Adelaide University
Graduate Certificate in Nursing Specialising in Mental Health
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 12 months
Acquire specialized skills in modern mental health nursing practice.
Course overview
The Graduate Certificate in Nursing, specialising in Mental Health, is designed for registered nurses who want to expand their expertise in a critical area of healthcare. Delivered online with flexible study options, this program supports you to build new skills while continuing to work in your current role.
You’ll explore the principles of trauma-informed and person-centred care, along with the ethical and professional issues that shape mental health nursing. With a strong focus on evidence-based practice and recovery-oriented approaches, the program equips you to support individuals experiencing a wide range of conditions, from depression and anxiety to psychosis and bipolar disorder.
Led by experienced academics and informed by real-world practice, this certificate provides a strong foundation for career advancement. On graduation, you’ll be prepared to contribute more confidently to acute and community settings and be well-positioned to continue into further postgraduate study.
CSP Subsidised Fees Available
This program has a limited quota of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). The indicative CSP price is calculated based on first year fees for EFT. The actual fee may vary if there are choices in electives or majors.
Key facts
What you will study
To qualify for the Graduate Certificate in Nursing specialising in Mental Health, the student must complete satisfactorily a program of study consisting of the following requirements with a combined total of not less than 24 units, comprising:
Either:
- 24 units from Discipline courses.
- 24 units for Electives.
- 24 units for one Specialisation from Specialisation.
Core units
- Perspectives in Mental Health Practice
- Perinatal Mental Health for Health Professionals
- Skills for Recovery Practice in Mental Health
- Best Practice in Adolescent Mental Health
- Best Practice in Older People's Mental Health
Electives
- Primary Health Care (12 credit points)
- Leadership and Management in Nursing and Midwifery (12 credit points)
- Prescribing for clinicians
- Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Clinical Practice (12 credit points)
- Infection Prevention and Control in Practice (12 credit points)
- Advanced Lactation and Breastfeeding
- Maternal, Child and Family Health (12 credit points)
- Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health
- Comprehensive Care of the Older Person (12 credit points)
- Decision-Making for Midwifery and Nursing Practice (12 credit points)
- Advanced Health Assessment, Diagnostics and Investigations (12 credit points)
- Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Nursing Practice (12 credit points)
Entry requirements
To be eligible, an applicant must have achieved the following minimum entry requirements and demonstrate they fulfill any prerequisite and essential criteria for admission. In cases where there are more eligible applicants than available places, admission will be competitive with ranks based on the entry criteria.
- A completed bachelor degree (AQF level 7) or higher from a recognised higher education institution.
- Hold or be eligible to hold registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).
Outcomes
Career outcomes
The Graduate Certificate in Nursing specialising in Mental Health will prepare you to broaden your role in both public and private healthcare settings. You might work in a mental health inpatient unit, supporting individuals through crisis stabilisation and advocating for those experiencing psychosis. Or you could assist people managing the effects of drug and alcohol use, addressing both physical and psychological symptoms during recovery. Perhaps you’ll join community health services or residential programs, providing person-centred care and promoting mental wellbeing across diverse populations.
Other career opportunities for graduates include roles such as:
- Mental Health Nurse Consultant
- Case Manager
- Clinical Coordinator
- Mental Health Program Facilitator
Fees and CSP
Estimated student contribution amount per 1.0 EFTSL (48 units) in 2026: $4,738 (Commonwealth Supported Place).
Commonwealth-supported students are charged a portion of the cost of their higher education through a student contribution. Where the duration of the program is less than one year, the total cost of the program is displayed.
Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP)
A Commonwealth Supported Place is a higher education place where the Australian Government subsidises your fees so that you only pay a portion through a student contribution amount.
The amount of student contribution you’ll pay depends on:
- Number of courses you are enrolled in.
- Unit value of courses.
- Funding cluster your courses fall under.
A HECS-HELP loan allows students to borrow from the Australian Government to cover some or all of their student contribution. To be eligible for HECS-HELP, you must be studying in a Commonwealth Supported Place.
