University of South Australia
Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 12 months
It offers immediate application in the workplace, advanced career prospects for registered nurses, and the opportunity to become a credentialed mental health nurse with the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN).
Course overview
Degree overview
- Registered Nurses can advance their knowledge and skills in contemporary mental health patient care.
- Study at a university ranked in the World Top 100 for nursing.
- Learn from industry-experienced clinicians at a university with well-above world-class research in nursing.
- Study at the No.1 university in South Australia for student satisfaction in nursing.
- Benefit from flexible learning options on campus and online.
- Gain practical experience with 240 hours of industry placement during your studies.
- Be supported by online learning resources, available to you 24/7.
- UniSA is an unstoppable university for unstoppable people. As one of the World’s Top Young Universities, we’ll ensure you get the experience your future profession demands, so it’ll feel like you’re studying one minute and in a career the next.
In two years of part-time study, Registered Nurses will be equipped with the skills to respond effectively to patients suffering from mental health challenges. UniSA will help you develop the knowledge and practical skills needed to assess and care for people experiencing mental illness.
This graduate diploma explores psychosocial and behavioural sciences and the legal and ethical aspects of mental health nursing practice. As a mental health nurse, you’ll be able to work with people who have a mental illness like depression, postnatal depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or psychosis. You’ll gain valuable practical experience with an industry placement, preparing you to provide mental health care in a variety of health care settings.
This qualification is offered with a blend of online learning and on-campus workshops.
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
What you will study
To earn the Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing, students must complete four courses, each is worth nine units.
Core courses
Complete the following courses:
- Theoretical Approaches to Mental Health Practice
- Skills for Recovery Practice in Mental Health
- Consolidation of Mental Health Nursing Practice
Electives
Complete one of the following courses:
- Perspectives in Mental Health Practice
- Best Practice in Adolescent Mental Health
- Best Practice in Older People's Mental Health
- Perinatal Mental Health for Health Professionals
Entry requirements
Applicants are required to meet one of the following criteria:
Employer Sponsored
- Hold current registration as a Registered Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia; and
- A letter of support from an employer confirming a training position within the area of mental health nursing
University Placement
- A recognised Bachelor's degree in Nursing or equivalent from a recognised higher education institution; and
- Hold current registration as a Registered Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia; and
- A current Department for Human Services (DHS) Working With Children Check (WWCC); and
- A criminal history check issued by an ACIC-accredited provider within the last 12 months.
Recognition of Prior Learning
Credit transfer (study credit) formally recognises your prior learning and work/life experience. It can be granted for specific courses (subjects) or a block of courses where your previous qualification or experience is equivalent to the learning.
So, what counts as prior learning? It can be from one of the following providers:
- Recognised higher education provider.
- TAFE or other recognised VET provider.
- A professional body, enterprise, private educational institution, or other similar body.
- Work experience.
Contact the university for more information.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes
- This unique qualification will give you an in-depth understanding of mental health issues and conditions and the ability to design intervention and evaluation strategies for patients across diverse backgrounds.
- You'll explore the biopsychosocial and behavioural sciences, co-morbidities, pharmacology and the provision of family support within mental health. Emphasis is placed on mental health care practice for a culturally diverse society in metropolitan, rural and remote clinical settings.
- You'll also develop advanced interviewing and assessment skills and knowledge of support services.
Career outcomes
Registered Nurses with extra mental health qualifications can broaden their employment prospects in a variety of settings in the private and public sectors, including:
- Hospital emergency departments
- Acute inpatient units
- Residential and non-residential rehabilitation programs
- The justice system
- Community health services
Fees and CSP
Estimated total fee in 2025: $4,627 (Commonwealth Supported Place)
The estimated total fee is calculated based on 1.0 EFTSL (Equivalent Full-Time Study Load).
Student fees may vary depending on:
- 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.
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 unit 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.
