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Want to increase your specialist knowledge and employment outcomes in mental health?
This course is delivered completely online and responds to contemporary mental health research and policy. It has been designed with the input of leading clinical and academic mental health professionals. Core units include contemporary mental health theory and practice.
For nursing graduates, this is a useful foundational qualification in mental health nursing, enabling a pathway to further studies in this field for credentialing as a Mental Health Nurse.
Want to increase your specialist knowledge and employment outcomes in mental health?
This course is delivered completely online and responds to contemporary mental health research and policy. It has been designed with the input of leading clinical and academic mental health professionals. Core units include contemporary mental health theory and practice.
For nursing graduates, this is a useful foundational qualification in mental health nursing, enabling a pathway to further studies in this field for credentialing as a Mental Health Nurse.
Current Southern Cross students – to access your official course details for the year you started your degree, please visit the handbook.
See the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, in conjunction with the Specific Award Rules listed below.
A Bachelor degree or equivalent in a health, psychology or social science related discipline, and must be a Registered Nurse with access to Mental Health Nursing practice and to credentialed Mental Health Nurses during the course of their study.
English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for entry to this course are as follows
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Overall | 6.5 |
| Listening | minimum 6.0 |
| Speaking | minimum 6.0 |
| Reading | minimum 6.0 |
| Writing | minimum 6.0 |
This course includes a choice from the following units:
Domestic students
| Location | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| SCU Online | Summer Term, Term 1, Term 2, Term 3, Term 4, Term 5 |
International students
Applications for this course are made directly to Southern Cross University via our online application service.
To be eligible to receive the Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing, students must complete the equivalent of 4 units (48 credit points).
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Choose any four of the below units: | |||||
| MHNS5001 | Contemporary Mental Health | ||||
| MHNS5002 | Mental Health Across the Lifespan | ||||
| MHNS6002 | Mental Health in Community, Non-Government and Primary Health Settings | ||||
| MHNS5003 | Acute Mental Health | ||||
| MHNS5004 | Supporting Behaviour Change in Mental Health Contexts | ||||
| MHNS6004 | Physical Health Care in Mental Health | ||||
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MHNS5001 | Contemporary Mental Health | ||||
| MHNS5002 | Mental Health Across the Lifespan | ||||
| MHNS6002 | Mental Health in Community, Non-Government and Primary Health Settings | ||||
| MHNS5003 | Acute Mental Health | ||||
| MHNS5004 | Supporting Behaviour Change in Mental Health Contexts | ||||
| MHNS6004 | Physical Health Care in Mental Health | ||||
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Course Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a course. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes.
| Course Learning Outcome |
|---|
Generates/translates novel information or theories, making a substantial contribution to the discipline through scholarly activities. |
Critically appraises the nature and extent of influences (social, political, economic and organizational) to overcome constraints in negotiation of options for clinical interventions. |
Interrogates and challenges the concepts of risk and safety from the basis of consumer centred care considering social protection, legal, moral and ethical principles to balance risk in recovery. |
Exercises expert/enhanced clinical judgement and decision-making and insight in novel situations in specialist mental health disciplines in pursuit of optimal consumer outcomes. |
Consistently demonstrates a high level of autonomy, accountability, adaptability and responsibility in self-directed work and learning. |
Develops and maintains partnerships in care (individually and with groups) with mental health consumers and their families which focuses on the recipient of care, the person’s right to choice and self-determination, and the person’s inherent capacity for recovery. |
Respects individual worldviews and enhances their own critical thinking to lead others in challenging assumptions underpinning worldviews. |
Assessments in this course include written essays, shorter critical reflections and developing holistic consumer-focused care plans based on a well-developed formulation and the best available evidence. Weekly activities, readings and case studies are laid out with step-by-step instructions that are specifically designed to support you toward the successful completion of the assessment tasks.
The course is completely online and offers flexibility for you to fit your study within other life commitments. Each student brings with them valuable knowledge and experience. The online platform and course design encourages you to read or view learning materials and then collaborate, discuss and debate ideas with fellow students and lecturers. Our multi-modal approach delivers content including video, audio and written materials designed to extend your mental health nursing practice capabilities.
For nursing graduates this may be a useful foundational qualification in mental health nursing. Graduates may wish to then further their studies by undertaking the Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing or Master of Mental Health Nursing which are accredited and recognised by the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses as postgraduate qualifications for credentialing as a Mental Health Nurse.
Graduates may be eligible for up to four units of credit towards the Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing or the Master of Mental Health Nursing at Southern Cross University.
This course has received accreditation from the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses and will partially meet the educational requirements needed for credentialing (which require a minimum of a postgraduate diploma).