Swinburne University of Technology
Graduate Diploma of Forensic Mental Health Nursing
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 24 months
Offers advanced training for nurses to lead in forensic settings, blending clinical expertise with legal and ethical insight to support mentally vulnerable individuals within the justice system.
Course overview
Use your current nursing qualifications to upskill in the area of forensics, with a graduate diploma in forensic mental health nursing. You’ll learn the necessary skills for success in this area, which includes an understanding of legal and correctional systems, working effectively with challenging patients and behaviours and factors that influence offending.
The Graduate Diploma of Forensic Mental Health Nursing will provide specialised training to nurses who are working in, or are seeking to work in, forensic mental health contexts. Forensic mental health nurses work in a variety of settings, including secure hospitals, courts and prisons. Additional knowledge and skills are required to work in this field beyond those required of general mental health nurses.
Swinburne intends that its teaching programs assist all its graduates to be:
- Capable in their chosen professional, vocational or study areas.
- Entrepreneurial in contributing to innovation and development within their business, workplace or community.
- Effective and ethical in work and community situations.
- Adaptable and able to manage change.
- Aware of local and international environments in which they will be contributing (e.g. sociocultural, economic and natural).
Key facts
3rd August, 2026
What you will study
To qualify for the Graduate Diploma of Forensic Mental Health Nursing, students must complete 100 credit points comprising:
- Six core units (75 credit points)
- Two elective units (25 credit points)
Each unit is worth 12.5 credit points.
Complete the following core units:
- Core Skills in Forensic Practice
- Fundamentals of Criminal Law Process
- Principles of Violence Risk Assessment and Management
- Forensic Mental Health Nursing
- Mental Disorder and Offending
- Forensic Mental Health Nursing Practice
Entry requirements
An Australian bachelor's degree or equivalent in one of the following fields:
- Nursing
- Mental health nursing
Applicants wishing to study full-time will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Students admitted to the course with prior tertiary studies that satisfy part of the academic requirements of this course may be eligible for academic credit.
The university may determine selection criteria and restrictions, in respect of courses, to apply in addition to these entry requirements.
English language requirements
All Swinburne students must be able to meet the English language requirements. You’ll be able to provide evidence of your English language skills if you have one of the following:
- Completed the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or another type of secondary qualification taught in English.
- Completed some types of university or vocational education studies (tertiary studies).
- Completed English language tests, such as TOEFL, IELTS, Pearson or C1.
- Completed an English language (ELICOS) course.
- Lived and worked in an English-speaking country for at least four years (domestic applicants only).
These requirements vary for prospective undergraduate and postgraduate students, depending on your chosen course.
Recognition of Prior Learning
If you have gained extensive and relevant knowledge through formal training or acquired relevant skills through work or through life experience, you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning (RPL).
Contact the university or visit their website for more information.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes
Upon successfully completing the Graduate Diploma of Forensic Mental Health Nursing, students will be able to:
- Apply advanced knowledge of a broad range of theories and principles required for nursing practice in forensic mental health contexts.
- Apply advanced knowledge of the complex systemic and individual mental health factors that influence offending behaviour.
- Cognitive skills that demonstrate the ability to critically appraise and interpret the range of complex factors that contribute to offending behaviour, both at a general and individual level.
- Apply technical skills to identify and evaluate evidence that helps inform creative problem-solving and decision-making in the nursing role.
- Communicate complex ideas in a coherent and informative manner with clients, carers and other health professionals.
- Adapt advanced knowledge and skills to the contexts of forensic mental health nursing, such as correctional or mental health settings.
- Utilise a wide range of knowledge and skills to independently develop, plan and implement responses to challenging issues faced by forensic mental health nurses.
- Employ advanced knowledge of psychopathology and offending behaviour to develop and deliver more effective treatment to clients in forensic mental health settings.
Career outcomes
Possible career role includes:
- Forensic mental health nurse
- Nurse in a prison setting
- Nurse in a court setting
- General mental health nurse
Fees and FEE-HELP
Estimated yearly and total fee in 2026: $38,860 (domestic full-fee paying place)
The student tuition fees as published are subject to change based on individual circumstances at the time of enrolment. These fees apply to units studied in 2026 only and may change for units studied in future years. If part-time study is permitted, annual fees will be proportionally lower based on the number of units taken per semester.
Student fees may vary in accordance with:
- The number of units studied per term.
- The choice of major or specialisation.
- Choice of units.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
You may also need to pay the student services and amenities fee.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.
