilitators are trained to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing. Together in the course we create a participant agreement to ensure that all voices are heard and respected. We also encourage active listening and empathy, fostering a space where participants can engage without fear of judgment.
Choosing a course is about what resonates with you. Whether you’re curious about anxiety, self-harm, or understanding medication, our course descriptions provide insights into what each session covers. If you’re unsure, feel free to reach out to us – we’re here to help guide you!
You can check out all the different courses we offer here.
Our courses are all about hearing from different perspectives. You’ll get to learn from people with a range of experiences – young people, lived and living experience, parents, carers, mental health professionals, and other community members.
This mix helps you see mental health in new ways and broaden your own perspective. Participants often tell us they walk away with fresh ideas and approaches that make it easier to have conversations and navigate their own lives – whether in their personal life or at work. The insights and context you pick up in our courses aren’t just interesting – they’re practical tools you can actually use!
Yes, attending our courses can count toward Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points! This makes them a great option for professionals looking to expand their knowledge in a meaningful way.
We don’t require referrals, everyone is welcome! We want to make sure there are no barriers to joining. Our courses are a learning space for anyone who wants to come along. So, if you see a course you want to join, you can just enrol via the website.
Absolutely! We want everyone to be able to access our learning spaces and make it easy to attend. We ask if you have any accessibility needs in our enrollment form and if you let us know beforehand we’ll make sure the session works for you, whether you’re joining an in-person or online course.
Our courses are open to everyone! You’ll meet young people, parents, carers, mental health professionals, and other community members – all learning and sharing experiences together.
We might focus on youth, but mental health isn’t just a young person’s thing. Young people live in communities, have families and friends, and access services run by professionals.
That’s why our courses centre on young people’s mental health but welcome everyone. The more people in a community understand how to support young people, the better it is for young people—and for the whole community.
Check out the video below!
All our courses and content is free!
The number of people who come along can change each course. For in-person courses, we usually have around 20 – 25 people. For online courses, we can have between 20 and 50 attend.
Our courses run both in-person and online. Our in-person courses will most often run at Westall Community Hub, but make sure to check the course details for the exact location before the day.
Our online courses are run on Zoom and all the details of how to join will be sent to you via email. If you need any help with Zoom, check out our Learning with Zoom guide.
Course durations vary depending on the format. Our online courses are shorter, usually around 3 hours, while in-person courses run a bit longer at 5 hours, with plenty of breaks – including a longer lunch break.
Check the course details for exact times and pick the one that fits best with your schedule and interest.
You’re welcome to bring your own lunch, or grab something from the nearby shops. We’ll also have some small snacks available.
Absolutely. Sharing is always optional. You’re welcome to participate in discussions in a way that feels comfortable for you. Whether you’re listening, reflecting, or contributing, your presence is valuable!
Nope! Our courses are all about learning through open conversations – there’s no right or wrong. You won’t have any exams or tests, and we don’t do any assessments.
We get that life happens and sometimes you aren’t able to make it. You can let us know when you get the email or text reminder. Hopefully you can come to the course the next time it happens.
If courses are hard to get to, you could also check out our podcast, Extremely Human.
Our courses at are either fully in-person or fully online – we don’t run hybrid sessions. To make sure everyone feels safe and comfortable sharing, we also don’t record the sessions.
If you need any help with Zoom, check out our Learning with Zoom guide.
Our online courses are designed to be just as engaging as in-person sessions. Through interactive activities, discussions, and multimedia, we create an online environment that’s dynamic and participatory.
Is there still something we haven’t quite covered? Don’t hesitate to get in touch!