Western Plains shires will benefit from a trainee program aimed at improving Aboriginal mental health access in the bush.

Twenty-nine people have already graduated or are training under the Marathon Health Aboriginal Wellness Worker traineeship program, where they gain on-the-job experience supporting young people alongside their studies.

While the practical work may have varied depending on participants' field of study, some of that experience included mentoring people aged 12-25.

Warren-based Shaana Daley was among the first cohort and graduated with a Certificate IV Mental Health.

She said there wasn't a lot of mental health support growing up and now helps to turn that around in her community.

She said couldn't have done it as easily without the training.

Shaana recently completed her Certificate IV in Mental Health at the Warren Youth Centre and Community Hub. PHOTO: Western NSW Local Health District

"It's based around youth work, you know, getting to know them and for them to be confident enough to just come and chat," Shaana said.

"I learned lots of things, strategies people can use and how to talk to people and help them advocate for themselves.

"A lot of people, when it comes to mental health, don't want to talk about it. So, it's giving them the confidence to be able to say they think might have a problem and they want to get help.

"I've already made some good connections with the youth."

From the twenty-nine participants across areas including Coonamble, Walgett, Bogan and Warren shires, 13 have graduated in the first cohort graduated with a Certificate IV Mental Health, and seven in a second cohort graduated with a Certificate III in Primary Health.

A third cohort of nine people is still in training for a Certificate III Community Services.

The program is currently set to run until around early 2025 when the group finishes.

Andrew Higgins, Acting Director of Regional Aboriginal Partnerships at NSW's Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, said the program will allow graduates to provide culturally safe mental health support.

"It will essentially help them to listen to their community, especially young Aboriginal people. Mental health is not something that was spoken about for a lot of people for a long period for time," Mr Higgins said.

"I think engaging in this program allows them to have those listening attributes and to support even one or two people in their community to help them.

"That's going to make our community strong in rural and remote NSW.

"There's employability and transferable skills, but particularly in the mental health community services space."

Marathon received $1 million last year from the NSW government under the Regional Aboriginal Partnerships Program to roll out the traineeship, as well as funding from the Western NSW Primary Health Network.

Minister for Regional and Western NSW, Tara Moriarty said the program is addressing immediate health-care needs in far western communities.

"I am pleased to share that we have extended the Aboriginal Wellness Worker traineeship program to now facilitate a third cohort of trainees who will graduate with a Certificate III in Community Services," Minister Moriarty said.

“It means that by the time our trainees graduate, they already have some great experience under their belt to support and help youth in their local communities to help ensure they are aware of what mental health support services are there when, or if, they need them.”