Master of Mental Health

Graduates of the program should be able to:

• conceptualise new and creative approaches to clinical practice to support service delivery in culturally diverse health care contexts;
• connect theory, practice and research with regard to mental health practice;
• understand and use innovative solutions in contemporary health care;
• evaluate issues and challenges that confront mental health service delivery, clinical practice;
• contribute to values based professional practice in dynamic and challenging environments.

The Master of Mental Health aims to expand allied health clinicians’ knowledge and skills in mental health practice and leadership through evidence-based knowledge and practice. Students have the option to pursue a project stream or a research stream within this course. As such, they may complete either a project and two elective subjects, or complete a research dissertation in their final semester.

Both streams consolidate learning from the Graduate Certificate in Mental Health and Graduate Diploma in Mental Health in research, specialist clinical skills and knowledge as well as clinical leadership.

The first 40 credit points of the course consist of units in the Graduate Certificate in Mental Health; the second 40 credit points of this course are derived from the Graduate Diploma in Mental Health and the final 40 credit points consist of either project or research stream units.

Professional recognition

This course meets the requirements of a postgraduate qualification for employment beyond entry level in mental health settings.

Recommended study pattern

To qualify for the degree of Master of Mental Health, a student must complete the 120 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings comprising:

1. For Project Stream:
   1. 40 cp from Mental Health units
   2. 60 cp from Project Stream units
   3. 20 cp from Elective units
2. For Research Stream:
   1. 40 cp from Mental Health units
   2. 80 cp from Research Stream units

Award requirements

To qualify for the Master of Mental Health, a student must complete the 120 cp from the schedule of subject offerings comprising:

For Project Stream:

40 cp of Mental Health subjects

60 cp from Project Stream subjects

20 cp of Elective subjects

For Research Stream:

40 cp from Mental Health subjects

80 cp from Research Stream subjects

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $31,600

The amount shown here is indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.

Fees may vary depending on:

• the subjects you choose
• credit from previous work experience
• your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.

To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.

Established in 1991 after amalgamating four eastern Australian Catholic tertiary institutes, Australian Catholic University now has seven campuses, from Brisbane to Melbourne and welcomes students of all beliefs. Specialising in arts, business, education, health sciences, law, theology and philosophy, ACU encourages its students to think critically and ethically and bring change to their communities and offer this online through Open Universities Australia.

Learn more about ACU.

Explore ACU courses.

QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

35

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

26

To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must :

have completed a Bachelor degree in a Health Discipline; OR have completed the Graduate Diploma in Mental Health or Graduate Certificate in Mental Health or equivalent;

AND

provide written confirmation from their employer that their workplace duties bring them into regular contact with people who have mental health problems

Students need to provide written confirmation from their employer that their workplace duties bring them into regular contact with people who have mental health problems.

Students must meet English Language requirements as follows:

IELTS: Overall score 6.5, Individual score of 6.0 in all test

PTE: 58 with a minimum of 50 in all four communicative skills

TOEFL: Internet based total of 79: minimum 21 in writing, 18 in speaking, 13 in reading and 12 in listening

ACU English Language Test: B (65-74%)

CAE: Overall CAE of 176, Minimum individual score of 169 in all tests

Applicants having completed ACU’s Graduate Diploma in Mental Health will be eligible for recognition of prior learning of 80 credit points.

Applicants having completed ACU’s Graduate Certificate in Mental Health will be eligible for recognition of prior learning of 40 credit points.

If you have already studied at university level or have significant relevant work experience, you can apply for credit towards your ACU course. Credited units replace units you would otherwise study, so you can finish your course earlier.

Applicants need to provide written confirmation from their employer that their workplace duties bring them into regular contact with people who have mental health problems.