Graduate Certificate in Mental Health

What you will study

The Graduate Certificate in Mental Health comprises four courses (100 units).

Core course (25 units)

• Interpersonal Communication

Course elective courses (75 units)

Select three courses from the following:

• Professional Role Development
• Introduction to Perinatal and Infant Mental Health
• Contemporary Mental Health Practice
• Role of the Mental Health Practitioner in an Acute Setting
• Advanced Contemporary Mental Health Practice 1
• Advanced Contemporary Mental Health Practice 2

Entry requirements

To be eligible, you must have current registration to practise as a registered nurse, be a practitioner with an Australian regulatory authority, or be a full member of an appropriate Australian or Professional organisation.

English language requirement

You must be able to demonstrate two years of full-time secondary, vocational or tertiary level study in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States of America. If you do not meet these requirements, you will need to sit the Academic IELTS exam and achieve a score of at least 7.0 overall and 7.0 in each sub-section (reading, writing, listening and speaking) to qualify for entry into the Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing and Allied Health. This applies to Permanent Residents and Australian citizens whose first language is not English and who have not completed two years of full-time academic study in Australia. IELTS results will need to be verified by the Admissions Office before an offer of a place can be made. The Admissions Office reserves the right to ask for IELTS results from any applicant.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Advanced Standing is a way the university recognises the studies you've already completed. Instead of repeating subjects, you get credit for them, saving you time and money. You might be eligible for this credit if you've completed studies, including single subjects at any university (even here at Notre Dame). Contact the university for more information.

Outcomes

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the Graduate Certificate in Mental Health, graduates will be able to:

• Utilise evidence-based knowledge and skills in the planning of respectful, safe, effective and holistic nursing care for clients with acute mental health illnesses.
• Integrate evidence-based decision-making models with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia National Decision Making Framework and the Mental Health Act (1996) in planning patient-centred care within the acute mental health context.
• Use evidence-based models of clinical reasoning to facilitate clear, effective communication and confident negotiation skills.
• Harness interprofessional collaboration to provide excellent patient care and achieve common goals.
• Model responsible and professional behaviours to colleagues and students in order to provide safe, culturally appropriate and social care within a medico-legal framework for acutely mentally ill patients.
• Deconstruct one’s own biases as a means of applying and building professional expertise in the care of acutely mentally ill patients.
• Reflect on practice to facilitate awareness and knowledge of one’s own cognition and establish a mechanism for lifelong learning.
• Conduct research, retrieval and enquiry to debate contemporary mental health challenges on the global stage, incorporating philosophical, technical and social justice perspectives.

Fees and CSP

Estimated total fee in 2025: $2,312 (Commonwealth Supported Place)

Estimated total fee in 2025: $12,400 (domestic full-fee paying place)

Estimated total fees are based on a full-time study load of 100 units of credit.

Student fees may vary per:

• The number of courses studied per term.
• The choice of major or specialisation. 
• 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.

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.