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Master of Mental Health Nursing

Masters by Coursework

Course snapshot

Domestic snapshot

  • Course abbreviation

    MMHN

  • Course code

    1209132

  • Credit points

    144

  • Equivalent units

    12

  • Indicative Fee


Overview

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.

Course Learning Outcome

GA1: Intellectual rigour

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.

GA2: Creativity

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.

GA3: Ethical practice

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.

GA4: Knowledge of a discipline

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.

GA5: Lifelong learning

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.

GA6: Communication and social skills

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.

GA7: Cultural competence

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.

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.

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 meets the educational requirements needed for credentialing.

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 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.


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

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
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

Second Year

Option Unit
MHNS6001 Developing Skills in Contemporary Psychotherapies
Summer Term
Term4
12
Location Domestic International
SCU Online
Summer Term
Term4
Summer Term
Term4
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
PBHL6005 Critical Review in Health
Term2
12
Location Domestic International
SCU Online
Term2
Term2
Pre-requisites PBHL6004 - Leading Evidence-based Practice in Health
Anti-requisites NURS5001 - Discovery and Enquiry in Health: The Critical Literature Review
Enrolment information This unit builds on the work undertaken in PBHL6004 - Leading Evidence-based Practice in Health. Work in this unit is followed by PBHL6006 - Research Proposal for Health Innovation OR MHNS6003 - Applied Leadership in Mental Health Clinical Practice.
MHNS6003 Applied Leadership in Mental Health Clinical Practice
Term3
12
Location Domestic International
SCU Online
Term3
Term3
Pre-requisites PBHL6004 - Leading Evidence-based Practice in Health

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 Nursing 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 Nursing 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

Unit Code Unit Title Notes
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)