Course summary

Do you want to make a difference to the way mental health services are designed, funded and delivered in Australia? This course is designed specifically for allied health and social care professionals who wish to increase their employment outcomes, particularly in mental health leadership and management roles.

This course responds to contemporary mental health research and policy and has been designed with the input of leading clinical and academic mental health professionals.

Undertaking this course will enhance your clinical capabilities and theoretical knowledge of both current and future mental health practice, for the benefit of mental health service users and the wider community. You will develop skills in empathic engagement with people across the stepped care continuum, a critical view of the mental health system in Australia and the knowledge to be able to play a leadership role in its transformation and improvement, as well as skills in assessment, problem formulation, care planning and the provision of psychological strategies to improve mental health and wellbeing.

Each unit runs for seven weeks with six study periods per year and the course is offered exclusively online.

Please note: this course can be completed in two years of accelerated (continuous) part-time study.

Do you want to make a difference to the way mental health services are designed, funded and delivered in Australia? This course is designed specifically for allied health and social care professionals who wish to increase their employment outcomes, particularly in mental health leadership and management roles.

This course responds to contemporary mental health research and policy and has been designed with the input of leading clinical and academic mental health professionals.

Undertaking this course will enhance your clinical capabilities and theoretical knowledge of both current and future mental health practice, for the benefit of mental health service users and the wider community. You will develop skills in empathic engagement with people across the stepped care continuum, a critical view of the mental health system in Australia and the knowledge to be able to play a leadership role in its transformation and improvement, as well as skills in assessment, problem formulation, care planning and the provision of psychological strategies to improve mental health and wellbeing.

Each unit runs for seven weeks with six study periods per year and the course is offered exclusively online.

Please note: this course can be completed in two years of accelerated (continuous) part-time study.

Core units focus on contemporary mental health theory and practice, physical healthcare needs, evidence-based case formulation and common interventions within acute care contexts, in primary mental health as well contemporary applications of developmental psychology and psychological therapies.

You will also choose an elective from a diverse range of subjects that include leadership, management, human resources and organisational issues in mental health settings.

Course Learning Outcome

Critically evaluates and integrates models of treatment relevant to the care continuum, to inform co-constructed personalized care strategies which meet the consumer’s life needs as well as health needs.

Generates/translates novel information or theories, making a substantial contribution to the discipline through scholarly activities.

Engages creatively in therapeutic relationships with mental health consumers their families and significant others, which are characterized by co-construction of care and collaborative engagement.

Critically appraises the nature and extent of influences (social, political, economic and organizational) to overcome constraints in negotiation of options for clinical interventions.

Advocates for mental health consumers, challenging discrimination and public discourse, minimising stigma through the use of positive portrayal and working toward social inclusion and independence.

Interrogates and challenges the concepts of risk and safety from the basis of consumer centred care considering social protection, legal, moral and ethical principles to balance risk in recovery.

Exercises expert/enhanced clinical judgement and decision-making and insight in novel situations in specialist mental health disciplines in pursuit of optimal consumer outcomes.

Negotiates and executes the role of chosen mental health discipline in a multidisciplinary and multi-professional approach.

Consistently demonstrates a high level of autonomy, accountability, adaptability and responsibility in self-directed work and learning.

Engages in and leads others in collaborative critical reflection on clinical practice and achievement of lifelong learning outcomes.

Develops and maintains partnerships in care (individually and with groups) with mental health consumers and their families which focuses on the recipient of care, the person’s right to choice and self-determination, and the person’s inherent capacity for recovery.

Consistently and judiciously uses information technology, compelling and authoritative written and verbal communications.

Respects individual worldviews and enhances their own critical thinking to lead others in challenging assumptions underpinning worldviews.

Adjusts clinical practices to incorporate consumer’s cultural perspectives into mental health planning and interventions.

None required but a background of working within mental health settings would be an advantage.

Please check with your professional body about whether this course meets requirements for recognition of learning. It does amply address the provision of focused psychological strategies.


Course overview

Course code

1209130

Course abbreviation

MMH

Credit points

144

Equivalent units

12

Duration

2 years part-time

Duration

2 years full-time

Availability details

Domestic

Location Teaching period UAC code QTAC code
SCU Online Summer Term N/A N/A

Fee information

Fee paying


International

Location Teaching period Annual Fees CRICOS
SCU Online Summer Term N/A N/A

Course requirements

See the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, in conjunction with the Specific Award Rules listed below.

To be eligible to receive the Master of Mental Health, students must complete the equivalent of 12 units (144 credit points), comprising:

  • 11 core units (132 credit points), and
  • 1 elective unit (12 credit points).

Exit Awards

Students may be eligible to exit with the Graduate Diploma of Mental Health after completing the equivalent of 8 units (96 credit points), comprising the first 8 core units.

Students may be eligible to exit with the Graduate Certificate in Mental Health after completing the equivalent of 4 units (48 credit points), comprising any 4 of the first 6 core units.


Schedule of units

Title Note

Core Units

MHNS5001 - Contemporary Mental Health
MHNS5002 - Mental Health Across the Lifespan
MHNS6002 - Mental Health in Community, Non-Government and Primary Health Settings
MHNS5003 - Acute Mental Health
MHNS5004 - Supporting Behaviour Change in Mental Health Contexts
MHNS6004 - Physical Health Care in Mental Health
Students may be eligible to exit with the Graduate Certificate in Mental Health after completing any 4 of the above 6 units.
PBHL6004 - Leading Evidence-based Practice in Health
PBHL5006 - Building a Professional Portfolio
Students may be eligible to exit with the Graduate Diploma in Mental Health after completing all the above 8 units.
MHNS6003 - Applied Leadership in Mental Health Clinical Practice
MHNS6001 - Developing Skills in Contemporary Psychotherapies
PBHL6005 - Critical Review in Health

Course progressions

Your course progression is in the recommended order you should complete your course in. It is important that you follow this to ensure you meet the course requirements. For further assistance see How to Enrol in Units using My Enrolment.

Students should use course progression information to select units specific to their course and enrol in these units using My Enrolment

Browse uni-wide elective units by selecting Uni-wide elective in the advanced filter of the Unit search.

Browse shared majors and their units at Shared majors