Back to Find Courses page

Graduate Diploma of Mental Health

Graduate Diploma

Course snapshot

Domestic snapshot

  • Course abbreviation

    GDMH

  • Course code

    1108103

  • Credit points

    96

  • Equivalent units

    8

  • Indicative Fee


Overview

Turn your passion for mental health into a career move with this completely online course, designed specifically for allied health and social care professionals who wish to increase their specialist knowledge and employment outcomes in mental health.

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 consumers, your professional discipline and yourself.

Graduates may be eligible for up to eight units of credit towards the Master of Mental Health or the Master of Mental Health Nursing at Southern Cross University.

Please note: this course can be completed in 16 months of accelerated part-time study.

Course Learning Outcome

GA1: Intellectual rigour

Evaluate and apply established models of treatment across the mental health care continuum to support the development of personalised, collaboratively constructed care strategies.

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

GA2: Creativity

Engage in therapeutic relationships that demonstrate creativity, collaboration and co-construction of care with consumers, their families and significant others.

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

GA3: Ethical practice

Demonstrate advanced advocacy skills by identifying and challenging discriminatory attitudes and discourse, and by promoting stigma reduction, social inclusion and consumer independence.

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 situations to support optimal consumer outcomes.

Apply advanced teamwork and negotiation skills to enact the role of the mental health discipline within multidisciplinary and interprofessional settings.

GA5: Lifelong learning

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

Participate in and facilitate collaborative critical reflection to enhance mental health practice and support ongoing professional learning.

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.

Use information technology effectively and produce clear and coherent written and verbal communications appropriate to mental health practice.

GA7: Cultural competence

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

Apply advanced knowledge of cultural diversity to adapt mental health practices and incorporate consumers’ cultural perspectives into assessment, planning and interventions.

You will study core units in contemporary mental health theory and practice, physical care, common interventions within acute care contexts, in primary mental health and in a range of health care settings.

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

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

An applicant may be considered for admission to the Graduate Diploma of Mental Health if they have:

  1. completed an Australian Bachelor degree (AQF7) equivalent or higher qualification; or
  2. completed a Certificate IV or Diploma in Mental Health with at least one-year’s relevant professional experience; or
  3. three years of relevant professional experience.

Relevant professional experience include roles in the medical, nursing and allied health fields (such as social work, occupational therapy, exercise physiology, counselling, exercise science, physiotherapy, speech therapy, mental health/ disability support, etc).

 

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 Diploma of Mental Health, students must complete the equivalent of 8 units (96 credit points) comprising all 8 core units.

Exit Awards

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.

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

First Year

MHNS5001 Contemporary Mental Health
Term2
12
Location Domestic International
SCU Online
Term2
Term2
MHNS5002 Mental Health Across the Lifespan
Term3
12
Location Domestic International
SCU Online
Term3
Term3
MHNS5003 Acute Mental Health
Summer Term
Term4
12
Location Domestic International
SCU Online
Summer Term
Term4
Summer Term
Term4
MHNS6002 Mental Health in Community, Non-Government and Primary Health Settings
Term1,5
12
Location Domestic International
SCU Online
Term1,5
Term1,5

Second Year

MHNS5004 Supporting Behaviour Change in Mental Health Contexts
Term2
12
Location Domestic International
SCU Online
Term2
Term2
PBHL5006 Building a Professional Portfolio
Term3
12
Location Domestic International
SCU Online
Term3
Term3
MHNS6004 Physical Health Care in Mental Health
Summer Term
Term4
12
Location Domestic International
SCU Online
Summer Term
Term4
Summer Term
Term4
PBHL6004 Leading Evidence-based Practice in Health
Term1,5
12
Location Domestic International
SCU Online
Term1,5
Term1,5

Unit Code Unit Title Notes
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
MHNS6004 Physical Health Care in Mental Health
MHNS5004 Supporting Behaviour Change in Mental Health Contexts
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