Making Every Contact Count 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
IHA: Cavan and Monaghan
Cavan
Date: Thursday, 27 November 2025
Time: 9am to 12.30pm
Location: Education Room, Cavan Primary Care Childrens Services, 95 Main Street, Cavan H12P6F3
Monaghan
Date: Monday, 1 December 2025
Time: 11am to 2.30pm
Location: Education Room, North Monaghan Primary Care Centre, St. Davnets Complex, Co. Monaghan, H18 DE78
IHA: Donegal
Donegal
Date: Tuesday, 25 November 2025
Time: 9.30am to 1pm
Location: Safetech, Unit 1a, Riverside Retail Park, Neil T Blaney Road, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, F92 H01R
IHA: Leitrim and Sligo
Sligo
Date: Thursday, 6 November 2025
Time: 9.30am to 1pm
Location: Centre of Nursing and Midwifery Education 2nd floor, Block 8, The Grove, Clarion Road, Co. Sligo F91 A2FP
IHA: Galway & Roscommon and IHA: Mayo
Workshops to be confirmed.
IHA: Clare and Limerick County and IHA: Limerick City and Tipperary North
Workshops to be confirmed.
IHA: Cork North and East
Date: Thursday, 13 November 2025
Time: 9.30am to 1pm
Location: St. Stephen’s Campus, Sarsfield's Court, Glanmire, Co. Cork, T45VK40
IHA: Cork South and West
Date: Wednesday, 5 November 2025
Time: 9.30am to 1pm
Location: Mercy University Hospital, Grenville Place, Co. Cork, T12 WE28
IHA: Kerry
Date: Tuesday, 18 November 2025
Time: 9.30am to 1pm
Location: University Hospital Kerry, Cloon More, Tralee, Co. Kerry, V92 NX94
IHA: Carlow, Kilkenny and Tipperary South and IHA: Waterford and Wexford
Workshops to be confirmed.
IHA: Dublin South and Wicklow
Dublin South
Workshops to be confirmed.
Wicklow
Date: Wednesday, 12 November 2025
Time: 9.30am to 1pm
Location: Room 1.08, Wicklow Primary Care Centre, Knockrobin, Wicklow, A67 K5C7
IHA: Dublin South City and West and IHA: Dublin South West
Workshops to be confirmed.
IHA: Midlands
Date: Thursday, 6 November 2025
Time: 9.30am to 1pm
Location: Springfield Resource Centre, St. Lomans Complex, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, N91 NP30
IHA: Louth and Meath
Louth
Date: Wednesday, 24 December 2025
Time: 10am to 1.30pm
Location: Room 5, Boyne Primary Care Centre, Drogheda, Co. Louth
Meath
Date: Tuesday, 4 November 2025
Time: 10am to 1.30pm
Location: HSE Bective Street, Kells, Co. Meath, A82 NX32
IHA: Dublin North City and West and IHA: Dublin North County
Workshops to be confirmed.
MECC Mobilisers/Leads
As part of the Sláintecare Healthy Communities programme, there are 9 MECC Mobilisers/Leads nationwide to support the implementation of MECC.
IHA: Cavan and Monaghan, IHA: Donegal and IHA: Leitrim and Sligo
Contact: Lynda McGuinness, Senior Health Promotion Officer and Improvement Officer
Phone: 087 405 7829
Email: lynda.mcguinness@hse.ie
IHA: Galway and Roscommon and IHA: Mayo
Contact: Angela Killion, Senior Health Promotion and Improvement Officer
Phone: 087 444 3401
Email: angela.killion@hse.ie
IHA: Clare and Limerick County and IHA: Limerick City and Tipperary North
Contact: Rachel Mescall, Senior Health Promotion and Improvement Officer
Phone: 087 109 8717
Email: rachel.mescall@hse.ie
IHA: Cork North and East, IHA: Cork South and West and IHA: Kerry
Contact: Máire O’Leary, Senior Health Promotion and Improvement Officer
Phone: 087 123 4025
Email: mairem.oleary@hse.ie
IHA: Carlow, Kilkenny and Tipperary South and IHA: Waterford and Wexford
Contact: Aileen Scott, Senior Health Promotion and Improvement Officer
Phone: 087 955 5026
Email: aileen.scott@hse.ie
IHA: Dublin South City and West and IHA: Dublin South West
Contact: Rose-Marie Plant, Senior Health Promotion & Improvement Officer
Phone: 086 823 2977
Email: rosemarie.plant@hse.ie
IHA: Dublin South and Wicklow
Contact: Michelle Hardie-Murphy, Senior Health Promotion and Improvement Officer
Phone: 087 123 2021
Email: michelle.hardiemurphy@hse.ie
IHA: Louth and Meath and IHA: Midlands
Contact: Duana McArdle, Senior Health Promotion and Improvement Officer
Phone: 087 376 1552
Email: duana.mcardle@hse.ie
IHA: Dublin North City and West
Contact: Cliodhna Kirwan, Senior Health Promotion and Improvement Officer
Phone: TBC
Email: cliodhna.kirwan@hse.ie
IHA: Dublin North County
Contact: Paul Kirwan, Senior Health Promotion & Improvement Officer
Phone: 087 257 1618
Email: paul.kirwan2@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.