Graduate Certificate in Palliative Care

Entry requirements

Admission to a graduate certificate course is based on academic merit and selection. In addition, applicants must satisfy any prerequisites or additional requirements specified for particular courses, including ACN’s general eligibility criteria.

All applicants seeking admission are required to:

• Hold a Bachelor of Nursing or registered nurse equivalent qualification.
• Hold current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) or the equivalent registering authority in your country of origin.
• Meet the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia English language skills registration standard (nursing and midwifery) - please refer to the AHPRA website to download the standard.
• Have a minimum of one year of postgraduate experience.
• Be currently employed in the clinical area of specialisation.

*For some graduate certificate units of study, individual consideration may be given to applicants who are not registered nurses.

Outcomes

Learning outcomes

At successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate the advanced knowledge, skills and attitudes required in assessing and managing palliative care persons.
• Develop advanced communication skills in order to maintain positive therapeutic relationships with palliative care persons, significant others and the multidisciplinary team.
• Model leadership behaviours within the speciality of palliative care nursing, providing mentorship, education and positive contribution to the multidisciplinary team.
• Critically analyse contemporary literature and industry-endorsed practice guidelines to provide the foundation for evidence-based palliative care nursing practice.
• Evaluate the impact of personal and professional values on palliative care nursing and reflect on the cultural and ethical issues related to caring for persons at the end of life.

Fees and FEE-HELP

Estimated total 2025 member price (10% discount): $9,949.5 (domestic full-fee paying place)

Estimated total 2025 non-member price: $11,055 (domestic full-fee paying place)

Being a part of the ACN community allows nurses to be the best they can be and strengthens the voice of nursing through various invaluable benefits, including 10% off graduate certificates.

Estimated fees are based on four units of study.

A student’s annual fee may vary per:

• The number of units studied.
• Choice of courses.
• Credit from previous study or work experience.
• Eligibility for government-funded loans.

Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.

FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee-paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.