Master of Mental Health Nursing

Graduates of the Master of Mental Health Nursing will be able to:

• evaluate issues and challenges confronting mental health practice
• 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
• contribute to values based professional practice in dynamic and challenging environments.

The Master of Mental Health Nursing aims to expand nursing clinicians’ knowledge and skills in mental health practice with evidence-based knowledge and practice enabling immediate application/translation in the workplace. 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 Nursing and Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing in research, specialist clinical skills and knowledge as well as clinical leadership.

Current mental health postgraduate programs in Australia focus on either acute mental health care settings or generic mental health. ACU’s Master of Mental Health Nursing has been developed specifically for nursing clinicians entering into the specialist area of mental health. The course is targeted to new nursing graduates and to those working in mental health but who have no formal postgraduate mental health qualifications.

In the current period of mental health service provision reform, there has been a shift in focus from acute inpatient treatment to recovery-oriented practice, so the workforce requires professional development opportunities to keep pace with such changes.

This course is accredited under the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN) National Framework for Postgraduate Mental Health Nursing Education. It meets the requirements of a postgraduate qualification for employment beyond entry level in mental health settings and for credentialing as a mental health nurse.

Recommended study pattern

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

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

Award requirements

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

For Project Stream:

• 40 cp from Mental Health Nursing subjects;
• 60 cp from Project Stream subjects
• 20 cp from elective subjects.

For Research Stream:

• 40 cp from Mental Health Nursing subjects;
• 80 cp from Research Stream subjects.

Exit points

Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing 80 cp

Duration: 1 year full-time or equivalent part-time

Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing 40 cp

Duration: 1 year part-time

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

Indicative total fee $8,246

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.

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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 of Nursing degree (or higher); OR have completed the Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing or Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing or equivalent;

AND

• provide written confirmation from their employer that they are employed in a mental health.

Applicants are required to be employed in a mental health service and need to provide written confirmation from their employer that they are employed in a mental health service.

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 Nursing will be eligible for recognition of prior learning of 80 credit points.

Applicants having completed ACU’s Graduate Certificate in in Mental Health Nursing 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.