Overview
Your career in mental health nursing
With almost half of Australians estimated to be living with a mental illness at some point in their lives, mental health nurses perform an essential role in a wide range of hospital and community settings.
Graduate with a qualification in a vital nursing specialization
Mental Health Nurses are specialist registered nurses with key responsibilities under the Mental Health Act to assess, plan and provide care for people who are often vulnerable and in crisis. Advance your nursing career with the Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing.
Professionally recognized
The Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing is a core requirement that can be used in your application to be credentialed by the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses, which will allow you to practice as a recognized Mental Health Nurse. Upon graduation, you will be able to access a Graduate Diploma allowance under the Victorian Public Mental Health Nurses award and seek promotional positions that require this qualification.
Learn from the best
RMIT University is at the forefront of nursing education and research. We are one of the longest running oldest providers of nursing education in Australia with a history of industry partnership and strong graduate employ ability for over 40 years.
Skills for the future
This program is available on campus or on line to support nurses working in industry. This diploma is designed to provide you with up-to-date knowledge and practical experience. Because it's developed with current industry practitioners it will also give you the skills to extend your work-ready abilities and professional experience.
What you will study
This course is for registered nurses who have experience in mental health and want to seek promotional pathways through specialization.
You will be a registered nurse with at least 840 hours (approximately six months) experience working in mental health clinical practice, or currently completing a graduate year in mental health nursing.
This diploma will give you an understanding of applying diagnostic and therapeutic techniques in your clinical practice, as well the broader professional and social context of mental health nursing. You will also develop research skills and the ability to be reflective of your practice.
You will choose an area of specialization with an elective subject. A work-integrated learning subject will further develop your skills caring for clients in a variety of clinical settings with interaction and feedback from industry.
Elective subjects include:
- Foundations of Narrative Counselling
- Leadership and Management
- Loss, Trauma and Grief
- Parent-Infant Mental Health
Career
Nursing, including mental health nursing, is a large occupation with opportunities in many different locations and organisations.
According to the Australian Government, employment rates have increased steadily over the past ten years and are forecast to continue growing for the foreseeable future. A substantial workforce gap is projected for the mental health nursing sector to 2030.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimates that around $8.5 billion per annum is spent on mental health-related services in Australia.
You may work in across metropolitan and rural areas for public and private organisations, or go on to contribute to mental health policy and research.
