Graduate Certificate in Palliative Care Nursing

School of Nursing & Midwifery

The Graduate Certificate in Palliative Care nursing is designed for Registered Nurses in any healthcare setting who wish to develop their knowledge and their skills in providing care for persons diagnosed with a life limiting illness. This program has been developed in collaboration with St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney after extensive consultation with academics and clinicians in the specialty.

• Why study this degree?

  This program was developed in partnership with St. Vincent’s Health Network Sydney to provide a career pathway for registered nurses to gain postgraduate qualifications in palliative care nursing. The Graduate Certificate in Palliative Care Nursing is designed to equip registered nurses with advanced knowledge and skills to provide high-quality, compassionate care to patients with life-limiting illnesses. Two courses in the program are led by industry experts, offering hands-on insights from clinical practice, while the remaining two courses are taught by Notre Dame's academic faculty, providing a robust theoretical foundation. This combination ensures students gain both practical skills and academic knowledge, preparing them for the evolving demands of healthcare. Graduates will be prepared to optimise patient outcomes, enhance quality of life, and support the well-being of both patients and their families across diverse healthcare settings.

• Program summary

  This comprehensive program focuses on a holistic, person-centered approach, combining effective communication, cultural and spiritual sensitivity, thorough assessment and symptom management, and the use of evidence-based practices. Across four integrated courses, students will study the principles and standards of palliative care, practice empathetic communication to support shared decision-making with patients, families, and healthcare teams, manage complex symptoms through both pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods, and apply research findings to enhance nursing practice.

  Four required courses:

  • NURS4028 Contemporary Palliative Care Nursing Practice 1
  • NURS5025 A Person-Centred Approach to Palliative Care Nursing
  • NURS5003 Evidence Based Practice
  • NURS5026 Clinical Management in Palliative Care Nursing

  Full details of the program requirements are contained in the Program Requirements.

  More information regarding courses can be found at the course descriptions pages Fremantle Sydney.

  Please note: the availability of these courses is indicative only and may be subject to change.

• Entry requirements

  To be eligible for admission to The University of Notre Dame Australia, all applicants must meet the University’s minimum requirements for admission. The requirements for admission are detailed in the University’s Policy: Admissions.

  To be eligible for admission to the Graduate Certificate in Palliative Care Nursing applicants must also meet the following specific requirements:

  • Current license to practice as a Registered Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, or provisional registration, which is applicable at the time of the student’s program commencement.

• Learning outcomes

  Upon successful completion of the Graduate Certificate in Palliative Care Nursing graduates will be able to:

  1. Evaluate the principles, standards, and ethical considerations of palliative care, including person-centered care and shared decision-making, to enhance the quality of life and dignity for patients with life-limiting illnesses.
  2. Demonstrate advanced communication and interprofessional collaboration skills to effectively deliver compassionate, holistic palliative care and support for patients and their families.
  3. Analyse comprehensive assessment techniques and symptom management strategies, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological, to effectively address complex symptoms in palliative care patients.
  4. Integrate cultural, spiritual, and psychosocial considerations into palliative care practice to provide culturally competent and spiritually sensitive care that respects and honors diverse patient backgrounds and beliefs.
  5. Apply evidence-based practice methods, including developing clinical questions, critically appraising research evidence, and creating implementation plans, to translate research findings into improved palliative care nursing practice.

• Practical component

  There are no practicum or internship requirements in this Award, although students are required to be employed by an agreement partner for the duration of the program.

• Career opportunities

  A Graduate Certificate in Palliative Care Nursing will equip registered nurses with advanced knowledge and skills to provide high-quality, compassionate care as a palliative care nurse.

• Real-world experience

  Through this program’s blended learning approach, which combines academic and clinical expertise, you will gain advanced skills in delivering compassionate, high-quality palliative care to improve patient outcomes and quality of life. This experience will prepare you to provide patient-centered care across various settings, meeting the complex needs of patients and their families with empathy and professionalism. There are no practicum requirements for this program.

• Fees and costs

  This Program has the following loan scheme(s) available for eligible students:

  
  

  Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
  A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is a place at a university where the Australian Government pays part of your fees. This part is a subsidy, not a loan, and you don’t have to pay it back. However, this subsidy does not cover the entire cost of your study. Students must pay the rest, which is called the ‘student contribution amount’.

  In a Commonwealth Supported Place, your fees are subsidised by the Australian Government. Your fees will be split into two portions:

  The Commonwealth contribution, which is the portion paid by the Australian Government.

  The student contribution, which is the portion you pay. You may choose to pay upfront or defer your student contribution with a HECS-HELP Loan. The HECS-HELP loan scheme assists eligible students with the payment of all, or part, of their tuition fees, not including additional study costs such as accommodation or textbooks. Your HECS-HELP debt will be indexed each year in line with the Consumer Price Index.

  Eligible students will be offered a CSP – you do not need to apply.

  
  

  For indicative fees and information on how to pay, including Government loan schemes and our online calculator, visit our Fees, costs and scholarships page.

• More information

  Considering your uni options?
  Our advisors provide support while choosing a program of study and completing our application process.

  
  

  If you need advice about studying at Notre Dame, the Prospective Students Office can help. Book a 1-on-1 advice session with a career advisor or call us on 1800 878 916.

  Fremantle and Broome
  Email: future@nd.edu.au
  Address: 23 High St, Fremantle, WA 6160

  Sydney and Melbourne
  Email: sydney@nd.edu.au
  Address: 128-140 Broadway, Chippendale, NSW 2008