Charles Sturt University
Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Aged Care)
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 6 months
Intended for nurses working as clinicians in aged care, as well as for emerging or current leaders in aged care nursing settings.
Course overview
The Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Aged Care) will help you advance your assessment and management skills with a focus on age-related changes and the needs of aging groups. You’ll also develop your capacity to plan and provide person-centered care that enhances the quality of life.
You'll study your aged care nursing course online, so you can upskill while you work. And you can gain a postgraduate nursing qualification in as little as eight months of part-time study. Advance your aging and health practice at the university with more than 40 years of experience delivering nursing education.
Key facts
What will you study
To complete the Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Aged Care), a student must fulfil 32 points consisting of four core subjects and one restricted elective.
Core subjects
- Contemporary Issues in Gerontology (eight credit points)
- Advanced Nursing Practice (eight credit points)
- Leadership and Clinical Governance in Aged Care (four credit points)
- Advanced Clinical Assessment of the Older Person (four credit points)
Restricted elective
Select one (1) subject from the following:
- Applied Pharmacology for Nursing Practice (eight credit points)
- Health, Wellbeing and Family Care in Later Life (eight credit points)
- Leadership Practice and Influence in Health Services (four credit points)
- Quality and Safety in Healthcare (eight credit points)
- Financial Management in Health Services (eight credit points)
- Managing Change Projects in Health Services (16 credit points)
- Innovation and Change Management (eight credit points)
- Foundations of Clinical Education (eight credit points)
- Evaluation in Clinical Education (eight credit points))
- Assessment in Clinical Education (eight credit points)
- Teaching and Learning in Clinical Education (eight credit points)
- Child Health Care and Promotion (eight credit points)
- Health Assessment for Advancing Nursing Practice (eight credit points)
- Advancing Emergency Care Nursing Practice (eight credit points)
- Palliative Care in Advanced Nursing Practice (eight credit points)
- Strengthening Primary Health Care with Rural Communities (eight credit points)
- Working with Communities to Develop Mental Health Care, Capacity and Resilience (eight credit points)
- Optimising Health: Living Well with Chronic and Complex Conditions (eight credit points)
- Clinical Leadership in Nursing (eight credit points)
- Leading Healthcare Improvement (eight credit points)
Entry requirements
- Applicants must hold a Bachelor of Nursing degree or professional qualification which leads to registration as a Registered Nurse Division 1 with the Australian Health Professional Regulation Agency or equivalent.
- Applicants must have at least 12 months full-time experience as a registered nurse.
English language requirements
For postgraduate coursework courses, applicants must have obtained an Academic IELTS within the last two years with:
- A minimum overall score of 6.0.
- No individual score below 6.0.
Recognition of Prior Learning
Your previous studies can be acknowledged as credit towards your postgraduate studies, provided that they meet the relevant course requirements.
If you receive an offer of enrolment and you’ve undertaken prior learning, you may be eligible to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning. The procedure is governed by the university Recognition of Prior Learning policy. Contact the university for more details.
Outcomes
Career outcomes
With a nursing graduate certificate, you'll be able to demonstrate the clinical and decision-making knowledge and skills you need to provide high-level care in complex circumstances. You'll collaborate with other health professionals as you work to improve health outcomes and you'll influence all levels of care while promoting quality health outcomes for individuals, families, communities and healthcare systems through strong leadership and management, as well as sound research. Utilize your critical-thinking skills and ability to apply evidence to practice to transition into diverse and challenging advanced nursing career roles. These could include:
- Clinical Leadership
- Senior Nursing Leadership Positions
- Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Clinical Nurse Educator
- Nurse Educator
- Clinical Nurse Consultant
- Nurse Manager
Fees and CSP
One year full-time equivalent fee in 2025: TBA (Commonwealth Supported Places).
One year full-time equivalent fee in 2025: $13,832 (domestic full-fee paying place).
Student fees may vary in accordance with:
- The number of units studied per term.
- The choice of major or specialisation.
- Choice of units.
- 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.
Commonwealth Supported Places
The Australian Government allocates a certain number of CSPs to the universities each year, which are then distributed to students based on merit.
If you're a Commonwealth Supported Student (CSS), you'll only need to pay a portion of your tuition fees. This is known as the student contribution amount – the balance once the government subsidy is applied. This means your costs are much lower.
Limited CSP spaces are offered to students enrolled in selected postgraduate courses.
- Your student contribution amount is:
- Calculated per unit you're enrolled in.
- Dependent on the study areas they relate to.
- Reviewed and adjusted each year.
HECS-HELP loans are available to CSP students to pay the student contribution amount.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.
