Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing

What you will study

To graduate, you must complete the following. Each course is valued at 12 credit points (CP).

Year One of the Program

Complete the following seven courses:

• Foundations of Mental Health Nursing Partnerships
• Context of Mental Health Nursing
• Therapeutic Initiatives in Mental Health
• Dual Diagnosis and Community Work
• Mental Health Nursing Clinical Portfolio
• Assessment Analysis In Mental Health Nursing
• Health Inquiry Critique

Electives

Complete 12 credit points or one course from the following:

• Narrative Approaches for Career Counselling
• Leadership and Management
• Quality Improvement for Health Care Professionals
• Forensic Psychology
• Complex Parent-Infant Mental Health
• Clinical Learning and Teaching

Entry requirements

You need to satisfy all of the following entry requirements to be considered for entry into this degree.

• An Australian bachelor's degree in Nursing, or equivalent; OR
• An Australian bachelor's degree in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing, or equivalent; AND
• Currently registered or eligible for registration as a Registered Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia; AND
• Eight hundred forty hours of supervised clinical practice already completed in the field of mental health nursing, OR you are completing this as part of a graduate year program in mental health nursing, or supervised practice during the candidature.

If your qualification was completed more than 10 years ago, you will need to provide evidence of ongoing professional work and/or professional development in the same discipline as the program for which you are seeking entry to be granted credit.

English language requirements

You must meet the university's minimum English language requirements to be eligible for a place in this program. Contact the university or visit their website for more information.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Credit, recognition of prior learning, professional experience and accreditation from a professional body can reduce the duration of your study by acknowledging your earlier, relevant experience.

Credit and exemptions will be assessed in a manner consistent with the principles of the RMIT Credit Policy.

Contact the university for more information.

Outcomes

Learning outcomes

This diploma will enable you to:

• Critically analyse the impact of ideological and political discourses on the development of Australian healthcare policies and practices.
• Critically analyse the impact of changing technologies on clinical practice.
• Conceptualise future directions in healthcare policies and practices.
• Explore the nature and implications of moral and legal accountability, responsibility and liability in professional practice.
• Discuss the nature and implications of human rights and social justice considerations in healthcare domains.
• Examine critically key ethical and legal issues relevant to professional healthcare practice in institutional and community-based settings.
• Critically describe the models of health education and the principles of adult learning and health promotion.
• Analyse the concept of multiculturalism as applied to Australia with particular reference to the health care system.
• Examine critically different approaches to health care research.

Career outcomes

Nursing, including mental health nursing, is a large occupation with opportunities in many different locations and organisations.

Mental health nurses represent the largest mental health workforce in Australia and work in all contexts of care. You may work across metropolitan and rural areas for public and private organisations, or go on to contribute to mental health policy and research.

Fees and CSP

Indicative fee in 2026: From $4,738 up to $17,399 (Commonwealth Supported Place)

Indicative total fee in 2026: $28,800 (domestic full-fee paying place)

Additional expenses:

• Student services and amenities fee (SSAF): $373 maximum fee for 2026.
• Other items related to your program include field trips, textbooks and equipment.

The amounts quoted are indicative fees per annum and are based on a standard year of full-time study (96 credit points). A proportionate fee applies for more or less than the full-time study load. Fees are adjusted on an annual basis. These fees should only be used as a guide.

A student’s fee may vary depending on:

• 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.

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 unit you're enrolled in.
• Dependent 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.