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Course Information

Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing

Effective from 01-JAN-2025 : 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.

Professional Recognition

Course

This course has been Accredited by: Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN).
ECU is the only university in WA where the Graduate Diploma of Mental Health is accredited by the ACMHN.

Admission requirements

Admission requirement (Band 6)

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

English Language requirement (Band 4)

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

  • IELTS Academic Overall band minimum score of 6.5 (no individual band less than 6.0);
  • Bachelor degree from a country specified in the Admissions Policy;
  • Successfully completed 0.375 EFTSL of study at postgraduate level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent);
  • Where accepted, equivalent prior learning, including at least five years relevant professional experience; or
  • Other tests, courses or programs as defined in the Admissions Policy.

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.

Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level

This course has been accredited by ECU as an AQF Level 8 Graduate Diploma Award.

Course Duration

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

Course Delivery

  • Online: Full Time, Part Time

Course Coordinator

A/Prof Irene NGUNE

Course Structure

Year 1 - Semester 1
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
CMH5109Contemporary Issues in Mental Health20
CMH5110Assessment in Mental Health20
Students select ONE unit from the following
CMH5215 ^Child and Adolescent Mental Health20
CMH5216 ^Community Mental Health20
CMH5217 ^Forensic Mental Health20
HST6350 ^Drug Use and Addictive Behaviours20
CMH5218 ^Perinatal Mental Health 20
Year 1 - Semester 2
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
MNP6101Evidence-based Practice and Research Design20
Students select TWO units that they have not previously completed
CMH5215 ^Child and Adolescent Mental Health20
CMH5216 ^Community Mental Health20
CMH5217 ^Forensic Mental Health20
HST6350 ^Drug Use and Addictive Behaviours20
CMH5218 ^Perinatal Mental Health 20

^ Core Option

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

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