Since 2016 mandatory training and an accreditation process has been required for any professional wishing to run the Cool Kids Anxiety Program.

The purpose of accreditation is to ensure clients participating in the Cool Kids Anxiety Program are receiving treatment the way it is intended and the practitioner delivering the program has met a suitable standard of knowledge to ensure the ongoing quality of the program.

To become an accredited provider for the standard Cool Kids Program, a clinician/professional must meet minimum qualifications requirements, complete the eTraining course and successfully complete our accreditation process.

Add-on training is available to accredited providers for specific versions of the program (such as Cool Little Kids) but all providers must accredit in the standard program first.

Minimum qualification requirements

Any professional wishing to deliver any of the suite of the Cool Kids Anxiety Programs (Cool Little Kids, Cool Kids, Chilled, Cool Kids Autism Spectrum Adaptation) must meet these qualification requirements:

• four-year undergraduate or two-year postgraduate degree in health (psychology, counselling, social work, occupational therapy) or education AND
• training in cognitive-behavioural therapy (dedicated postgraduate subject, introductory workshop or online training from recognised provider).

For those who have not completed a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) course as part of their postgraduate training, the following are suggested online options:

• CBT Essentials by APT
• CBT by OCTC (the basic modules)
• Principles and Practice of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy by APS
• Essentials of CBT: The Beck Approach by Beck.

If you don't meet the criteria and would like to run the program, you are welcome to make a case by outlining your qualifications and experience and a determination about suitability will be made on a case-by-case basis. Please email ehc.training@mq.edu.au.

Training and accreditation process

To become an accredited provider, you must first undertake eTraining and then complete a series of assessments.

e-Training

Our eTraining course offers the opportunity to work at your own pace. It consists of 12 modules in total which you can start, pause or stop at any time. There is approximately five to six hours of video and application activities to complete.

The eTraining covers:

• the nature of anxiety in children and teens
• effective assessment of anxiety
• the research basis of Cool Kids
• the core Cool Kids skills of psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, exposure and anxiety friendly parenting strategies
• the optional Cool Kids skills such as relaxation and problem solving.

Accreditation

Accreditation requires professionals to demonstrate their ability and skill through a series of assessment tasks. This takes approximately six hours and includes completing set practice activities and receiving feedback.

When you enrol in accreditation you will also receive a therapist kit which includes the Cool Kids Anxiety Program Therapist Manual (covering implementation of the program with 7-17 year olds in all settings), and one copy each of the child workbook, teen workbook and parent workbook.

The assessment tasks and approximate timings include:

• Multiple choice quiz - 30 minutes. Feedback is automated and immediate.
• Two written case studies (set 1) with questions - two hours. Feedback takes approximately two weeks to receive.
• Review of feedback focused on case studies set 1 - one hour. Participants watch a 50-minute recorded supervision session with accompanying personalised written feedback on the case studies.
• Another two case studies (set 2) with questions - two hours. Feedback takes approximately two weeks to receive.

Benefits of accreditation

Those who successfully attain accreditation will:

• receive access to our Accredited Provider website which includes resources, webinars and research updates on our Cool Kids work
• receive an accreditation logo and flyers to use in their marketing
• have their details will be added to a searchable database of accredited providers, that allows members of the general public to find a Cool Kids Accredited Provider in their area.
• be able to participate in drop-in supervision sessions with access to experienced Cool Kids supervisors who can answer questions about implementing the program.

Accreditation is for an individual, not an organisation. Accreditation is valid for five years and allows the professional to promote themselves as a Cool Kids Accredited Provider.

2024 costs and registration

If you are new to Cool Kids enrol in the Full Course which includes eTraining and Accreditation.

If you have previously participated in a Face-to-Face Cool Kids workshop or eTraining, enrol in the accreditation course only (you will be asked for verification as part of the enrolment process).

If you want to learn about assessment and treatment of anxiety in children and adolescents you can enrol in the eTraining course as a stand-alone course. However, note that in completing just the eTraining you are not permitted to deliver the program and will not receive a copy of the Cool Kids materials.

You will have 12 months access to the Cool Kids eTraining and Accreditation courses.

Program materials and licensing agreement

When you purchase the eTraining and Accreditation course for the Cool Kids Anxiety Program you are entering into a licensing agreement with Macquarie University.

Read the licensing agreement carefully to understand the terms and conditions you are agreeing to when using the program.

Cool Kids Materials

To run the Cool Kids standard program you will require a therapist kit and each family will require either a child or teen workbook and a parent workbook.

The 2nd Edition therapist manual covers options suited to clinical, school and community settings and covers both child and teen clients. A therapist kit is supplied as part of the accreditation process.

Additional workbook sets for clients can be purchased from our online shop either as:

• a Cool Kids workbook set (for ages 7 to 12 years), or
• a Chilled workbook set (for ages 12 to 17 years).

With each set including a copy of the 2nd Edition parent workbook that covers both child and teen clients.

Photocopying of material is not permitted. Key practice worksheets are available to download.

Discounts

We offer a discount if you are:

• from a not-for-profit/community organisation that has a large number of employees (ie 15 or more staff) who enrol concurrently
• a mental health professional in a developing country (click here to view the list of emerging countries eligible to receive a discount).
• a full-time student.

Please contact ehc.training@mq.edu.au to enquire about eligibility for a discount.

NSW and Victoria Department of Education Supported Training
The Cool Kids Anxiety Program has been included on the Victorian State Government Department of Education Schools Mental Health Menu which provides schools with opportunities to purchase evidence-based programs and the required training for professionals in delivering the evidence-based program to promote student mental health and wellbeing. To learn how to access the training for your school professional, please go to the School Operations Guide (education log in required).

The Cool Kids Anxiety Program is also included within the New South Wales Department of Education Student Wellbeing External Programs Catalogue. The full catalogue lives on the department's intranet which is a staff only access portal. All programs in the Student Wellbeing external programs catalogue have been assessed against quality standards to provide proven, positive outcomes for students. Please check with your school regarding access to training in the Cool Kids Anxiety Program as supported by this catalogue.

Questions

If you have any questions about the Cool Kids training and accreditation process, contact ehc.training@mq.edu.au.