Handbook : Course informationEdith Cowan University

Course Information

Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing

Effective from 01-JAN-2023 : Code T88

This course aims to provide students with contemporary and evidence-based approaches to the delivery of mental health nursing care. Students will gain an appreciation of the historical context of mental health care and develop a range of assessment and intervention skills that can be applied in a variety of mental health settings. Students will also gain foundation knowledge of a range of research approaches, to understand the standards for quality and rigour in research and the skills in operationalising research in mental health. The choice of elective units offers students the opportunity to develop knowledge and skills in a range of specialised mental health care contexts. The course also enables students to critically evaluate various management strategies for supporting people with mental illness in the community.

Disclaimer

This course information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester. In particular please check the course requirements and the unit and unit set offerings, as these differ according to course delivery location.

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Communicate and apply specialised knowledge, concepts and skills to a variety of audiences in the field of mental health nursing practice.
2. Apply independent judgement when reviewing, analysing and evaluating complex nursing problems to generate creative solutions.
3. Demonstrate professional clinical management skills by initiating, planning, implementing and evaluating nursing care within a mental health context.
4. Critically reflect on a complex body of mental health care knowledge.

Admission requirements

Admission requirement (Band 6)

• Bachelor degree; or
• Equivalent prior learning including at least five years relevant professional experience.

English Language requirement (Band 5)

English competency requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

• IELTS Academic with a minimum overall score of 7.0 and a minimum score of 7.0 in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking);
• Occupational English Test (OET) with a minimum score of B in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking);
• Pearson English Test (PTE) Academic with a minimum overall score of 65 and a minimum score of 65 in each of the four communicative skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking);
• TOEFL iBT with a minimum total score of 94 and the following minimum score in each section of the test:
  • 24 for listening
  • 24 for reading,
  • 27 for writing, and
  • 23 for speaking;
• Bachelor degree from an approved country;
• Successfully completed 0.375 EFTSL of study at postgraduate level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent); or
• Where accepted, equivalent prior learning, including at least five years relevant professional experience.

Note:  English tests must be completed within 2 years of the proposed course commencement date and additional requirements may apply in relation to acceptable number of test sittings.

Course Specific Admission Requirements

All applicants are required to have a Bachelor's degree in nursing or midwifery; or equivalent prior learning including at least five years of recent and relevant professional experience as a mental health nurse.

Course Duration

• Full Time: 1 Year
• Part Time: 2 Years

Course Delivery

• Online: Full Time, Part Time

Course Coordinator

Dr Irene NGUNE

Course Structure

^ Core Option