Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing

Degree Level Postgraduate

Years

Australian students

Start Date
February

Campus
City East

Duration
1 year(s) full-time

Program Code
IGMG

SATAC Code
4GD048 (External)
4GD125 (External)

Study as
Full-time or part-time

Mode
On-campus/Online

Fees
Commonwealth Supported

Entry requirements

Applicants are required to meet one of the following criteria:

Employer Sponsored
- Hold current registration as a Registered Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia; AND
- A letter of support from an employer confirming a training position within the area of mental health nursing
University Placement
- A recognised Bachelor degree in Nursing or equivalent from a recognised higher education institution; AND
- Hold current registration as a Registered Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia; AND
- A current Department for Human Services (DHS) Working With Children Check (WWCC); AND
- A criminal history check issued by an ACIC-accredited provider within the last 12 months
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Aim

The program prepares competent Registered Nurses who are able to engage with, assess, and care for people experiencing mental health problems and mental illness and their families and friends.

Content & Structure

The area of study is mental health nursing in diverse contexts. Mental health nursing incorporates mental health promotion, and prevention as well as intervention for those experiencing mental illness. Mental health nursing study is supported by bio-psychosocial and behavioural sciences as well as a knowledge of pharmacology, legal and ethical aspects of practice. Emphasis is also placed on practitioners articulating their practice of mental health nursing across the lifespan, for a multicultural society in metropolitan, rural and remote clinical settings. The program is also designed to provide graduates with the skills to be lifelong learners and thus able to extend their competence and knowledge through critical analysis and reflection on practice.

The program requires completion of 36 units of prescribed study.

Study at the new Adelaide University in 2026

The University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia are combining their strengths to create a new university for the future, Adelaide University, opening in January 2026.

From 4 August 2025, the University of Adelaide and University of South Australia will no longer be accepting applications for new students.

Apply now to study with Adelaide University in 2026.

What courses you'll study

Course name	Area and cat no.	Units	Reference
Choose 1 of the following 4 courses:
Perspectives in Mental Health Practice	NURS 5071	9	Note(s): 1,2
OR
Best Practice in Adolescent Mental Health	NURS 5164	9	Note(s): 1,2
OR
Best Practice in Older People's Mental Health	NURS 5165	9	Note(s): 1,2
OR
Perinatal Mental Health for Health Professionals	NURS 5157	9	Note(s): 1,2
Enrol in all of the following 3 courses:
Theoretical Approaches to Mental Health Practice	NURS 5159	9	Note(s): 2
Skills for Recovery Practice in Mental Health	NURS 5160	9	Note(s): 2
Consolidation of Mental Health Nursing Practice	NURS 5158	9	Note(s): 2,3	Rule(s): 1,2,3,4,5,6

Rules & notes

Rules

1. This course must be taken as the final course in the program unless otherwise approved by the Program Director.

2. Students are required to pass the clinical placement in the course to successfully complete the program.

3. Students who are subject to an investigation by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulatory Agency AHPRA under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act cannot proceed with clinical placement until the investigation is completed and the University is notified of the outcome.

4. Students must meet the vaccination requirements for health professionals prior to commencing placement. Failure to meet vaccination requirements will limit placement opportunities.

5. A current Working with Children Check (WWCC) and a National Police Certificate (NPC) is required prior to commencing placement.

6. All students who require clinical placement to be organised by the University must confirm that they meet the "Fitness to Practice in Clinical Placements" requirements prior to clinical placement and as may be required by the Program Director.

Notes

1. Students are advised to choose from NURS 5071 or NURS 5164 or NURS 5157 or NURS 5165 in their first year of study.

2. The program is offered externally/online. Some courses have virtual workshops, some of these are compulsory unless otherwise negotiated with the course coordinator.

3. Students with a disability or chronic health condition may be able to have reasonable adjustments made to teaching and learning, assessment, clinical placement, and other activities. Reasonable adjustments should not fundamentally change the nature of the "Fitness to Practice in Clinical Placements" requirements.