Master of Mental Health Nursing

2024 course information for Domestic Students
2024 course information for International Students

updated 6:02 AM on Wed, 24 May

Domestic snapshot

International snapshot

IELTS
View full English language requirements
Duration
2 years part-time

Two years of accelerated part-time study.

2 years full-time
Location
SCU Online
Start date
January, March, April, July, August, October
Course code
1209132
Course abbreviation
MMHN
Credit points
144
Equivalent units
12
CRICOS
View in availability and fee details
Fees
Fee paying
Fees
View in availability and fee details

Please note, some locations may not have all intake periods available. See the full availability details for further information.

Course overview

Turn your passion for mental health nursing into a career specialisation with this contemporary online course, the first in Australia to be directly constructed from the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses' National Framework for Postgraduate Studies in Mental Health Nursing.

This course responds to contemporary mental health research and policy and has been designed with the input of leading clinical and academic mental health nurses. It aims to prepare mental health nurses to build therapeutic alliances with people across the spectrum of care in Australian contexts including in acute settings, tertiary services, in primary care and wherever people present with mental health problems. This course will also prepare Mental health Nurses to critically engage with mental health services in leadership capacities, to undertake complex assessments, to develop meaningful problem formulations with service user, to provide focused psychological strategies, provide specialist trauma informed psychotherapeutic support to people with complex needs, and to work cooperatively with multidisciplinary teams to provide care and treatment which facilitates the recovery of individuals, families and communities.

Each unit runs for seven weeks with six study periods per year and the course is offered exclusively online.

Please note: this course can be completed in two years of accelerated (continuous) part-time study.

Turn your passion for mental health nursing into a career specialisation with this contemporary online course, the first in Australia to be directly constructed from the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses' National Framework for Postgraduate Studies in Mental Health Nursing.

This course responds to contemporary mental health research and policy and has been designed with the input of leading clinical and academic mental health nurses. It aims to prepare mental health nurses to build therapeutic alliances with people across the spectrum of care in Australian contexts including in acute settings, tertiary services, in primary care and wherever people present with mental health problems. This course will also prepare Mental health Nurses to critically engage with mental health services in leadership capacities, to undertake complex assessments, to develop meaningful problem formulations with service user, to provide focused psychological strategies, provide specialist trauma informed psychotherapeutic support to people with complex needs, and to work cooperatively with multidisciplinary teams to provide care and treatment which facilitates the recovery of individuals, families and communities.

Each unit runs for seven weeks with six study periods per year and the course is offered exclusively online.

Please note: this course can be completed in two years of accelerated (continuous) part-time study.

Current Southern Cross students – to access your official course details for the year you started your degree, please visit the handbook.

Entry requirements

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.

Language requirements

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

CategoryScore
Overall6.5
Listeningminimum 6.0
Speakingminimum 6.0
Readingminimum 6.0
Writingminimum 6.0

About the course

Core units focus on contemporary mental health theory and practice, physical healthcare needs, evidence-based case formulation and common interventions within acute care contexts, in primary mental health as well contemporary applications of developmental psychology and psychological therapies. 

You will also choose an elective from a diverse range of subjects that include leadership, management, human resources and organisational issues in mental health settings.

Domestic students

Location Teaching period
SCU OnlineSummer Term, Term  1, Term  2, Term  3, Term  4, Term  5

International students

How to apply

Where and when do you want to study?

Applications for this course are made directly to Southern Cross University via our online application service.

View domestic application details View international application details

Course requirements

To be eligible to receive the Master of Mental Health Nursing, students must complete the equivalent of 12 units (144 credit points), comprising:

Exit Awards

Students may be eligible to exit with the Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing after completing the equivalent of 8 units (96 credit points), comprising the first 8 core units.

Students may be eligible to exit with the Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing after completing the equivalent of 4 units (48 credit points), comprising any 4 of the first 6 core units.


Course structure


Schedule of units

Unit CodeUnit TitleNotes
Core Units
MHNS5001Contemporary Mental Health
MHNS5002Mental Health Across the Lifespan
MHNS6002Mental Health in Community, Non-Government and Primary Health Settings
MHNS5003Acute Mental Health
MHNS6004Physical Health Care in Mental Health
MHNS5004Supporting Behaviour Change in Mental Health Contexts
Students may be eligible to exit with the Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing after completing any 4 of the above 6 units.
PBHL6004Leading Evidence-based Practice in Health
PBHL5006Building a Professional Portfolio
Students may be eligible to exit with the Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing after completing all the above 8 units.
MHNS6003Applied Leadership in Mental Health Clinical Practice
MHNS6001Developing Skills in Contemporary Psychotherapies
PBHL6005Critical Review in Health

Unit CodeUnit TitleNotes
PBHL5018Envisioning Health Systems, Policies and Practices
PBHL5010Contemporary Health Leadership
PBHL5016Leading Change in Health Care
PBHL5017Governance and Accountability in Health Care
PBHL5008Social and Emotional Competence in Health Care
PBHL5015Effective Teaching and Supervision in Health Care
MGMT6003The Positive Leader (Online)
MRKT6004Digital Marketing (Online)
MGMT6004Organisational Change and Development (Online)
HRMT6002Human Resource Management (Online)
MGMT5003Organisational Behaviour (Online)
PROJ5002Project Management Principles
ACCT5003Accounting for Managers (Online)
BUSN5005Management Communication (Online)


Unit groups

Option Unit

Unit CodeUnit TitleNotes
PBHL5018Envisioning Health Systems, Policies and Practices
PBHL5010Contemporary Health Leadership
PBHL5016Leading Change in Health Care
PBHL5017Governance and Accountability in Health Care
PBHL5008Social and Emotional Competence in Health Care
PBHL5015Effective Teaching and Supervision in Health Care
MGMT6003The Positive Leader (Online)
MRKT6004Digital Marketing (Online)
MGMT6004Organisational Change and Development (Online)
HRMT6002Human Resource Management (Online)
MGMT5003Organisational Behaviour (Online)
PROJ5002Project Management Principles
ACCT5003Accounting for Managers (Online)
BUSN5005Management Communication (Online)

Why choose SCU?

Excellence in research

Outstanding ratings of 'at world standard' or above in 23 research fields.

Excellence in Research Australia (ERA) 2018

Top 200 Young Universities

Only 25 years young and ranked in the top 200 universities in the world.

Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2020

Outstanding student support

5-Star Student Support across undergraduate and postgraduate studies

Good Universities Guide 2021

Learning outcomes

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

Critically evaluates and integrates models of treatment relevant to the care continuum, to inform co-constructed personalized care strategies which meet the consumer’s life needs as well as health needs.

Generates/translates novel information or theories, making a substantial contribution to the mental health nursing discipline through scholarly activities.

Engages creatively in therapeutic relationships with mental health consumers their families and significant others, which are characterized by co-construction of care and collaborative engagement.

Critically appraises the nature and extent of influences (social, political, economic and organizational) to overcome constraints in negotiation of options for clinical interventions.

Advocates for mental health consumers, challenging discrimination and public discourse, minimising stigma through the use of positive portrayal and working toward social inclusion and independence.

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 nursing in the pursuit of optimal consumer outcomes.

Negotiates and executes the role of the mental health nursing discipline in a multidisciplinary and multi-professional approach.

Consistently demonstrates a high level of autonomy, accountability, adaptability and responsibility in self-directed work and learning.

Engages in and leads others in collaborative critical reflection on clinical practice and achievement of lifelong learning outcomes.

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.

Consistently and judiciously uses information technology, compelling and authoritative written and verbal communications.

Respects individual worldviews and enhances their own critical thinking to lead others in challenging assumptions underpinning worldviews.

Adjusts clinical practices to incorporate consumer’s cultural perspectives into mental health planning and interventions.


Assessment methods

Assessments in this course include written essays, shorter critical reflections and developing holistic consumer-focused care plans based on contemporary research and principles of ‘best practice’. 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.

Teaching methods

This course is offered one unit at a time, with each unit running for seven weeks. The course is completely online and hence offers flexibility for you to fit your study within other life commitments.  Each adult student brings with them valuable knowledge and experience. Consequently, 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 are deigned to extend your mental health nursing practice capabilities.

Career opportunities

This course offers the opportunity to expand and refresh your current career, enter into a mental health nursing career or advance within the mental health nursing profession or mental health industry.

Those graduates reaching the Graduate Diploma exit point of the Masters, and who hold registration as a Registered Nurse, can use this qualification as part of their application to the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses for credentialed Mental Health Nurse status, the only specialist award for the discipline.

Professional placement

There are no placements required in this course although access to mental health nursing practice over the course of study is recommended.

Professional recognition

This course has received accreditation from the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses and meets the educational requirements needed for credentialing.

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