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Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing

Graduate Certificate

Course snapshot

Domestic snapshot

  • Course abbreviation

    GCMHN

  • Course code

    1008420

  • Credit points

    48

  • Equivalent units

    4

  • Indicative Fee

    Fee paying

Overview

Want to increase your specialist knowledge and employment outcomes in mental health?

This course is delivered completely online and responds to contemporary mental health research and policy. It has been designed with the input of leading clinical and academic mental health professionals. Core units include contemporary mental health theory and practice.

For nursing graduates, this is a useful foundational qualification in mental health nursing, enabling a pathway to further studies in this field for credentialing as a Mental Health Nurse.

Course Learning Outcome

GA1: Intellectual rigour

Interpret and communicate new or emerging information or theories to contribute to scholarly and professional discussions within the mental health nursing discipline.

GA2: Creativity

Critically analyse social, political, economic and organisational influences on mental health practice and use this analysis to inform the negotiation of appropriate mental health nursing interventions.

GA3: Ethical practice

Critically examine concepts of risk and safety using ethical, legal and social protection principles to support balanced, recovery-oriented care.

GA4: Knowledge of a discipline

Apply enhanced clinical judgement, decision-making and problem-solving skills in novel or complex mental health nursing situations to support optimal consumer outcomes.

GA5: Lifelong learning

Demonstrate advanced autonomy, accountability, adaptability and responsibility in managing self-directed learning and professional tasks.

GA6: Communication and social skills

Apply advanced interpersonal and collaborative skills to develop and sustain partnerships with mental health consumers, families and groups, promoting choice, self-determination and recovery.

GA7: Cultural competence

Reflect on diverse world views and use critical thinking to question and challenge assumptions that influence mental health nursing practice.

This course includes a choice from the following units:

  • Contemporary Mental Health
  • Mental Health Across the Lifespan
  • Mental Health in Community, Non-Government and Primary Health Settings
  • Acute Mental Health
  • Supporting Behaviour Change in Mental Health Contexts
  • Physical Health Care in Mental Health.

Location Teaching period UAC code QTAC code
SCU Online Summer Term, Term 1, Term 2, Term 3, Term 4, Term 5 N/A N/A

Career Outcomes

This course has received accreditation from the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses and will partially meet the educational requirements needed for credentialing (which require a minimum of a postgraduate diploma).

Requirements

We encourage you to apply for the courses you most want to study. If you are not eligible to enter your chosen course right now, our team will work with you to find the best pathway option.

Before applying, make sure you double check all entry requirements, gather required documentation and review the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, noting any specifics listed below.

Entry requirements

A Bachelor degree or equivalent in a health, psychology or social science related discipline, and must be a Registered Nurse with access to Mental Health Nursing practice and to credentialed Mental Health Nurses during the course of their study.

Language requirements

English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for entry to this course are as follows

CategoryScore
Overall6.5
Listeningminimum 6.0
Speakingminimum 6.0
Readingminimum 6.0
Writingminimum 6.0

Course requirements

To be eligible to receive the Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing, students must complete the equivalent of 4 units (48 credit points).

Inherent Requirements

Inherent Requirements apply to this course as defined on the Student Equity and Inclusion website. Students who have a disability or health condition which may impact on their ability to meet these requirements are encouraged to visit the Student Equity and Inclusion website for further information and contact details.

Course structure

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.

Unit Code Unit Title Available Credit points Notes

Complete the following units to satisfy the Requirements of the Award

Option Unit
Unit Code Unit Title Notes
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
Option Unit
Unit Code Unit Title Notes
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
Option Unit
Unit Code Unit Title Notes
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
Option Unit
Unit Code Unit Title Notes
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

Unit Code Unit Title Notes
Choose any four of the below 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