Mental Health Nursing

Overview

The postgraduate mental health nursing program offers registered nurses the opportunity to study and develop skills in the specialist field of mental health nursing within a framework of acute health care.

The courses address care delivery processes, critical reflection on mental health nursing practice and the effects of policy and politics on health care provision and access. This ensures you are prepared for mental health nursing practice and have the ability to research and critique your individual practice, its part in the provision of care and the effect of the healthcare system on practice.

These courses can be taken fully online with placements undertaken in person at a health service near you, or as work integrated learning within your place of work.

Up to 80% off fees due to Government subsidies*.

*Government subsidies enable Flinders to offer Domestic applicants a reduction of up to 80% off full course fees through Commonwealth Supported Places. Offer subject to change.

Domestic

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Courses

Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing

Duration: 1 year part time

Delivery mode:
Online plus placement/intensive

Location:
Bedford Park

Availability:
Part-time

Start dates:
March

SATAC code:
2GC190 (Commonwealth supported)
2GC690 (Full fee paying)

Annual indicative fees (2025):
$2,312 (Commonwealth supported)
$12,852 (Full fee paying)

Further information on fees listed

Apply via SATAC

2GC190 (CSP)

2GC690 (FFP)

^{(CSP): Commonwealth Supported Place

(FFP): Full fee paying}

Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing

Duration: 1 year

Delivery mode:
Online plus placement/intensive

Location:
Bedford Park

Availability:
Full-time Part-time

Start dates:
March

SATAC code:
2GD132 (Commonwealth supported)
2GD632 (Full fee paying)

Annual indicative fees (2025):
$4,624 (Commonwealth supported)
$25,704 (Full fee paying)

Further information on fees listed

Apply via SATAC

2GD132 (CSP)

2GD632 (FFP)

^{(CSP): Commonwealth Supported Place

(FFP): Full fee paying}

Graduate Diploma in Nursing

Duration: 1 year

Delivery mode:
In person
Online

Location:
Bedford Park

Availability:
Full-time Part-time

Start dates:
March
July

SATAC code:
2GD133 (Commonwealth supported)
2GD633 (Full fee paying)

Annual indicative fees (2025):
$4,624 (Commonwealth supported)
$25,704 (Full fee paying)

Further information on fees listed

Apply via SATAC

2GD133 (CSP)

2GD633 (FFP)

Master of Nursing

Duration: 1.5 or 2 years

Delivery mode:
In person
Online

Location:
Bedford Park

Availability:
Full-time Part-time

Start dates:
March
July

SATAC code:
2CM319 (1.5 years) (CSP)
2CM619 (1.5 years) (FFP)
2CM318 (2 years) (CSP)
2CM618 (2 years) (FFP)

Annual indicative fees (2025):
$9,095 (Commonwealth supported)
$26,865 (Full fee paying)

Further information on fees listed

Apply via SATAC

2CM319 (1.5yrs) (CSP)

2CM619 (1.5yrs) (FFP)

Your career

Graduates of the graduate certificate, diploma and masters are eligible to seek employment in mental health nursing settings.

Potential occupations include

case coordinator
clinical nurse specialist
health promotion nurse
community health nurse
mental health nurse
nurse research assistant
registered nurse and rehabilitation consultant.

What you will study

Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing

The Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing consists of 18 units of topics, including theory-based topics and professional experience placements topics. It is designed to provide you with the opportunity to acquire advanced knowledge and skills in mental health nursing, and to apply these in a range of healthcare environments.

Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing

The Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing consists of 36 units, including a 4.5-unit topic that introduces you to research. It is designed to provide you with the opportunity to deepen your clinical and theoretical knowledge base in mental health nursing at a leadership and advanced communication level within your workplace and practice.

Graduate Diploma in Nursing

This course is designed to provide nurses with the opportunity to develop advanced knowledge and skills in scholarship, evidence-based practice, and leadership. It is suited to nurses with a solid foundation in clinical practice who want to improve healthcare. This course does not include any placement in a clinical environment. Students who complete the course specialisation will not meet the requirements to qualify for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

Masters of Nursing

The Master of Nursing program is specifically tailored for registered nurses in Australia who aspire to enhance their contribution towards the development of healthcare services and the nursing profession. By undertaking this program, they can gain an in-depth understanding of contemporary healthcare practices and develop the skills necessary to apply this knowledge proficiently in both national and international contexts.

Practical experience

You will be required to do professional experience placement (PEP) during your program of study. Certain statutory and other requirements must be met before any student is permitted to attend placement. View more details.

Practical experience requirements

You must make a self-declaration as to your fitness to practise and advise of any pre-existing illness or disability that may impair your ability to practise. You will also be required to undergo a police check before your placements.

Students on placement have both an increased risk of most vaccine-preventable diseases as well as the potential to transmit infections to susceptible patients. Students who are required to complete placements as part of their course must therefore be immunised in accordance with the relevant state or territory immunisation standards and any additional private provider requirements as needed.

View study program

Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing

Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing

Graduate Diploma in Nursing

Master of Nursing (1.5 years)

Master of Nursing (2 years)

Entry requirements

Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing

Applicants must normally hold a bachelor degree or equivalent qualification; hold current Registered Nurse registration.

Graduate Diploma in Nursing

Applicants for the graduate diploma must normally hold an approved degree or equivalent qualification and be a registered nurse.

Masters of Nursing (2 year)

Applicants for the masters must normally hold an approved degree or equivalent qualification, have a minimum of one-year post-registration experience, and be registered nurses.

Masters of Nursing (1.5 year)

Applicants must normally hold a bachelor degree or equivalent qualification; hold current Registered Nurse registration and have two years (Full-time equivalent) work experience as a Registered Nurse, within the last five years