Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing

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Duration
1 year part-time
Location
Online
Next start term
Anytime
Study mode
Online
Course code
CL56
First-year fee
$2,312 (Indicative) (CSP)
$8,808 (Indicative) (FFP)
This course offers Commonwealth Supported Places, meaning you may be eligible for significant fee savings.
OverviewStructure & AvailabilityRequirementsFees & ScholarshipsHow to Apply
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Overview

CQUniversity's Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing is ideal for registered nurses looking to develop their mental health nursing credentials. Delivered fully online in a flexible format, this course forms part of a suite of three mental health nursing courses and will provide you with foundation skills and knowledge required to practice in this area of nursing specialisation.

The Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing offers you a self-paced, hyperflexible online course, ideal for busy, emerging health leaders looking for specialist skills in postgraduate mental health nursing.

Through this course, you will develop foundation knowledge and skills in mental health nursing, so it's an ideal course for you if you are interested in mental health nursing or are newly employed in mental health. You will build your skills and knowledge in undertaking mental health assessments, risk assessments and formulations, along with psychotropic medications, and recovery. The Graduate Certificate is not only the ideal course to build a solid foundation in mental health nursing but also a great place to start as you become familiar with our online learning platform.

If you are interested in developing advanced mental health knowledge and skills, this Graduate Certificate provides an ideal pathway into our Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing, which is nationally accredited by the Australian College of Mental Health Nursing. This means that you will graduate from the Graduate Diploma with specialist mental health nursing skills and knowledge. Plus, after completing the Graduate Diploma you can later apply to become a credentialed Mental Health Nurse through the Australian College of Mental Health Nursing (if you meet the other requirements). After completing the Graduate Diploma, you may like to extend your studies and continue on in the Master of Mental Health Nursing.

Developed with industry and lived experience academics, we’ve made sure our mental health nursing courses are evidence-based and clinically relevant so that your studies truly reflect current and emerging mental health nursing matters. Add to this the hyperflexible online delivery, where you set your own pace and affordable tuition fees, and you have a suite of mental health nursing courses that allow you to fit study around your life, not the other way around.

Study Experience

  • Authentic Learning Experiences
  • Flexible Online Study
  • Seamless Pathways
  • Self Paced
  • Start Anytime

Career Opportunities

On completion of this award, students will be able to seek employment as a nurse in a mental health setting. 

Structure & Availability

The course structure and available locations can change depending on when you want to study. You can choose the intake that best suits you in the drop-down menu below.

Available Locations

Flexible Online Study

Designed for maximum flexibility, this course is entirely self-paced and 100% online. Access your course content on any device, anytime, and experience the ultimate flexibility and convenience.

Your Course

You must complete four units (24 credits):

  1. 1
    The core structure (4 units)

Unit Details

The units you'll study are listed below. Click on a unit to learn more.

Course Planner

To help you plan your studies and see which unit comes first, if one unit should be completed before another and when you will study each unit, check out our course planners.

Browse course planners

Additional Information

If you have completed prior study relevant to units within this course, you may be eligible for credit for your past studies. Learn more about credit and recognition of prior learning.

Requirements

To Be Eligible

For your application to be considered, you must meet the following entry requirements. 

During Your Study

While not needed to apply, you'll need to meet the following requirements throughout your studies. 

Fees & Scholarships

Indicative First-Year Fee

The Indicative First-Year Fee is the approximate cost of enrolling in this course for one academic year depending on the type of place you are offered, for example, a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) or Full Fee Paying (FFP) Place. For a graduate certificate, this is usually four units studied full-time over one term or part-time over two terms. The indicative fee should be used as a guide only. Your actual fees may vary depending on the units you select to study and your study load. Check the cost-per-unit spreadsheet available on our fees webpage for the approved unit fees. Fees are reviewed each year and are subject to change. 

Understanding your fees.

Commonwealth Supported Places

With Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) available for this course in 2025, you may be eligible for significant fee savings, provided you meet CSP eligibility requirements. CSPs are subsidised by the Australian Government, meaning you are only required to pay the student contribution rather than full tuition fees.

If you are not eligible for a CSP or if CSPs are full, you will be required to pay full fees.

HECS-HELP

You may be eligible for a HECS-HELP government loan if you are offered a CSP. HECS-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme that assists you in paying your student contributions. Provided you meet the HECS-HELP eligibility criteria, you may use HECS-HELP to defer part or all of your student contribution fees. 

Learn more about paying for university.

There may be additional costs as part of your studies, such as technology expenses. Learn more about other study costs.

How to Apply

How to Apply

Check what you need to do to apply to study this course. 

Your Application Options

Follow These Steps

  1. 1
    Check you meet the course requirements
  2. 2
    Get a Unique Student Identifier

Extra Admission Information

Learn about the assessment of applications and everything you need to know about receiving and accepting an offer to study with CQU.

Start Your Application

Use the Apply button below to access our Apply Online portal and start your application.

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