Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing

The Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing is an innovative course designed for those who want to develop their knowledge, confidence, and nursing competence in the clinical setting. The course is a discipline-based degree with two core units covering Patient Deterioration and Clinical Governance and two further units from your chosen major. Majors available include Generalist or Gerontology.

You'll gain advanced nursing knowledge and skills based on contemporary national and international evidence relevant to the beginning registered nurse, and you'll apply these in your own clinical setting. The combination of online delivery with group discussions, use of current international and national research, and review of standards of care in clinical settings will enhance the learning and development of key clinical skills required in professional practice. You will have the opportunity to enhance your professional nursing attributes, including autonomy, accountability and critical reflection.

Upon completion, you can articulate into our Master of Clinical Nursing.

Admission pathways

There are two application pathways for entry to this course. Upon application, you will be required to identify which pathway you are applying for.

Pathway 1 (Graduate Program with Recognised Health Services)

Applicants who are enrolled in a partnered graduate program at one of the following Health Services will be eligible to enter the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing via Pathway 1. Under this pathway, you may be eligible to receive credit for two units (refer to the structure section below for details).

• Cairns and Hinterland & Hospital and Health Services (CHHHS)
• Central Queensland Hospital and Health Services (CQHHS)
• Central West Hospital and Health Service (CWHHS)
• Far West Local Health District (FWLHD), New South Wales
• Mackay Hospital and Health Services (MHHS)
• Mater Townsville
• Metro South Hospital and Health Services (MSHHS)
• North West Hospital and Health Services (NWHHS)
• South West Hospital and Health Services (SWHHS)
• Townsville Hospital and Health Service (THHS)
• Wide Bay Hospital and Health Services (WBHHS)
• Yorke & Northern Local Health Network (YNLHN), South Australia.

You will be required to submit the following with your application:

1. AHPRA registration number
2. Letter of support from your Health Service demonstrating you are currently employed with an approved clinical partner (as listed above) for new graduates.

Pathway 2

If you are not currently enrolled in a partnered graduate program, you will need to apply via Pathway 2. This pathway requires you to have arranged access to work a minimum of 16 hours per week in a clinical setting with a Health Service.

You will be required to submit the following with your application: 

• AHPRA registration number
• Letter of support from your Health Service that must detail your current employment as a Registered Nurse, detail a minimum of 16 hours per week is worked in a clinical setting and what area/setting currently worked in. Please ensure the letter is on Health Service letterhead with a printed name, signature and contact details for verification if required.