Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing
Student type:
Quick facts
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Entry score
Not applicable
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Duration
Full-time 1 year, Part-time 2 years -
Location
Bundoora -
Fees
Next intake
February, JulyEntry score
Not applicable
Duration
Full-time 1 yearLocation
Bundoora
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.
Are you ready for a future in health?
Discover a rewarding career and seize your opportunities for professional development with a qualification from RMIT.
I was particularly interested in RMIT’s Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing as the course had a strong focus on psychotherapeutic interventions. I’ve really enjoyed the opportunity to learn in a specialised field. I felt relaxed and supported throughout the course, because our educators were very understanding of our needs.
- Susan Hua, Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing
Relevant and industry-based
RMIT’s focus on industry-based, practical learning is realised in the design and outcomes of our Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing.
It has been developed in close consultation with industry and is based on the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN) Credentialing Guidelines.
Teaching staff are experienced practitioners with strong industry connections. Learning activities and subjects are constantly updated to ensure your studies are linked to contemporary and evolving vocational practice.
Details
You'll study individual and group counselling, mental health treatment, contemporary mental health issues and research.
You will develop advanced, evidence-based mental health nursing knowledge and skills and be able to identify and address contemporary and emerging issues influencing mental health nursing practice.
The Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing will give you a strong understanding of how to apply diagnostic and therapeutic techniques in your clinical practice, as well the broader professional and social context of mental health nursing.
You will develop research skills and the ability to be reflective of your practice. You will also choose an area of specialisation with an elective subject in either narrative counselling or parent-infant mental health.
A work-integrated learning subject will further develop and apply your skills caring for clients in a variety of clinical settings with interaction and feedback from industry.
This diploma will enable you to:
- critically analyse the impact of ideological and political discourses on the development of Australian healthcare policies and practices
- critically analyse the impact of changing technologies on clinical practice
- conceptualise future directions in healthcare policies and practices
- explore the nature and implications of moral and legal accountability, responsibility and liability in professional practice
- discuss the nature and implications of human rights and social justice considerations in healthcare domains
- examine critically key ethical and legal issues relevant to professional healthcare practice in institutional and community-based settings
- critically describe the models of health education, and the principles of adult learning and health promotion
- analyse the concept of multiculturalism as applied to Australia with particular reference to the health care system
- examine critically different approaches to health care research
You will undertake a range of learning activities which include online learning, face-to-face lectures, tutorial sessions and multi-disciplinary team work.
All lectures are video-recorded to enhance the flexible, multimode (on campus or external) delivery of this diploma.
Learning activities in real-world contexts and situations will enable you to synthesise theory and knowledge with your clinical practice.
In this diploma, you will complete seven core subjects and one elective subject.
Core subjects
- Foundations of Mental Health Nursing Partnerships (Semester 1)
- Context of Mental Health Nursing (Semester 1)
- Therapeutic Initiatives in Mental Health (Semester 1)
- Dual Diagnosis and Community Work (Semester 1)
- Mental Health Nursing Clinical Portfolio (Semester 2)
- Assessment Analysis in Mental Health Nursing (Semester 2)
- Health Inquiry Critique (Semester 2)
Elective subjects
- Foundations of Narrative Counselling
- Leadership and Management
- Loss, Trauma and Grief
- Parent-Infant Mental Health
Choose a program structure
Choose a program structure
Program code: GD158
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.
Job Outlook projects that work opportunities for registered nurses are set to increase by 11.7% to 2024. Job Outlook also estimates that the most common annual salary for a mental health nurse in Australia is between $90,000 and $100,000, and for a nurse manager is between $120,000 and $140,000.
The program is based on the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN) Credentialing Guidelines. Graduates can join the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses and cite this qualification as part of your application for credentialing. Credentialed mental health nurses can be funded for employment under the Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program.
Graduates can apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia which will allow you to obtain a provider number for private practice or practice in any Australian state or territory. To register you need English languages skills at IELTS academic level 7 or equivalent within the two years prior to registration.
Admissions
- An Australian bachelor degree in Nursing, or equivalent. OR · An Australian bachelor degree in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing, or equivalent.
AND
- Current registration or be eligible for registration as a Registered Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.
AND
- 840 hours of supervised clinical practice already completed in the field of mental health nursing OR you are completing this as part of a graduate year program in mental health nursing or supervised practice during the candidature.
- An Australian bachelor degree in Nursing, or equivalent. OR · An Australian bachelor degree in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing, or equivalent.
AND
- Current registration or be eligible for registration as a Registered Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.
AND
- 840 hours of supervised clinical practice already completed in the field of mental health nursing OR you are completing this as part of a graduate year program in mental health nursing or supervised practice during the candidature.
International qualifications are assessed for comparability to Australian qualifications according to the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).
Entry requirements
To study this program you will need to complete one of the following English proficiency tests:
- IELTS (Academic): minimum overall band of 6.5 (with no individual band below 6.0)
- TOEFL (Internet Based Test - IBT): minimum overall score of 79 (with minimum of 13 in Reading, 12 in Listening, 18 in Speaking and 21 in Writing)
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) (PTE (A)): minimum score of 58 (with no communication band less than 50)
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE): minimum of 176 with no less than 169 in any component.
For detailed information on English language requirements and other proficiency tests recognised by RMIT, visit English language requirements and equivalency information.
Don't meet the English language test scores? Complete an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Advanced Plus Certificate at RMIT English Worldwide.
Pathways
Fees
Entry for this program is primarily through Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs).
Government financial assistance is available to eligible students regardless of the type of place you enrol in.
2022 indicative fees
- Commonwealth supported places (CSP) range from AU$3,985 to AU$14,630*
- Full-fee places: AU$24,000*.
Additional expenses
- Student services and amenities fee (SSAF): AU$315 maximum fee for 2022.
- Other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment.
Annual fee adjustment
Amounts quoted are indicative fees per annum, and are based on a standard year of full-time study (96 credit points). A proportionate fee applies for more or less than the full-time study load.
Fees are adjusted on an annual basis and these fees should only be used as a guide.
Defer your payment
You may be eligible to apply for a HELP loan, which can be used to defer payment of up to the full amount of your student contribution fees. You may also be eligible to apply to defer payment of your SSAF through the SA-HELP loan scheme.
For more information and to learn how to calculate your exact tuition fees see postgraduate study fees.
Payments and refunds
For information on how to pay your fees or how to apply for a refund, please see Paying your fees and applying for refunds.
If you are offered a Commonwealth supported place, your tuition fees are subsidised by the Australian Government.
Your share of the fee (student contribution) is set on an annual basis by the government and is determined by the discipline areas (bands) of your individual enrolled courses, not the overall program.
How much can I expect to pay for my Commonwealth supported place?
The Australian Government has introduced changes to university funding and student contribution fees under its Job-ready Graduates Package.
The fees in the table below apply to students commencing their program in 2022. Fees for continuing students are available at fees for Commonwealth supported students.
Each course (subject) falls into a band. The band determines the student contribution amount for the course.
Amounts listed in the table below are based on a standard, full-time study load (96 credit points per year) with all courses in the same band. A proportionate fee applies for more or less than the full-time study load or for enrolment in courses (subjects) from a combination of bands.
You can learn how to calculate your exact tuition fees for units from different bands at Fees for Commonwealth supported students.
Maximum student contribution amount for Commonwealth supported places in 2022 for commencing students
Student contribution band by course (subject) |
Maximum annual student contribution amount (per EFTSL) in 2022 |
|---|---|
Education, Postgraduate Clinical Psychology, English, Mathematics, Statistics, Nursing, Indigenous and Foreign Languages, Agriculture |
$3,985 per standard year $498 per standard (12 credit point) course |
Allied Health, Other Health, Built Environment, Computing, Visual and Performing Arts, Professional Pathway Psychology, Professional Pathway Social Work, Engineering, Surveying, Environmental Studies, Science, Pathology |
$8,021 per standard year $1,002 per standard (12 credit point) course |
Dentistry, Medicine, Veterinary Science |
$11,401 per standard year |
Law, Accounting, Administration, Economics, Commerce, Communications, Society and Culture |
$14,630 per standard year |
How does a HELP loan work?
If your FEE-HELP, HECS-HELP and/or SA-HELP loan application is successful, the Australian Government will pay RMIT, on your behalf, up to 100% of your fees. This amount will become part of your accumulated HELP debt.
You only start repaying your accumulated HELP debt to the Australian Government once you earn above the minimum income threshold for repayment, which is set each year by the Australian Government (this also applies if you are still studying).
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will calculate your compulsory repayment for the year and include this on your income tax notice.
For more information about loan repayment options see Commonwealth assistance (HELP loans) or Study Assist.
This program is approved for income support.
You may be eligible for student income support payments from the Commonwealth Government if you are undertaking a graduate certificate, graduate diploma or an approved professionally oriented masters by coursework program. For more information see Income support for Masters students.
If you are enrolled in an eligible program you will also need to satisfy all other student payment eligibility requirements. You can contact Centrelink or Services Australia for further information about student income support entitlements, your eligibility and how to apply.
In addition to tuition fees, you will be charged an annual student services and amenities fee (SSAF), which is used to maintain and enhance services and amenities that improve your experience as an RMIT student.
The SSAF is calculated based on your enrolment load and the maximum fee for 2022 is $315.
For more information about calculating your actual SSAF see Paying SSAF.
You may also be required to purchase other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment. These additional fees and expenses vary from program to program.
The total indicative tuition fee for 2022 commencement is AU$30,720.
In addition to tuition fees you also need to pay for:
- Student services and amenities fee (SSAF) in each calendar year.
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) - Student visa holders must have cover for the total duration of their visa.
- Some programs incur additional expenses.
You also need to account for your living expenses. Estimate the cost of living in Melbourne.
Applying for refunds
For information on how to apply for a refund as a continuing international student, please see Refunds.
Looking for answers or more general infomation?
For frequently asked questions or how to find more information regarding applications and enrolments, fees, student support services, university policies and more, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions.