University of Notre Dame Australia
Graduate Diploma of Perioperative Nursing
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 12 months
Advance your perioperative nursing practice through a program combining specialist study, professional development and clinical learning delivered in partnership with participating Western Australian health services.
Course overview
The Graduate Diploma of Perioperative Nursing from The University of Notre Dame Australia is designed for registered nurses employed within participating partner health services who want to build advanced knowledge of perioperative care. The program examines the scientific, ethical and organisational principles that underpin safe and effective care across the perioperative environment.
You will study Pathophysiological Processes Related to Therapeutic Action, Clinical Practice, Professional Development, Reflective Practice, Management, and Ethics in Professional Life. Together, these courses explore pathophysiology, reflective practice, leadership, management and ethical decision-making relevant to the perioperative setting. Delivered externally through participating partner health services in Western Australia, the program is completed full-time while you remain employed in an approved clinical setting.
The program provides a pathway to the Master of Nursing (Perioperative), allowing eligible graduates to continue their studies through a further year of part-time study.
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 $592 (CSP)
What you will study
To earn the Graduate Diploma of Perioperative Nursing, you must successfully complete units totalling 200 credit points, as detailed below. Unless otherwise noted, each course is worth 25 credit points.
Core units
- Pathophysiology Processes Related to Therapeutic Actions
- Clinical Practice (50 credit points)
- Professional Development
- Reflective Practice (50 credit points)
- Management
- Ethical Issues for Professional Life
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
To be eligible for admission to the program, an applicant must hold the following:
- Current license to practice as a Registered Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia or provisional registration, whichever is applicable at the time of commencement.
- Nursing of another appropriate degree or the equivalent.
- Minimum of one year relevant post-registration nursing experience.
- Currently working as a Registered Nurse in the perioperative environment of a partnership facility.
- Current employment contract for the term of the program with an approved health service.
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 to reduce the number of units that you need to study to finish your course. Contact the university for more information.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the Graduate Diploma of Perioperative Nursing, graduates will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of concepts and principles framing perioperative nursing care.
- Apply advanced technical competence in perioperative nursing, demonstrating portability of learning from one speciality to another.
- Demonstrate leadership and interpersonal communication skills within the interprofessional perioperative environment.
- Provide evidence-based quality care within an ethical and legal framework.
- Utilise technology to enable research and reflective practice within the perioperative environment.
Career outcomes
A Graduate Diploma of Perioperative Nursing will give you the qualifications to work as a perioperative nurse.
Fees and CSP
Indicative annual fee in 2026: $4,736 (Commonwealth Supported Place).
Indicative annual fee in 2026: $25,800 (Full-fee paying 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.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students with the cost of a university program.
