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CC69 - Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing

Overview

Course Overview

Approximately 1 in 3 Australians will experience mental health challenges at some point in their lives. The mental health and well-being of society continues to be a major national priority. The provision of quality person-centred, recovery-oriented approach to mental health care delivery is therefore, fundamental to quality health care and is a major underpinning of this course. Working collaboratively with individuals with mental health challenges and their families through constructive and innovative action provides pathways of choice and personal control for the person in responding to their unique mental health needs.

This course of study aims to prepare you to be able to practice within the specialist field of mental health nursing. It will equip you with the skills and knowledge to be able to: work from an evidence-based position to support consumers to meet their recovery goals; work with groups and communities to implement mental health promotion strategies; explore diverse ways of forming relationships with consumers and families and critically explore the traditions of mental health nursing.

Career Information

On the completion of this course you will receive the award of Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing.

Students who complete this course of study will be able to seek employment in the mental health field as a career pathway.

Course Details
Duration 1 years full-time or 2 years part-time
Credit Points that Must be Earned 48
Number of Units Required CQUniversity uses the concept of credits to express the amount of study required for a particular course and individual units. The number of units varies between courses. Units in postgraduate courses normally consist of 6 points of credit or multiples thereof (e.g. 12, 18, 24).
Expected Hours of Study One point of credit is equivalent to an expectation of approximately two hours of student work per week in a term.
Course Type Postgraduate Award
Qualification (post nominal) GradDipMHN
AQF Level Level 8: Graduate Diploma
Course Fees
Indicative Year - 2025
  • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $17,616
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $9,360
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $18,720
  • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $17,616
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $9,360
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $18,720
Indicative Year - 2024
  • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $16,836
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $9,360
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $18,720
Indicative Year - 2023
  • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $15,588
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $8,400
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $16,800
Indicative Year - 2022
  • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $15,132

Admission Codes

Domestic Students
Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes
Not Applicable
International Students
CRICOS Codes
Not Applicable
Where and when can I start?

Domestic Availability

Hyperflexible Annual Term - 2026

Online

Hyperflexible Annual Term - 2025

Online

Hyperflexible Annual Term - 2024

Online

Overseas Availabilities

Hyperflexible Annual Term - 2026

Online

Hyperflexible Annual Term - 2025

Online

Hyperflexible Annual Term - 2024

Online
For any problems regarding admissions availability for the selected course please contact 13 CQUni (13 27 86) or send us an email at http://contactus.cqu.edu.au/
Entry Requirements - What do I need to start?
Entry Scores
Entry scores are not available, please contact the Student Advice Team for more information
Academic Requirements

Students must hold hold current nursing registration with Australian Health Practitioners Regulatory Authority (AHPRA).

Assumed Knowledge
No information available at this time
Security Requirements
No information available at this time
Health Requirements
No information available at this time
Fees and Charges
Be Different
  • Indicative Year - 2025
    • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $17,616
    • International Indicative First Term Fee - $9,360
    • International Indicative First Year Fee - $18,720
    • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $17,616
    • International Indicative First Term Fee - $9,360
    • International Indicative First Year Fee - $18,720
  • Indicative Year - 2024
    • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $16,836
    • International Indicative First Term Fee - $9,360
    • International Indicative First Year Fee - $18,720
  • Indicative Year - 2023
    • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $15,588
    • International Indicative First Term Fee - $8,400
    • International Indicative First Year Fee - $16,800
  • Indicative Year - 2022
    • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $15,132
Higher Education
Course Features

Awards and Accreditation

Interim Awards Not applicable
Exit Awards Not applicable
Accreditation
  • Core

    Nil required

Residential School Requirements

No Residential School for this course.

Practicum/Work Placement

NURS20159 - 700 hours in mental health placement. Site to be negotiated with student

Previous and Current Enrolments

Year Number of Students
2024 23
2023 47
2022 74
2021 77
2020 55
Inherent Requirements
There are currently no inherent requirements associated with this course.
Core Learning Outcomes
  • 1. Apply discipline specific knowledge to support people, carers and families affected by mental health issues in ways that ensure privacy and dignity are respected, safety is actively promoted, and professional and ethical boundaries are maintained.
  • 2. Devise strategies to work with people, their families and support networks to implement the principles of recovery-orientated mental health practice.
  • 3. Acknowledge and embrace individual and cultural diversity, including that of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people, families and communities in devising ways to reduce barriers to access and culturally secure mental health care.
  • 4. Undertake evidence-based assessment that meets the needs of people and their families or carers.
  • 5. Plan evidence-informed health and social interventions that meet the needs, goals and aspirations of people and their families and carers and recognise their inclusion in multiple communities.
  • 6. Devise quality improvement frameworks that include collaboration with people with lived experience, families and other team members.
  • 7. Demonstrate communication skills that reflect connection and rapport to build and support effective therapeutic and professional relationships.
  • 8. Plan mental health promotion strategies to build resilience in communities, groups and individuals and to prevent or reduce the impact of mental health issues.
  • 9. Critically analyse historical, traditional and contemporary mental health discourses.
  • 10. Reflect on one’s own mental health nursing practice as a way of identifying personal and professional learning needs required to become a future mental health nursing leader.
  Course Learning Outcomes
Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1. KNOWLEDGE Have advanced knowledge within a systematic and coherent body of knowledge that may include the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills in a new or existing discipline or professional area
2. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to review, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge and identify and provide solutions to complex problems
3. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to think critically and to generate and evaluate complex ideas
4. SKILLS Have specialised technical and creative skills in a field of highly skilled and/or professional practice
5. SKILLS Have communication skills to demonstrate an understanding of theoretical concept
6. SKILLS Have communication skills to transfer complex knowledge and ideas to a variety of audiences
7. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to make high level, independent judgements in a range of technical or management functions in varied specialised contexts
8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to initiate, plan, implement and evaluate broad functions within varied specialised technical and/or creative contexts
9. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILL Be responsible and accountable for personal outputs and all aspects of the work or function of others within broad parameters
Learning Outcomes
Please refer to the Core Structure Learning Outcomes
Course Structure

In order to complete this course, you must:

  1. Complete the core structure
Number of units: 1 Total credit points: 6

Two pathways are available in the Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing. Students who are employed in a mental health setting will follow Pathway 1. Students who are NOT employed in a mental health nursing setting will follow Pathway 2.

Pathway 1 consists of 7 core units and one additional unit: NURS20154 The Transformative Power of Stories in Mental Health Nursing Practice.

Pathway 2 consists of 7 core units and one additional unit: NURS20159 Mental Health Nursing Practice. This pathway MUST be undertaken by students who are not employed in a mental health nursing setting.

Available units
Students must complete 1 from the following units:
NURS20159 Mental Health Nursing in Practice
NURS20154 The Transformative Power of Story
More Details