Graduate Diploma of Mental Health

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Developed after extensive consultation with the medical profession, our multi-disciplinary program is tailored to the needs of Registered Nurses and allied health who wish to build upon their mental health skills. To apply, you must have already completed a Graduate Certificate in Mental Health before enrolling in this one-year program, which involves essays, case studies, and problem-solving exercises. After the completion of this degree, you may wish to consider the Master of Nursing (Mental Health).

• Why study this degree?

  Like all our Nursing programs, the Graduate Diploma of Mental Health is highly practical in its focus and has been developed in close consultation with the medical profession. If you are a Registered Nurse and have already completed your Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing, you may wish to further develop your skills and knowledge by taking this one-year program.

  Once enrolled, you will acquire a detailed understanding of contemporary practice, allowing you to progress your career in the growing area of mental health care. Assessment is based on a combination of written assignments, case studies, and problem-solving exercises. Upon graduation, you will be equipped and ready to work in any mental health environment.

• Program summary

  • NURS5004 Advanced Contemporary Mental Health Practice 1
  • NURS5005 Advanced Contemporary Mental Health Practice 2
  • PHIL6020 Ethics for Professional Life
  • NURS5003 Evidence Based Practice

  Master of Nursing (Mental Health)

  This research-based degree requires a further two semesters of part-time study. You will be allocated a research supervisor to support you.

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

  More information regarding courses can be found at the course descriptions page.

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

• Entry requirements

  You must have a professional health degree or equivalent qualification and registered with your professional registering authority. To enrol for the master program, you must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

• Learning outcomes

  Upon successful completion of the Graduate Diploma of Mental Health graduates will be able to:

  1. Consolidate and synthesise advanced practice knowledge, skills and competencies that enhance capacity to provide holistic nursing care for the client with acute mental illness
  2. Critique national and international models of care for acute mentally ill clients, including support and aftercare in the community, to the current healthcare context
  3. Employ clinical reasoning and decision making strategies that enhance organisational capability and responsiveness in the acute mental health environment
  4. Communicate with influence and negotiate effectively with acute mentally ill people and their families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
  5. Model professional behaviours to colleagues and students that provide clients with culturally appropriate and socially just care within a medico-legal framework
  6. Establish a mechanism for lifelong learning by reflecting on practice to apply and build professional expertise; and
  7. Steer and implement change by conducting national and international research retrieval and enquiry that incorporates philosophical, technical and social justice perspectives on healthcare.

• Real-world experience

  You will learn from our academics, who are leaders in their field. There are no practicum requirements for this program.

• Fees and costs

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

  Domestic Fee-Paying
  A domestic fee-paying place is a place at university where the student is responsible for the full cost the program.

  Eligible domestic fee-paying students may apply for the FEE-HELP loan scheme which assists eligible fee-paying students with the payment of all, or part, of their tuition fees, not including additional study costs such as accommodation or textbooks. Your FEE-HELP debt will be indexed each year in line with the Consumer Price Index.

  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

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