Training programme
The Making Every Contact Count Training Programme is a standardised training. It is designed to educate healthcare professionals in the brief intervention skills required to support patients/service users in lifestyle behaviour change.
Training includes an online course and a workshop, and it's available to all healthcare professionals in Ireland. As a healthcare professional, it shows you how to support patients to make healthier lifestyle choices during their usual appointments.
MECC online course
This online course includes 8 modules and will take approximately 4 hours to complete.
Module 1 - Introduction to behaviour change
This module will give you a basic understanding of behaviour change theory. It includes techniques such as the underlying principles of a patient-centred approach.
Modules 2 to 7
These modules cover 7 different topics.
These include:
- tobacco
- alcohol and drugs
- healthy eating
- physical activity
- overweight and obesity
- mental health and wellbeing
Module 8 - Skills into practice module
This module will show you how to carry out a brief intervention across the different topics listed in modules 2 to 6. Module 8 includes different video scenarios using real healthcare professionals.
Additional information can be accessed in the ‘extend my learning’ section on HSeLanD.
MECC ‘Enhancing your brief intervention skills’ workshop
After you finish the MECC eLearning course there will be an opportunity to complete the ‘Enhancing your brief intervention skills’ workshop.
The MECC Enhancing Your Skills Workshop is a practical follow on to the MECC eLearning course. It focuses on practising the key skills required to conduct a brief intervention. Participants must have received their certificate of completion for the MECC eLearning course.
MECC Enhancing Your Skills Workshops
MECC workshops are available in different locations throughout Ireland. For more information, you can contact your local MECC lead.
Upcoming workshops
Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo
Sligo
Date: Wednesday, 30 April 2025
Time: 9.30am to 1pm
Location: Library Lecture Theatre, Level 6, Sligo University Hospital, The Mall, Sligo. F91H684
Date: Wednesday, 21 May 2025
Time: 9.30am to 1pm
Location: Centre of Nursing and Midwifery Education 2nd floor, Block 8, The Grove, Clarion Road, Sligo
Donegal
Date: Wednesday, 7 May 2025
Time: 9.30am to 1pm
Location: The Vestry, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, F92 TD92
Monaghan
Date: Thursday, 22 May 2025
Time: 9.30am to 1pm
Location: Education Room, North Monaghan Primary Care Centre, St. Davnets Complex, Monaghan, H18 DE78
Cavan
Workshops to be confirmed.
Leitrim
Workshops to be confirmed.
Mayo, Galway, Roscommon
Workshops to be confirmed.
Limerick, Clare, North Tipperary
Workshops to be confirmed.
Cork and Kerry
Workshops to be confirmed.
Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny, Carlow, South Tipperary
Workshops to be confirmed.
Dublin South East, Dublin South, Wicklow
Dublin South East
Date: 26 September 2025
Time: 9:30am to 1:00pm
Location: Clonskeagh Conference Room, Vergemount Hall, Clonskeagh, Dublin 6
Wicklow
Date: Monday, 12 May 2025
Time: 9.30am to 1pm
Location: Bray Primary Care Centre, Killarney Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow, A98 KW13
Date: Thursday, 19 June 2025
Time: 9.30am to 1pm
Location: Arklow Primary Care Centre, Castlepark, Arklow, Wicklow, Y14 AE10
Date: Wednesday, 12 November 2025
Time: 9.30am to 1pm
Location: Room 1.08, Wicklow Primary Care Centre, Knockrobin, Wicklow, A67 K5C7
Dublin West, Dublin South-West, Kildare and West Wicklow
Workshops to be confirmed.
Laois, Offaly, Longford, Westmeath, Louth and Meath
Laois
Workshops to be confirmed.
Louth
Date: Tuesday, 8 April 2025
Time: 9.30am to 1pm
Location: REC, St. Brigid's Campus, Kells Road, Ardee, Louth, A92 EH94
Westmeath
Date: Thursday, 1 May 2025
Time: 9.30am to 1pm
Location: Mullingar Primary Care Centre, Harbour Road, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, N91 6R9
Dublin North, Dublin North City, Dublin North County
Workshops to be confirmed.
MECC Mobilisers/Health Promotion Leads
As part of the Slaintecare Healthy Communities programme, there are 9 MECC leads nationwide to support the implementation of MECC.
Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan and Sligo
Contact: Lynda McGuinness, Senior Health Promotion Officer
Phone: 087 405 7829
Email: lynda.mcguinness@hse.ie
Mayo, Galway and Roscommon
Contact: Pat Conway, Senior Health Promotion and Improvement Officer
Phone: 087 444 5887
Email: patrick.conway5@hse.ie
Limerick/East Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary
Contact: Rachel Mescall, Senior Health Promotion and Improvement
Phone: 087 109 8717
Email: rachel.mescall@hse.ie
Cork and Kerry
Contact: Maire O’Leary, Senior Health Promotion Officer, Making Every Contact Count Lead CHO4
Phone: 087 123 4025
Email: mairem.oleary@hse.ie
Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny, Carlow and South Tipperary
Contact: Aileen Scott, Senior Health Promotion & Improvement Officer, Senior Health Promotion Officer – MECC Mobiliser
Phone: 087 955 5026
Email: aileen.scott@hse.ie
Dublin South East, Dun Laoghaire and Wicklow
Contact: Sara McQuinn, Health Promotion & Improvement Officer
Phone: 087 126 9150
Email: sara.mcquinn1@hse.ie
Dublin South and Kildare
Contact: Rose Marie Plant. Senior Health Promotion Officer, MECC Lead
Phone: 086 823 2977
Email: rosemarie.plant@hse.ie
Laois, Offaly, Longford, Westmeath, Louth and Meath
Contact: Duana McArdle, Senior Health Promotion Officer, Lead for Making Every Contact Count Programme Midlands Louth Meath
Phone: 087 376 1552
Email: duana.mcardle@hse.ie
Dublin North City and County
Contact: Brid Greenan, Senior Health Promotion and Improvement Officer
Phone: 087 958 1102
Email: brid.greenan@hse.ie
Maternity training information
There is a specific workshop designed for MECC in maternity settings and designed for midwives, nurses, obstetric colleagues and all other healthcare professionals who have contact with women on their pregnancy journey.
Continuing professional development (CPD)
You will receive a certificate after completing the MECC eLearning course and the ‘Enhancing your brief intervention skills’ workshop. This can be used as evidence to pursue CPD points.
The Nursing and Midwifery Board
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland gives post-registration category 1 approval.
These include:
- MECC eLearning course - 4 CEUs
- MECC Enhancing Your Skills Workshop - 3 CEUs
- MECC Enhancing Your Skills Virtual Workshop - 2 CEUs
- MECC Enhancing Your Skills Maternity Workshop - CEUs
CORU
CPD credits are awarded on the basis that one hour of learning is equal to one CPD credit. You can allocate any fraction of an hour to a learning activity.
For example:
- MECC eLearning course - 4 CEUs
- MECC Enhancing Your Skills Workshop - 3 CEUs
- MECC Enhancing Your Skills Virtual Workshop - 2 CEUs
- MECC Enhancing Your Skills Maternity Workshop - 4 CEUs
The training program can also count as suitable CPD activity for many health and social care workers registered with CORU, as part of their ongoing professional development.
Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP)
The Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP) awards the following:
- MECC eLearning course - 4 CEUs
- MECC Enhancing Your Skills Workshop - 3.5 CEUs
- MECC Enhancing Your Skills Maternity Workshop - 3.5 CEUs
Irish Dental Council
After completing the MECC course you will be awarded 10 verifiable CPD points.