Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing

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Duration
1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
Location
Online
Next start term
Anytime
Study mode
Online
Course code
CC69
First-year fee
$4,624 (Indicative) (CSP)
$17,616 (Indicative) (FFP)
This course offers Commonwealth Supported Places, meaning you may be eligible for significant fee savings.
OverviewStructure & AvailabilityRequirementsFees & ScholarshipsHow to Apply
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Mental Health Nursing student Rhiana Jackson sitting outside on campus

Overview

CQUniversity's Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing is ideal for registered nurses looking to develop their mental health nursing credentials to practise as a specialist Mental Health Nurse. Delivered fully online in a flexible format, this course forms part of a suite of three mental health nursing courses and will provide you with advanced skills and knowledge required to practise in this area of nursing specialisation.

The Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing offers you a self-paced, hyperflexible online course, ideal for busy, emerging health leaders interested in practising as a qualified Mental Health Nurse. 

Our Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing is nationally accredited by the Australian College of Mental Health Nursing, meaning you’ll graduate from this course with specialist mental health nursing skills and knowledge. After completion of this course, you can later apply to become a credentialed Mental Health Nurse through the Australian College of Mental Health Nursing, provided you meet the other requirements.

Delivered as part of a suite, the Graduate Diploma incorporates a nested Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing. The first four units you complete comprise the Graduate Certificate and will build your skills and knowledge in undertaking mental health assessments, risk assessments and formulations, psychotropic medications, and recovery. The final units of this course extend on this. With a focus on providing safe, person-centred, recovery-orientated mental health care, particular attention is given to exploring a range of therapeutic interventions that you can use to enhance your practice. After completing the Graduate Diploma, you may like to continue your studies in the Master of Mental Health Nursing.

The assessments you complete for the Graduate Diploma require you to be working in mental health. This way you can employ your mental health nursing skills and apply your learnings to your own clinical practice. 

Developed with industry and lived experience academics, we’ve made sure our mental health nursing courses are evidence-based and clinically relevant so that your studies truly reflect current and emerging mental health nursing matters. Add to this the hyperflexible online delivery, where you set your own pace and affordable tuition fees, and you have a suite of mental health nursing courses that allow you to fit study around your life, not the other way around.

Study Experience

Discover more about your online, self-paced mental health nursing degree, offering significant fee savings for eligible students and the ability to start anytime. Click 'Explore Study Experience' for more information.

  • Commonwealth Supported
  • Flexible Online Study
  • Seamless Pathways
  • Self Paced
  • Start Anytime

Career Opportunities

On the completion of this course you will receive the award of Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing.

Students who complete this course of study will be able to seek employment in the mental health field as a career pathway.

Structure & Availability

The course structure and available locations can change depending on when you want to study. You can choose the intake that best suits you in the drop-down menu below.

Available Locations

Flexible Online Study

Designed for maximum flexibility, this course is entirely self-paced and 100% online. Access your course content on any device, anytime, and experience the ultimate flexibility and convenience.

Your Course

You must complete eight units (48 credits):

  1. 1
    The core structure (8 units)

Unit Details

The units you'll study are listed below. Click on a unit to learn more.

Additional Information

Professional Practice - Australian College of Mental Health Nurses

Core

The ACMHN offers accreditation to education providers who provide postgraduate mental health nursing programs that align with the National Framework for Postgraduate Mental Health Nursing Education. This accreditation is consistent with the Australian Standards for Professional Processes (2008) and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) Quality Framework for the Accreditation function.

If you have completed prior study relevant to units within this course, you may be eligible for credit for your past studies. Learn more about credit and recognition of prior learning.

Requirements

To Be Eligible

For your application to be considered, you must meet the following entry requirements. 

During Your Study

While not needed to apply, you'll need to meet the following requirements throughout your studies. 

Fees & Scholarships

Indicative First-Year Fee

The Indicative First-Year Fee is the approximate cost of enrolling in this course for one full-time academic year (eight units over two terms) depending on the type of place you are offered, for example, a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) or Full Fee Paying (FFP) Place. The indicative fee provided should be used as a guide only. Your actual fees may vary depending on the units you select to study and your study load. Check the Cost per Unit spreadsheet available on our Understanding Course Fees webpage. 

Fees are reviewed each year and are subject to change. Fee estimates for the following year are expected to be available in November each year.

Commonwealth Supported Places

With Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) available for this course in 2025, you may be eligible for significant fee savings, provided you meet CSP eligibility requirements. CSPs are subsidised by the Australian Government, meaning you are only required to pay the student contribution rather than full tuition fees.

If you are not eligible for a CSP or if CSPs are full, you will be required to pay full fees.

HECS-HELP

You may be eligible for a HECS-HELP government loan if you are offered a CSP. HECS-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme that assists you in paying your student contributions. Provided you meet the HECS-HELP eligibility criteria, you may use HECS-HELP to defer part or all of your student contribution fees. 

Learn more about paying for university.

There may be additional costs as part of your studies, such as technology expenses. Learn more about other study costs.

How to Apply

How to Apply

Check what you need to do to apply to study this course. 

Your Application Options

Follow These Steps

  1. 1
    Check you meet the course requirements
  2. 2
    Get a Unique Student Identifier

Extra Admission Information

Learn about the assessment of applications and everything you need to know about receiving and accepting an offer to study with CQU.

Start Your Application

Use the Apply button below to access our Apply Online portal and start your application.

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