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Postgraduate CSP mental health courses available in 2026: Up to 85% off

Save on tuition fees and gain the knowledge to strengthen your mental health skills and advance your career with these postgraduate courses.




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Postgraduate CSP mental health courses available in 2026

The demand for mental health workers is steadily increasing in Australia, driven by critical shortages and growing demand. Whether you’re a nurse who is looking to specialise in mental health or a healthcare professional looking to strengthen your mental health skills, a postgraduate mental health course can help you build the expertise you need to become a competent mental health professional. 

Many courses also offer Commonwealth supported places (CSPs), which can help alleviate costs. With a CSP, the Australian Government subsidises a portion of your course fees, reducing your overall fees. Learn more about CSPs, including eligibility criteria and how to find out if the course you want to study offers CSPs in our guide to postgraduate CSP courses in healthcare.

Which postgraduate CSP mental health course offers the largest discount?

The Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing at Deakin University offers the largest discount at 85 per cent off. With savings of over $10,000, read on to see how much the course costs and other postgraduate CSP mental health courses with significant savings.

10 postgraduate CSP mental health courses in 2026 

We’ve combed through the entire catalogue of postgraduate CSP mental health courses on the GlobalHealth Education website and compiled a list of the top 10 courses with the biggest discounts in 2026. Sorted from the largest to the smallest discount, all percentages have been rounded to the nearest whole number.

There are numerous postgraduate CSP mental health courses available, particularly in mental health nursing. As CSPs are limited, however, entry is competitive and meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee admission into the course. 

Calculation methodology

To ensure accuracy, we’ve only included courses where both the full-fee and CSP prices can be found on the university’s website. Discounts are calculated based on the difference between the two prices. While most universities list both fees on their course page or a dedicated fees page, there are instances where fees have been calculated manually. 

For the University of Tasmania, both the full-fee and CSP prices have been calculated by adding the costs listed on the corresponding unit pages. The full-fee price has been calculated by adding the domestic full-fee amount listed on each unit page and the CSP price has been calculated by adding the commencing student contribution listed on each unit page.

For Australian Catholic University, CSP pricing is clearly listed. The full-fee cost, however, has been calculated by adding the full fee-paying amount for each unit listed on the domestic student unit fees page. 

For Edith Cowan University, both the CSP and full-fee costs have been calculated using the university’s fee calculator. 

Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure that pricing information is accurate and up to date, no guarantee is given, nor responsibility taken, for variations or discrepancies in pricing.

Graduate Certificate of Mental Health Nursing (Online) at Deakin University – 85% off

Graduate Certificate of Mental Health Nursing
Graduate Certificate of Mental Health Nursing
With around 42% of Australians experiencing a mental health condition at some time in their life, there is significant government and industry focus on growing and fostering the mental health workforce. Designed with flexibility for practising nurses, Deakin’s Graduate Certificate of Mental Health Nursing will provide you with the advanced practical skills and knowledge to launch or advance your practice in mental health. Developed in consultation with our key industry partners, you’ll gain the comprehensive theoretical and advanced practical skills needed to work with consumers, carers and supporters in any setting where mental health intervention occurs. You’ll graduate with an advanced understanding of holistic nursing assessment, primary mental health conditions, person-centred approaches and therapeutic and pharmacological interventions. Help deliver the care that an increasing number of Australians need each year. With Deakin’s Graduate Certificate of Mental Health Nursing, you’ll understand the core, foundational and consumer-centric mental health concepts necessary to work within the multidisciplinary teams supporting consumers, carers and supporters. In this one-year part-time course, you’ll undertake four core units via Deakin’s premium interactive learning platform. You’ll gain an advanced understanding of comprehensive nursing assessment and its fundamental role in psychiatric and mental health nursing. You will learn to recognise the biological, psychological, social and spiritual components of an individual’s life and how these can positively and negatively influence their mental health. Build on your existing skills with course content and assessments designed to facilitate advanced recognition and response to altered mental states and clinical presentations; develop a comprehensive understanding of the experiences of vulnerable populations while also exploring high and low prevalence mental health conditions, including psychotic disorders, personality disorders, mood disorders and anxiety disorders. Expanding on these foundations, you’ll examine and learn how to apply contemporary and effective person-centred therapeutic interventions, working with consumers, carers and supporters on their recovery journey. Students will explore trauma-informed care, principles of recovery-oriented nursing practice and the role of peers, carers and families in supporting consumers with mental health challenges. Contemporary mental health treatment calls for a combination of nursing interventions that treat symptoms, manage psychological distress and support and foster consumer wellbeing and resilience. You’ll gain a deep understanding of both pharmacologic and talk therapies that underpin current mental health nursing practices, including the quality use of psychotropic medications such as antipsychotic, antimanic, anxiolytic and antidepressant medications; as well as person-centred approaches to talk therapy, such as cognitive behaviour therapy and dialectical behaviour therapy. As a Graduate Certificate of Mental Health Nursing graduate, you’ll have the skills and knowledge to enhance your mental health nursing career as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN), senior clinician or step into a leadership role across various community and inpatient settings. Upon successful completion of this course, you will have the option of specialising further by continuing on to the Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing. You will have already completed four credit points of core units from the diploma course. (People aged 16–85 years) National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing, Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2020-2022.
Graduate Certificate 12 months 4 Units
Units
  • Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points)
  • Biopsychosocialspiritual Mental Health Nursing Assessment
  • Person-Centred Approaches to Engagement in Mental Health Nursing
  • Recognising and Understanding Mental Illness
  • Therapeutic Interventions in Mental Health Nursing
CSP
More Info
Commonwealth Supported Place is available.

Gain the skills and knowledge required to launch or advance your practice in mental health with this dynamic course. Developed in consultation with industry partners, you’ll undertake four core units on the university’s interactive learning platform. 

Through these units, you’ll strengthen your mental health nursing assessment skills, explore mental health conditions and develop a comprehensive understanding of therapeutic nursing interventions. Upon successful completion of the course, you’ll also have the option of specialising further by continuing on to the Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing.

Who should study this course? 

This course is suitable for nurses that are looking to begin or advance their career in mental health nursing. Graduates commonly work in aged care services, acute public mental health or psychiatry, forensic mental health and child and adolescent mental health or psychiatry. 

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for this course, you must fulfil one of the following:

  • Be a registered nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) with no conditions or restrictions
  • Be a registered nurse in your country of practice (or equivalent) and hold a Bachelor of Nursing or equivalent qualification

Course intake months in 2026: March and July

Course duration: One year part-time

Estimated full-fee cost: $15,300 

Estimated total fee with a CSP: $2,369


Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing (Online) at Deakin University – 85% off

Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing
Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing
With around 42% of Australians experiencing a mental health condition at some time in their life, there is significant government and industry focus on growing and fostering the mental health workforce. Designed with flexibility for practising nurses, Deakin’s Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing will provide you with the advanced practical skills and knowledge to launch or advance your practice in mental health. Developed in consultation with our key industry partners, you’ll gain the comprehensive theoretical and advanced practical skills needed to work with consumers, carers and supporters in any setting where mental health intervention occurs. You’ll graduate with an advanced understanding of holistic nursing assessment, primary mental health conditions, person-centred approaches and therapeutic and pharmacological interventions. Help deliver the care that an increasing number of Australians need each year. With Deakin’s Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing, you’ll understand the core, foundational and consumer-centric mental health concepts necessary to work within the multidisciplinary teams supporting consumers, carers and supporters. In this two-year part-time course, you’ll undertake six core units via Deakin’s premium interactive learning platform and can tailor your degree to your interests with two course electives. During your first year, you’ll gain an advanced understanding of comprehensive nursing assessment and its fundamental role in psychiatric and mental health nursing. You will learn to recognise the biological, psychological, social and spiritual components of an individual’s life and how these can positively and negatively influence their mental health. Build on your existing skills with course content and assessments designed to facilitate advanced recognition and response to altered mental states and clinical presentations; develop a comprehensive understanding of the experiences of vulnerable populations while also exploring high and low prevalence mental health conditions, including psychotic disorders, personality disorders, mood disorders and anxiety disorders. Expanding on these foundations, you’ll examine and learn how to apply contemporary and effective person-centred therapeutic interventions, working with consumers, carers and supporters on their recovery journey. Students will explore trauma-informed care, principles of recovery-oriented nursing practice and the role of peers, carers and families in supporting consumers with mental health challenges. Contemporary mental health treatment calls for a combination of nursing interventions that treat symptoms, manage psychological distress and support and foster consumer wellbeing and resilience. You’ll gain a deep understanding of both pharmacologic and talk therapies that underpin current mental health nursing practices, including the quality use of psychotropic medications such as antipsychotic, antimanic, anxiolytic and antidepressant medications; as well as person-centred approaches to talk therapy, such as cognitive behaviour therapy and dialectical behaviour therapy. In the second year, you’ll gain an advanced understanding and knowledge of the physical health issues associated with mental illness and its treatments, such as common complications experienced by those consumers taking psychotropic medications, including metabolic syndrome and other conditions caused by medication-induced obesity. To support consumers living with mental health challenges, nurses must be resilient and able to thrive despite the demands and stress of working in this challenging environment. You’ll enhance and support your nursing practice to manage the dynamic and challenging experiences of working in the mental healthcare environment, safeguarding your mental health through recognising, navigating and preventing burnout. You’ll have the opportunity to explore a personal area of interest or add further specialised knowledge and skills to your CV with two course electives. You can tailor your degree and career outcomes by choosing from a wide range of areas, including vulnerable communities, counselling, diabetes education and management or leadership and education in nursing. As a graduate of the Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing, you’ll have the skills and knowledge to enhance your mental health nursing career as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN), senior clinician or step into a leadership role across various community and inpatient settings. (People aged 16-85 years) National Study of Mental Health and Well-being, Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2020-2022.
Graduate Diploma 24 months 8 Units
Units
  • Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points)
  • Biopsychosocialspiritual Mental Health Nursing Assessment
  • Person-Centred Approaches to Engagement in Mental Health Nursing
  • Recognising and Understanding Mental Illness
  • Therapeutic Interventions in Mental Health Nursing
  • The Physical Health Needs of Persons with Mental Illness
  • Sustaining the Mental Health Nursing Workforce
  • Plus Electives
CSP
More Info
Commonwealth Supported Place is available.

This two year part-time course is ideal for nurses who are looking to further advance their mental health nursing skills. During this course, you’ll undertake six core units along with the choice of two course electives. Examples of course electives that you'll get to choose from include Management of Diabetes, Facilitating Clinical Learning, Therapeutic Medication Management and Counselling Diverse Populations. 

Other than expanding on your mental health nursing foundations and gaining a deeper understanding of nursing interventions, you’ll enhance your understanding and knowledge of the physical health issues associated with mental illness and learn how to manage the dynamic and challenging experience of working in mental health. 

Who should study this course? 

This course is suitable for nurses who are looking to gain a more comprehensive understanding of or specialise in mental health. Upon graduation, individuals can work in areas such as community mental health, drug and alcohol services and private mental health. 

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for this course, you must fulfil one of the following: 

  • Be a registered nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) with no conditions or restrictions
  • Be a registered nurse in your country of practice (or equivalent) and hold a Bachelor of Nursing or equivalent qualification 

Course intake months in 2026: March and July 

Course duration: Two years part-time 

Estimated full-fee cost: $30,600 

Estimated total fee with a CSP: $4,738


Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing (Online) at Flinders University – 83% off

Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing
Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing
The Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing is designed to enhance capabilities to navigate the complex mental health systems, advocate for self-determination and promote wellbeing practices. It focuses on the development of clinical leadership, promotion and integration of evidence-based practice to foster the development of graduates consistent with the profile of the nurse specialist, offering the mental health nurse further clinical skills and an opportunity to extend career options. This ensures you are prepared for mental health nursing practice and can research and critique your practice, its part in the provision of care and the effect of the healthcare system on practice.
Graduate Diploma 12 months 8 Units
Units
  • Acute Mental Health Nursing Theory
  • Acute Mental Health Nursing Practice (WIL)
  • Leadership in Health Studies
  • Counselling in Mental Health Nursing
  • Counselling in Mental Health Nursing Practice (WIL)
  • Quality and Safety in Health Care
  • Plus Electives
CSP
More Info
Commonwealth Supported Place is available.

Enhance your capabilities in navigating the mental health nursing landscape in this comprehensive course. You will further your clinical skills and develop competencies in areas such as clinical leadership, acute mental health and counselling. 

You will also choose from a range of electives, including units such as First Nations Health and Wellbeing, Clinical Research Methods and Introduction to Epidemiological Research Methods. While the course is delivered online, it includes a professional experience placement component where you’ll get to put what you’ve learned into practice.

Who should study this course?

This course is suitable for nurses looking to strengthen their clinical and theoretical knowledge in mental health nursing. As the course also covers leadership concepts, it’s a strong fit for those aiming to step into a leadership role in the field. 

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for this course, you must: 

  • Have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an approved tertiary institution
  • Be a registered nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) 

Course intake months in 2026: March and July 

Course duration: One year full-time or the part-time equivalent 

Estimated full-fee cost: $28,200 

Estimated total fee with a CSP: $4,734


Graduate Certificate in Mental Health (Online) at Edith Cowan University – Up to 82% off

Graduate Certificate in Mental Health
Graduate Certificate in Mental Health
This course aims to provide students from a range of health-related disciplines with an overview of contemporary and evidence-based approaches to the delivery of mental health care. Students will gain an appreciation of the historical context of mental health care and develop a range of assessment and intervention skills that can be applied in a range of mental health settings. The choice of an elective unit offers students the opportunity to develop knowledge and skills in a range of specialised mental health care contexts. The course also enables students to critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of various management strategies for supporting clients with mental illness in the community.
Graduate Certificate 6 months 3 Units
Units
  • Contemporary Issues in Mental Health
  • Assessment in Mental Health
  • Plus Electives
CSP
More Info
Commonwealth Supported Place is available.

This online course will equip you with the assessment and intervention skills needed to succeed in a mental health setting. Consisting of four units, you’ll undertake two mandatory units and choose from a range of electives including Forensic Mental Health, Community Mental Health or Work Based Learning. 

In the mandatory units, you’ll learn various approaches to assessing people with mental illness and advance your knowledge of mental health theory and practice. The goal is to develop skills that you can apply across a range of mental health settings. 

Who should study this course? 

This course is ideal for healthcare professionals looking to bolster their skill set to work in mental health practices and facilities. It’s also a suitable option for nurses looking to specialise in mental health. Upon completion, graduates can continue on to complete the university’s graduate diploma and master’s in mental health nursing.

Eligibility criteria 

To be eligible for this course, you must have one of the following: 

  • A bachelor’s degree in a health, counselling, social work, occupational therapy, nursing, midwifery or psychology related subject
  • Equivalent prior learning including at least five years of relevant professional experience in a mental health setting

Course intake months in 2026: February and July 

Course duration: Six months full-time or the part-time equivalent 

Estimated full-fee cost: $13,240 to $13,260 

Estimated total fee with a CSP: $2,367 to $3,167


Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing (Online) at Edith Cowan University – Up to 82% off

Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing
Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing
This course will provide students with contemporary and evidence-based approaches to delivering mental health nursing care. Students will also gain foundation knowledge of a range of research approaches, to understand the standards for quality and rigour in research and the skills in operationalising research in mental health. Choosing elective units allows students to develop knowledge and skills in various specialised mental health care contexts. The course also enables students to critically evaluate multiple management strategies for supporting people with mental illness in the community.
Graduate Diploma 12 months 6 Units
Units
  • Issues in Mental Health
  • Assessment in Mental Health
  • Evidence-based Practice and Research Design
  • Plus Electives
CSP
More Info
Commonwealth Supported Place is available.

Advance your knowledge of mental health theory and practice in this course, which also has a focus on foundational research methods. While you’ll learn how to assess mental health conditions and apply a range of interventions, you’ll also acquire the skills to operationalise a research study.

In addition to the mandatory units, you’ll also get to choose from a range of electives including Forensic Mental Health, Community Mental Health, Perinatal Mental Health and Child and Adolescent Mental Health. 

Who should study this course? 

This course is suitable for nurses that are looking to hone their mental health and research skills. Employment opportunities for graduates include community mental health settings, drug and alcohol services and child, youth and adult mental health services. 

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for this course, you must have one of the following:

  • A bachelor’s degree in nursing or midwifery
  • Equivalent prior learning including at least five years of recent and relevant professional experience as a mental health nurse

Course intake months in 2026: February and July 

Course duration: One year full-time or the part-time equivalent 

Estimated full-fee cost: $26,630 to $26,650 

Estimated total fee with a CSP: $4,734 to $5,534


Graduate Certificate in Addiction Studies for Health Professionals (Online) at the University of Tasmania – 81% off

Graduate Certificate in Addiction Studies for Health Professionals
Graduate Certificate in Addiction Studies for Health Professionals
In this fully online course, you will work with both health and non-health professionals to improve your understanding of dependency and contribute to providing adequate care and guidance to help those experiencing it overcome their struggles. Your studies will cover the principles underlying substance use and withdrawal, identification of co-occurring conditions and the rationale for undertaking bio-psychosocial clinical assessments for clients. You will also learn about policies and strategies that direct appropriate client management processes and gain an understanding of current legislative requirements. In a self-directed capstone unit, you will tailor your studies towards a dependency-related topic of your choice, gathering evidence and content to produce a professional portfolio that shows your demonstrated knowledge relevant to the region, area, occupation or sector where you’ll be utilising your skills. The Graduate Certificate in Addiction Studies has been designed to provide health professionals with the knowledge, awareness and skills to work sensitively with clients and families affected by addictive disorders and behaviours. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of dependency, maladaptive behaviours and epidemiological indicators on a theoretical level. You’ll also develop your communication skills to work sensitively with clients and families from various ages and cultures.
Graduate Certificate 3 Years 4 Units
Units
  • Contexts of Addiction
  • Assessment and Management of Addictive Disorders
  • Approaches to Intervention
  • Psychological Therapies in Mental Health Care
CSP
More Info
Commonwealth Supported Place is available.

Learn how to provide effective care and guidance to those experiencing addiction in this online course. The goal is to equip you with the skills needed to work with and support individuals experiencing dependency. 

Consisting of four units, the course will extend your knowledge of treatment approaches, develop your ability to work with people experiencing addictive disorders and introduce you to psychological therapies used in the management of mental health conditions. 

Who should study this course? 

This course is ideal for healthcare professionals who are looking to hone their skills and enhance their ability to support individuals experiencing dependency. It is also suitable for healthcare professionals, particularly registered nurses and social workers, who are looking to transition into the addiction care field. 

Eligibility criteria 

To be eligible for this course, you must: 

  • Have an undergraduate qualification in a health-related discipline or in social work, psychology, social sciences or police studies 

While not a mandatory entry requirement, students should ideally be working in a healthcare setting such as a hospital, health clinic or aged care facility. 

Course intake month in 2026: February 

Course duration: One year part-time 

Estimated full-fee cost: $12,712 

Estimated total fee with a CSP: $2,368


Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing (Online) at Australian Catholic University – 81% off

Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing
Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing
The Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing addresses current mental health perspectives and practices and comprehensively understands illness and wellness. The inclusion of diversity and lifetime perspectives will ensure that you are practice-ready. In the Graduate Certificate, you will undertake units in recovery-oriented mental health, holistic individual-centred mental health practice, health promotion, social inclusion and a unit to develop an in-depth understanding of practitioners of their practice.
Graduate Certificate 12 months 4 Units
Units
  • Holistic Individual Centred Mental Health Nursing Practice
  • Recovery Oriented Mental Health Nursing
  • Health Promotion and Social Inclusion in Mental Health Nursing
  • Reflective Practice and Clinical Supervision in Mental Health Nursing
CSP
More Info
Commonwealth Supported Place is available.

Are you a nurse who is looking to specialise in mental health or further develop your expertise in this area? The Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing will equip you with the knowledge and practical skills to work across a range of mental health settings, along with the advanced leadership capabilities needed to become a change agent. 

Developed specifically for nurse clinicians entering the specialist field of mental health, this course includes units such as Recovery Oriented Mental Health Nursing, Holistic Individual Centred Mental Health Nursing Practice and Health Promotion and Social Inclusion in Mental Health Nursing.

Who should study this course?

This course is ideal for nurses who are looking to advance their skills in mental health. Graduates can go on to work across a range of settings including public and private healthcare organisations, mental health services and community or rehabilitation-focused environments.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for the course, you must: 

  • Hold a Bachelor of Nursing degree
  • Have written confirmation from your employer that you are currently employed in a mental health service

Course intake months in 2026: February and July

Course duration: One year part-time

Estimated full-fee cost: $12,628 

Estimated total fee with a CSP: $2,368


Graduate Certificate in Mental Health (Online) at Victoria University – 79% off

Graduate Certificate in Mental Health
Graduate Certificate in Mental Health
Drive positive impact in mental health with VU Online’s Graduate Certificate in Mental Health. This degree is designed for allied health, welfare and social care professionals who want to gain a holistic understanding of mental health and its impact on individuals, families and communities. You will establish fundamentals in comprehensive mental health practice, research and evidence-based practice, trauma-informed care and collaboration across mental health services. This graduate certificate features a contemporary curriculum designed by mental health experts. Upon successful completion, you can continue your studies and gain your Master of Mental Health. VU Online’s Postgraduate Block Model This postgraduate online Block Model is designed to be flexible, interactive and student-centred. You’ll experience structured and supportive online learning and benefit from 1:1 academic support via phone, email or SMS, seven days a week and in the evenings.
Graduate Certificate 8 months 4 Units
Units
  • Recovery Oriented Mental Health
  • Biopsychosocial and Cultural Perspectives in Mental Health
  • Effective Trauma-Informed Care
  • Mental Health Foundations
CSP
More Info
Commonwealth Supported Place is available.

Drive positive change and gain a holistic understanding of mental health and its impact on individuals, families and communities in this online course. Designed by mental health experts, upon successful completion of this course, you can continue on to complete a Master of Mental Health. 

In this flexible course, you’ll complete four units where you’ll develop a foundational understanding of mental health, examine biopsychosocial and cultural perspectives of mental illness, learn how to support individuals with complex mental illness and gain the skills to care for people who have experienced trauma. 

Who should study this course?

This course is suitable for allied health, welfare and social care professionals who want to gain a holistic understanding of mental health. Graduates will increase their specialist knowledge and be able to work across a range of therapeutic, community and clinical mental health settings. 

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for this course, you must fulfil one of the following: 

  • Have a completed bachelor’s degree in a cognate discipline. Examples include health science, social work, psychology, medicine, counselling, criminal justice, youth work or education
  • Have a bachelor's degree in any discipline with at least two years of approved work experience 

Course intake months in 2026: January, March, May, July, August and October 

Course duration: Eight months part-time 

Estimated full-fee cost: $11,480 

Estimated total fee with a CSP: $2,368


Master of Mental Health Nursing (Online) at Deakin University – 79% off

Master of Mental Health Nursing
Master of Mental Health Nursing
Help shape the future of Mental Health Nursing in Australia with Deakin’s Master of Mental Health Nursing. With around 42% of Australians experiencing a mental health condition at some time in their life, there is significant government and industry focus on growing and fostering the mental health workforce. You’ll develop the advanced practical skills and knowledge to expand your practice in mental health as a senior clinician, step into a leadership capacity or innovate through research. Developed in consultation with our key industry partners, you’ll gain the comprehensive theoretical and advanced practical skills needed to work with carers and supporters in any setting where mental health intervention occurs. You’ll graduate with an advanced understanding of holistic nursing assessment, primary mental health conditions, person-centred approaches and therapeutic and pharmacological interventions. Help deliver the care that an increasing number of Australians need each year. With Deakin’s Master of Mental Health Nursing, you’ll understand the core, foundational and consumer-centric mental health concepts necessary to work within the multidisciplinary teams supporting consumers, carers and supporters. In this three-year part-time course delivered on Deakin’s premium interactive learning platform, you will have the opportunity to undertake either a thesis stream, where you can inform current nursing practice by undertaking a research project in mental health nursing or choose a coursework stream, where you can curate your focus with a choice of courses and university-wide electives. During your first year, you’ll gain an advanced understanding of comprehensive nursing assessment and its fundamental role in mental health nursing. You will learn to recognise the biological, psychological, social and spiritual components of an individual’s life and how these can positively and negatively influence their mental health. Build on your existing skills with course content and assessments designed to facilitate advanced recognition and response to altered mental states and clinical presentation; develop a comprehensive understanding of the experiences of vulnerable populations while also exploring high and low prevalence mental health conditions, including psychotic disorders, personality disorders, mood disorders and anxiety disorders. Expanding on these foundations, you’ll examine and learn how to apply contemporary and effective person-centred therapeutic interventions, working with consumers, carers and supporters on their recovery journey. Students will explore trauma-informed care, principles of recovery-oriented nursing practice and the role of peers, carers and families in supporting consumers with mental health challenges. Contemporary mental health treatment calls for a combination of nursing interventions that treat symptoms, manage psychological distress and support and foster consumer wellbeing and resilience. You’ll gain a deep understanding of both pharmacologic and talk therapies that underpin current mental health nursing practices, including the quality use of psychotropic medications such as antipsychotic, antimanic, anxiolytic and antidepressant medications; as well as person-centred approaches to talk therapy, such as cognitive behaviour therapy and dialectical behaviour therapy. In the second year, you’ll gain an advanced understanding and knowledge of the physical health issues associated with mental illness and its treatments, such as common complications experienced by those consumers taking psychotropic medications, including metabolic syndrome and other conditions caused by medication-induced obesity. To support consumers living with mental health challenges, nurses must be resilient and able to thrive despite the demands and stress of working in this challenging environment. You’ll enhance and support your nursing practice to manage the dynamic and challenging experiences of working in the mental healthcare environment, safeguarding your mental health through recognising, navigating and preventing burnout. Coursework stream: You’ll have the opportunity to explore a personal area of interest or add further specialised knowledge and skills to your CV with three courses and two free electives. You can tailor your degree and career outcomes by choosing from a wide range of areas, including vulnerable communities, counselling, diabetes education and management, leadership and education in nursing or elsewhere in the university. Thesis stream: The thesis stream allows you to pursue a research pathway upon graduation, with four dedicated thesis units and two course elective units. You'll create an individual research thesis supported by a research supervision team and our expert staff. To undertake the thesis stream, students must have a WAM>65 from 8 credit points of study. As a graduate of the Master of Mental Health Nursing, you’ll have the skills and knowledge to enhance your mental health nursing career as a senior clinician, step into a leadership role across a range of community and inpatient settings or innovate the industry through further research.
Master's 36 months 12 Units
Units
  • Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points)
  • Biopsychosocialspiritual Mental Health Nursing Assessment
  • Person-Centred Approaches to Engagement in Mental Health Nursing
  • Recognising and Understanding Mental Illness
  • Therapeutic Interventions in Mental Health Nursing
  • The Physical Health Needs of Persons with Mental Illness
  • Sustaining the Mental Health Nursing Workforce
  • Research in Nursing and Midwifery
  • Plus Electives
CSP
More Info
Commonwealth Supported Place is available.

Play a leading role in the future of mental health nursing by gaining the core, foundational and consumer-centric mental health concepts required to work within multidisciplinary teams. In this online part-time course, you can choose to undertake either the thesis stream, where you’ll complete a research project in mental health nursing, or the coursework stream, where you can curate your focus from a list of electives. 

In both streams, you’ll complete units such as Recognising and Understanding Mental Illness, Therapeutic Interventions in Mental Health Nursing and Person-Centred Approaches to Engagement in Mental Health Nursing. 

Who should study this course? 

This course is ideal for nurses looking to gain the skills and knowledge to enhance their mental health nursing career or step into a leadership role. Graduates can work across a range of community and inpatient settings and those who undertake the thesis stream may extend their research career by pursuing a PhD. 

Eligibility criteria 

To be eligible for this course, you must fulfil one of the following: 

  • Be a registered nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) with no conditions or restrictions
  • Be a registered nurse in your country of practice (or equivalent) and hold a Bachelor of Nursing or equivalent qualification

Course intake months in 2026: March and July 

Course duration: Three years part-time 

Estimated full-fee cost: $45,900 

Estimated total fee with a CSP: $9,539.5


Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing (Online) at CQUniversity – 74% off

Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing
Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing
The Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing is delivered via the CQU Be Different platform and offers you a self-paced, ultra-flexible online course, ideal for busy, emerging health leaders looking for specialist skills in postgraduate mental health nursing. Through this course, you will develop foundation knowledge and skills in mental health nursing, so it's an ideal course for you if you have an interest in mental health nursing or you are newly employed in mental health. You will build your skills and knowledge in undertaking mental health assessments, risk assessments and formulations, along with psychotropic medications and recovery. This course is not only the ideal course to build a solid foundation in mental health nursing but also a great place to start as you become familiar with CQU's Be Different learning platform.
Graduate Certificate 12 months 4 Units
Units
  • Contextual Foundations of Mental Health Nursing Practice
  • Creating Meaningful Relationships
  • Mental Health Nursing Assessment and Formulation
  • Clinical Foundations for Practice
CSP
More Info
Commonwealth Supported Place is available.

This self-paced online course is ideal if you’re looking to build the foundational skills and knowledge required to practise in this area of specialisation. As part of the course, you’ll complete four units including Contextual Foundations of Mental Health Nursing Practice and Clinical Foundations for Practice. 

You’ll learn how to engage and interact with diverse individuals with mental illness and develop skills in conducting a range of assessments, including mental health examination and various risk assessments. Upon completion, you can choose to further develop your mental health knowledge by completing the university’s Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing, followed by the Master of Mental Health Nursing. 

Who should study this course?

This course is ideal for nurses looking to develop foundational knowledge and skills in mental health nursing. As this course is offered in a hyperflexible format, it’s suitable for individuals that prefer independent and flexible learning. Individuals can begin the course at any time and plan their study around their availability as there are no fixed assessment deadlines, session dates or group assignments. 

Eligibility criteria 

To be eligible for the course, you must: 

  • Hold current registration as a nurse (Division 1) with Ahpra 

Course intake in 2026: As this is a hyperflexible online course, students can begin the course at any time 

Course duration: One year part-time 

Estimated full-fee cost: $9,200 

Estimated total fee with a CSP: $2,400


Chat to our Education Consultant

If you require further guidance, you can connect one-on-one with our Education Consultant, Catriona. With years of experience and formal qualifications in career development and positive psychology, she can provide personalised guidance and help you figure out your next step. She can also answer any questions you have about CSPs, including how to apply and how this government initiative differs from other financial support options.

Explore more postgraduate CSP mental health courses

Looking for more mental health courses that offer CSP at the postgraduate level? Explore our full catalogue of courses here.