Graduate Diploma of Mental Health

On completion of this program students should be able to achieve the following learning outcomes:

1. Consolidate and synthesise advanced practice knowledge, skills and competencies that enhance capacity to provide holistic nursing care for the patient with mental illness;
2. Critique national and international models of care for mentally ill patient, including support and aftercare in the community, to the current healthcare context;
3. Employ clinical reasoning and decision making strategies that enhance organisational capability and responsiveness in the mental health environment;
4. Communicate with influence and negotiate effectively with mentally ill people and their families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds;
5. Model professional behaviours to colleagues and students that provide patients with culturally appropriate and socially just care within a medico-legal framework;
6. Establish a mechanism for lifelong learning by reflecting on practice to apply and build professional expertise;
7. Steer and implement change by conducting national and international research retrieval and enquiry that incorporates philosophical, technical and social justice perspectives on healthcare.

The Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing is designed for Registered Nurses who are already practising in the speciality area of Mental Health and want to upskill or take their career to the next level. It is also suited to those nurses who want to move into the field of Mental Health Nursing. The program has been developed by experts in the field and successful completion of this diploma allows graduates to specialise as a Mental Health Nurse in Australia.

Professional recognition

The Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing is not ANMAC accredited. University of Notre Dame PG Graduates are industry recognised through specific salary structures.

Higher education

To be eligible for admission to the Graduate Diploma of Mental Health applicants must hold a recognised Bachelor Degree in Nursing, and must have a current licence to practise as a registered nurse, or practitioner with an Australian regulatory authority or full membership of an appropriate Australian or Professional organisation. 

English Proficiency Requirements

Defined as the successful completion of secondary education or a Bachelor’s degree in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada or the Republic of Ireland.

Students who have English as an Additional language and are admitted on the basis of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) assessment, or an equivalent English language proficiency assessment, are only admitted if they have attained n overall IELTS (or equivalent) score of 7.0, with no individual band score below 7.0.

All English language tests are valid for two years from the date of completion

 Applications for Advanced Standing and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) will be considered and reviewed on a case by case basis by UNDA's Student Administration.

The Graduate Diploma of Mental Health offers the mental health practitioner a logical progression from the existing Graduate Certificate along a pathway to a higher qualification. Multidisciplinary students are expected to improve practice within their sphere of work, become highly skilled advanced practitioners within their discipline areas and have greater leadership abilities within their field. The blended learning activities will provide a number of different contemporary strategies to provide support to patients in their recovery and the promotion of prevention strategies and responds to wider concepts of health service leadership and management.

Recommended Study Pattern

Five compulsory subjects:

• NURS4024 Contemporary Mental Health Practice
• NURS4025 Interpersonal Communication
• NURS4027 Role of the Mental Health Practitioner in Acute Psychiatry
• NURS5004 Advanced Contemporary Mental Health Practice 1
• NURS5005 Advanced Contemporary Mental Health Practice 2

One Core Curriculum Subject:

• PHIL6020 Ethical Issues for Professional Life 

Two elective subjects chosen from the following options:

• NURS5006 Professional Role Development
• NURS6007 Introduction to Perinatal and Infant Mental Health
• NURS5017 Reflective Practice in Health

Award Requirements

To be eligible for the award of Graduate Diploma of Mental Health students must complete a minimum of 200 Units of Credit chosen from the courses listed in Recommended Study Pattern comprising:

• 25 Units of Credit from one (1) Core Curriculum subject
• 125 Units of Credit from five (5) compulsory subjects
• 50 Units of Credit from two (2) elective subjects

Exit Points

Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing and Allied Health