University of Newcastle
Master of Mental Health Nursing
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 12 months
Develop the specialised skills and knowledge to advance your career in mental health nursing.
Course overview
The Master of Mental Health Nursing is intended for registered nurses wishing to undertake a specialist qualification in Mental Health Nursing. The program focuses on advanced clinical practice in mental health service provision and provides opportunities to study issues and topics of particular interest, such as dual diagnosis, psychosocial and psychoeducational interventions, forensic management and legal aspects of mental health care, mental health care for older people, illness management and recovery and mental health in primary care.
This program will enable you to be eligible for employment as a registered nurse in mental health nursing positions, allowing you to undertake advanced nursing roles. Upon completion of this program of study, you will be able to assess health status and formulate, implement and monitor management plans in consultation with stakeholders; promote and optimise the health and welfare of individuals and/or populations; retrieve, critically evaluate and apply evidence in the performance of health-related activities; deliver safe and effective collaborative healthcare; reflect on current skills, knowledge and attitudes and plan ongoing personal and professional development.
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
From $578 (CSP)
26th January, 2026
What you will study
To earn the Master of Mental Health Nursing program, you must complete eight courses (80 units).
Core courses (30 units)
- Therapeutic Engagement and Psychosocial Interventions
- Contemporary Mental Health
- Introduction to Research in Health Care
Course list (50 units)
Complete five courses from the following:
- Fundamentals of Epidemiology
- Basis of Drug/Alcohol Problems
- Motivating Health Behaviour Change
- Managing Challenging Behaviours: Psychological Solutions
- Youth and Young Adult Mental Health: 12 to 24 Years
- Evidence-Based Complementary and Integrated Health
- Health and Substance Misuse
- Digital Mental Health Nursing
- Mental Health Acute Care
- Lived Experience Perspectives in Mental Health Nursing
- Mental Health of Older People
- Forensic Mental Health
- Advanced Forensic Mental Health Nursing 1
- Advanced Forensic Mental Health Nursing 2
- Cultural Context of Custody
- Social Justice in the Justice System
- Perinatal Mental Health for Health Professionals
- Leadership and Management in Practice
- Teaching and Learning in the Clinical Context
- Qualitative Methods in Health Research
Entry requirements
Applicants must be registered nurses with one of the following:
- Honours
- A postgraduate qualification.
- A minimum of one year's practice in nursing.
- A minimum of one year's practice in another health profession.
Accepted work experience may include pre-registration experience. It is not required to be undertaken full-time and can be undertaken as an enrolled nurse, registered nurse, or health professional.
Work experience can be identified through a detailed curriculum vitae, a statement of service, or signed letters from employers confirming role, duties and period of employment.
English language requirements
All applicants must demonstrate that they meet the following English proficiency requirements:
- IELTS Overall Minimum: 6.5
- IELTS Sub-Test Minimum: 6
Contact the university for further information.
Recognition of Prior Learning
The University of Newcastle wants to help you fast-track your degree, recognising that your prior study is one way they can do that. If your application is successful, you can reduce the number of courses you need to study, saving you time and money. Contact the university for more information.
Outcomes
Career outcomes
Possible career paths may include:
- Clinical Mental Health Nurse
- Clinical Nurse Consultant
- Mental Health Nurse Researcher
- Nurse Practitioner
- Credentialed Mental Health Nurse
- Health Services Manager
- Mental Health Services Manager
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this program, graduates will be able to:
- Demonstrated comprehensive and well-founded knowledge of the discipline of nursing and nursing management.
- Displayed effective written and/or oral communication skills within a multidisciplinary team environment.
- Demonstrated ability to apply advanced knowledge in nursing management.
- Demonstrated an understanding of research methodology and its application to research questions in nursing and other health-related areas.
- Demonstrated professional self-efficacy and leadership.
- Demonstrated cultural competency and safety.
- Displayed respect for the community and the environment.
- Identified and critically discussed cultural, ethical, equity, nursing and research initiatives to close the health gaps for Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Fees and CSP
Estimated annual fee in 2025: From $4,627 (Commonwealth Supported Places)
Indicative annual fee in 2025: $29,275 (domestic full-fee paying place)
A student’s annual fee may vary depending on:
- The number of courses studied.
- Choice of programs.
- 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 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 course 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.
