Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing

What you will study

The online Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing consists of six core units:

Year 1 - Semester 1

• Issues in Mental Health
• Assessment in Mental Health

Students select ONE unit from the following

• Child and Adolescent Mental Health
• Community Mental Health
• Forensic Mental Health
• Drug Use and Addictive Behaviours
• Perinatal Mental Health

Year 1 - Semester 2

Evidence-based Practice and Research Design

Students select TWO units that they have not previously completed

• Child and Adolescent Mental Health
• Community Mental Health
• Forensic Mental Health
• Drug Use and Addictive Behaviours
• Perinatal Mental Health

Entry requirements

Academic Admission Requirements (Band 6)

The following course-specific admission requirements are mandatory and must be satisfied by all applicants. These requirements are in addition to or supersede the minimum requirements outlined within the Academic Admission Requirements band section below.

All applicants must have a Bachelor's degree in nursing or midwifery or equivalent prior learning, including at least five years of recent and relevant professional experience as a mental health nurse.

Academic admission requirements (Band 6) may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

• Bachelor's degree.
• Equivalent prior learning, including at least five years of relevant professional experience.

English Language Requirements (Band 4)

English competency requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

• IELTS Academic Overall band minimum score of 6.5 (no individual band less than 6.0).
• Bachelor's degree from a country specified on the English Proficiency Bands page.
• I completed 0.375 EFTSL of study at the postgraduate level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent).
• Where accepted, equivalent prior learning, including at least five years of relevant professional experience.
• Other tests, courses or programs are defined on the English Proficiency Bands page.

Recognition of Prior Learning

You can get credit for your course based on prior formal, non-formal or informal learning. To apply, you must provide supporting documentation outlined by the university. Please reach out to the university for more information.

Outcomes

Learning outcomes

• Communicate and apply specialised knowledge, concepts and skills to various audiences in the mental health nursing practice field.
• Apply independent judgement when reviewing, analysing and evaluating complex nursing problems to generate creative solutions.
• Demonstrate professional clinical management skills by initiating, planning, implementing and evaluating nursing care within a mental health context.
• Critically reflect on a complex body of mental health care knowledge.

Career outcomes

Employment opportunities include community mental health settings, drug and alcohol services, child, youth and adult mental health services and perinatal mental health settings.

Fees and CSP

Indicative first-year tuition fee in 2025: $4,650 (Commonwealth Supported Place)

A student’s annual fee may vary by:

• 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. Could you 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 only need to pay some of your tuition fees. The student contribution amount is 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.
• Depending 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.