Course summary
Turn your passion for mental health nursing into a career specialisation with this contemporary online course, the first in Australia to be directly constructed from the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses' National Framework for Postgraduate Studies in Mental Health Nursing.
This course responds to contemporary mental health research and policy and has been designed with the input of leading clinical and academic mental health nurses. It aims to prepare mental health nurses to build therapeutic alliances with people across the spectrum of care in Australian contexts including in acute settings, tertiary services, in primary care and wherever people present with mental health problems. This course will also prepare Mental health Nurses to critically engage with mental health services in leadership capacities, to undertake complex assessments, to develop meaningful problem formulations with service user, to provide focused psychological strategies, provide specialist trauma informed psychotherapeutic support to people with complex needs, and to work cooperatively with multidisciplinary teams to provide care and treatment which facilitates the recovery of individuals, families and communities.
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.
Turn your passion for mental health nursing into a career specialisation with this contemporary online course, the first in Australia to be directly constructed from the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses' National Framework for Postgraduate Studies in Mental Health Nursing.
This course responds to contemporary mental health research and policy and has been designed with the input of leading clinical and academic mental health nurses. It aims to prepare mental health nurses to build therapeutic alliances with people across the spectrum of care in Australian contexts including in acute settings, tertiary services, in primary care and wherever people present with mental health problems. This course will also prepare Mental health Nurses to critically engage with mental health services in leadership capacities, to undertake complex assessments, to develop meaningful problem formulations with service user, to provide focused psychological strategies, provide specialist trauma informed psychotherapeutic support to people with complex needs, and to work cooperatively with multidisciplinary teams to provide care and treatment which facilitates the recovery of individuals, families and communities.
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 |
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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 mental health nursing 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 nursing in the pursuit of optimal consumer outcomes. Negotiates and executes the role of the mental health nursing 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. |
There are no placements required in this course although access to mental health nursing practice over the course of study is recommended.
This course has received accreditation from the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses and meets the educational requirements needed for credentialing.
Course overview
Course code
1209132
Course abbreviation
MMHN
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
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 Nursing, 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 Nursing 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 Nursing after completing the equivalent of 4 units (48 credit points), comprising any 4 of the first 6 core units.
Schedule of units
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
Title | Note | ||
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Complete the following units to satisfy the Requirements of the Award |
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First Year |
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MHNS5001 - Contemporary Mental Health | |||
MHNS5002 - Mental Health Across the Lifespan | |||
MHNS5003 - Acute Mental Health | |||
MHNS6002 - Mental Health in Community, Non-Government and Primary Health Settings | |||
MHNS5004 - Supporting Behaviour Change in Mental Health Contexts | |||
PBHL5006 - Building a Professional Portfolio | |||
Second Year |
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Option Unit | |||
MHNS6001 - Developing Skills in Contemporary Psychotherapies | |||
MHNS6004 - Physical Health Care in Mental Health | |||
PBHL6004 - Leading Evidence-based Practice in Health | |||
PBHL6005 - Critical Review in Health | |||
MHNS6003 - Applied Leadership in Mental Health Clinical Practice |
Unit groups
Option Unit
Title | Note | ||
---|---|---|---|
PBHL5018 - Envisioning Health Systems, Policies and Practices | |||
PBHL5010 - Contemporary Health Leadership | |||
PBHL5016 - Leading Change in Health Care | |||
PBHL5017 - Governance and Accountability in Health Care | |||
PBHL5008 - Social and Emotional Competence in Health Care | |||
PBHL5015 - Effective Teaching and Supervision in Health Care | |||
MGMT6003 - The Positive Leader (Online) | |||
MRKT6004 - Digital Marketing (Online) | |||
MGMT6004 - Organisational Change and Development (Online) | |||
HRMT6002 - Human Resource Management (Online) | |||
MGMT5003 - Organisational Behaviour (Online) | |||
PROJ5002 - Project Management Principles | |||
ACCT5003 - Accounting for Managers (Online) | |||
BUSN5005 - Management Communication (Online) |