Degree details

Griffith offers world-leading postgraduate programs in suicide prevention studies and suicidology to provide you with scientifically based and theoretical knowledge to deal with suicide in an academic, policy or practical context. 

Programs are offered through Griffith's Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention (AISRAP), established in 1996 in recognition of the urgent need to address the nation's suicide problems. In 2005, AISRAP was officially designated as a World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Suicide Prevention.

You'll be exposed to a variety of frameworks for understanding and working in suicide prevention. This degree will benefit individuals currently working in or wishing to work in this specialty field across the health, education, law enforcement, emergency, clergy, social and community service sectors. Additionally, this degree will provide the foundation for professions in research, policy or planning.

This degree will benefit individuals working in or wishing to work in this specialty field across the health, education, law enforcement, emergency, clergy, social and community service sectors. Additionally, this degree will provide the foundation for professions in which the core work is research, policy or planning. They provide you with scientifically based knowledge and theoretical knowledge in practical settings to deal with suicide in an academic, policy or practical context.

Higher education

Consideration for admission to the Graduate Certificate in Suicide Prevention Studies program will be given to those candidates who have:

  • completed a Bachelor degree in any discipline; OR

VET studies

  • a health or social sciences-related Diploma or Certificate IV VET/TAFE qualification plus two years relevant work experience; OR

Work and Life

  • completed a minimum of three years full-time professional experience in human services-related fields and can demonstrate the ability to undertake graduate study as a result of relevant work experience through a discussion and interview with the Program Director and provision of curriculum vitae and an employer's reference.

English Proficiency 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 program are as follows:

  • A minimum overall band score of 6.5 on IELTS (Academic) with no sub-score of less than 6.0
  • OR a minimum score of 575 on TOEFL
  • OR an internet-based (iBT) TOEFL score of 79 (no sub-score less than 19)
  • OR no score less than 3+ in each skill of the ISLPR (conducted by ISLPR Language Services only)
  • OR a minimum grade of C on the Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE)
  • OR a minimum grade of C on the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)
  • OR an overall score of 58 in the Pearson Test of English (Academic) with no score less than 50.

English test results must be no more than two years old.

Students who successfully complete the Direct Entry Program (DEP) will satisfy the English Language requirements for this Griffith degree.

Griffith University grants credit and recognition of prior learning which may relate to prior formal learning or prior informal and non-formal learning. For more information, please visit the following website:

Award Requirements

To be eligible for the award of Graduate Certificate in Suicide Prevention Studies (GCertSuicidePrevSt), a student must acquire 40 credit points as prescribed below:

  • gain 40 credit points for the prescribed courses.