University of Notre Dame Australia
Graduate Certificate in Palliative Care Nursing
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 6 months
Advance your palliative care nursing practice through blended learning, developing skills in person-centred care, symptom management and evidence-based practice in a program developed with St Vincent's Health Network Sydney.
Course overview
The Graduate Certificate in Palliative Care Nursing from The University of Notre Dame Australia is a postgraduate qualification designed for registered nurses who want to develop specialised knowledge and skills in caring for people with life-limiting illness. Developed in partnership with St Vincent's Health Network Sydney, the program combines clinical and academic expertise to support contemporary palliative care nursing practice.
You will study contemporary palliative care nursing, person-centred care, evidence-based practice and clinical management while developing skills in communication, shared decision-making, comprehensive assessment and symptom management using pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches. The curriculum also explores cultural, spiritual and psychosocial considerations to support holistic care. Delivered through blended learning, the program combines teaching from industry experts and university academics.
The program is designed to build advanced knowledge and skills in palliative care nursing through an integrated approach that combines evidence-based learning with contemporary clinical practice.
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
12th July, 2027
What you will study
To earn the Graduate Certificate in Palliative Care Nursing, you must successfully complete units totalling 100 credit points, as detailed below. Unless otherwise noted, each course is worth 25 credit points.
Core units
- Contemporary Palliative Care Nursing Practice 1
- A Person-Centred Approach to Palliative Care Nursing
- Evidence-Based Practice
- Clinical Management in Palliative Care Nursing
Entry requirements
Applicants for this course must meet the following specific requirements:
- Hold a current license to practice as a Registered Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia or provisional registration, which applies when the student’s program commences.
To be eligible for admission to The University of Notre Dame Australia, all applicants must meet the university’s minimum requirements for admission. Visit the university's website or contact them for more information.
Recognition of Prior Learning
You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help reduce the number of units you need to study to finish your course. Contact the university for more information.
Outcomes
Career outcomes
A Graduate Certificate in Palliative Care Nursing will equip registered nurses with advanced knowledge and skills to provide high-quality, compassionate care as a palliative care nurse.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the Graduate Certificate in Palliative Care Nursing, graduates will be able to:
- Evaluate palliative care's principles, standards and ethical considerations, including person-centred care and shared decision-making, to enhance the quality of life and dignity for patients with life-limiting illnesses.
- Demonstrate advanced communication and interprofessional collaboration skills to deliver compassionate, holistic palliative care and support for patients and their families.
- Analyse comprehensive assessment techniques and symptom management strategies, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological, to effectively address complex symptoms in palliative care patients.
- Integrate cultural, spiritual and psychosocial considerations into palliative care to provide culturally competent and spiritually sensitive care that respects and honours diverse patient backgrounds and beliefs.
- Apply evidence-based practice methods, including developing clinical questions, critically appraising research evidence and creating implementation plans, to translate research findings into improved palliative care nursing practice.
Fees and CSP
Indicative annual fee in 2026: $2,368 (Commonwealth Supported Place).
Indicative annual fees are based on your first year of study.
A student’s annual fee may vary by:
- The number of units studied.
- 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 the course you're enrolled in.
- Dependent on the study areas they relate to.
- Reviewed and adjusted each year.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
HECS-HELP loans are available to CSP students to pay the student contribution amount.
