Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Mental Health)
Postgraduate
2025
You're considered an Australian student if you are any of the following:
Postgraduate
2025
Online
Applicants are required to hold current registration as a Registered Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.
This program is not available to students wishing to study in Australia on a student visa.
12024 QS Subject Rankings. 22018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA). 3ComparED (QILT) Student Experience Survey 2021-22, Nursing – Teaching Quality Indicator (Postgraduate). SA public universities. 4Ranked #43, 2024 THE Young University Rankings.
Register for our free online information session on Wednesday 4 December, 2024.
In one year of part-time study, Registered Nurses can extend their existing knowledge and skills in the specialised field of mental health care.
Designed to respond to the increasing need in Australia to care for people with specific mental health needs, this qualification will advance your knowledge and career opportunities in your current workplace. This certificate is only offered online and part-time, which is great for busy working professionals who want to fit study around life commitments.
Students who want to tailor their studies to their career goals may be interested in our Graduate Certificate in Nursing.
Students interested in a specific clinical specialisation can explore other graduate certificates in the following areas:
You’ll learn how to meet modern healthcare delivery requirements and respond to Australian priorities for mental health care as identified in consultation with industry and lived experience communities.
This qualification offers a variety of courses which will build your general and specialist skills and knowledge in the field of mental health nursing.
Further study opportunities to advance your career may include the Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing, which can lead to becoming a Credentialed Mental Health Nurse with the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN). For students wishing to streamline their progression into the Graduate Diploma, please study Skills for Recovery Practice in Mental Health as your second course.
With interactive online course materials and a 24/7 learning environment, you can tailor your study to suit your lifestyle.
You’ll learn from specialist postgraduate teaching staff, well above world-class researchers in nursing1 and industry-experienced clinicians. This assures you the very best in academic resources, learning facilities and support.
UniSA is home to the Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Research and Education, where our mental health researchers are recognised for undertaking research improving the lives of people in mental distress and at risk of suicide. Staff within the group contribute directly to the teaching of our postgraduate programs.
Our flexible suite of postgraduate nursing qualifications are designed to recognise your prior learning and advance your career. Upon successful completion of this qualification, you could be eligible to gain credit into higher level qualifications.
12018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA)
Hear from Dr. Allison Roderick, UniSA's Program Director of Postgraduate Nursing and Midwifery Programs, on how postgraduate study can take your career as an Registered Nurse even further.
Every year, over 2,500 UniSA students are supported in their studies through scholarships and grants worth millions of dollars. Check out the scholarships below. One of them may be perfect for you. Visit our scholarships page for more.
Available for students who are interested in undertaking specified activities with the aim of enhancing the overall student experience at UniSA.
Travel Grants are available to participate in our Study Overseas Programs. UniSA has agreement with over 80 institutions globally.
Our campuses have fantastic facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, tech zones, and spaces that simulate real work environments. You’ll also find student gyms and campus sport activities to keep you active. We also offer flexible study options, with online resources available for accessing lecture recordings, virtual classrooms, library resources and learning support.
Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit different requirements and budgets. Options include dedicated student accommodation and private rentals. See our long-term accommodation pages, or explore our student accommodation by Scape on Bank Street in Adelaide’s lively cultural precinct, an ideal location for students. It is within easy reach of UniSA’s city and metropolitan campuses, Rundle Mall shopping, the Central Market, Chinatown, and the West End’s vibrant nightlife. It is also across the road from the Adelaide train station, and on bus and tram routes.
I have a strong background in intensive care and infection control, gained from working in public and private ICUs in Australia and overseas. As a former graduate of UniSA’s Nursing program and now Program Director of the postgraduate suite of Nursing and Midwifery programs, I greatly benefitted from real-world experiences in my studies, and understand how important it is to help students achieve their career goals. In addition to hands-on learning, I also ensure my teaching is closely informed by industry, where I have close connections with key groups including education, ICU, perioperative, and more.
The way you apply for UniSA will depend on the undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree you're interested in studying.
The majority of applications are made via the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC). Check out more information on the SATAC website and follow the appropriate process for your degree of interest.
There are a small number of degrees that you need to apply for through direct application processes. The process you need to follow will be listed on the 'How to Apply' section of the degree homepage, but you'll also be taken to where you need to go if you hit the 'apply' button.
If you are interested in studying one of our 100% online degrees you'll need to apply directly to UniSA Online.
You can find more information about the application processes for UniSA on our How to Apply webpage.
If you're more interested in applying for a postgraduate degree by research, check out and follow the information in our step by step guide to applying.
Applications for all degrees will close ahead of study commencing, but the timelines may vary for undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
The deadline to apply to study a degree at UniSA for semester one (commencing late February) and be guaranteed equal consideration is generally in very late November or early December. While you may be able to apply after this date, you are not guaranteed to be considered equally with other applicants and your application may not be assessed in time for the main round of offers. More competitive degrees may not make any offers after the main offer round. Find more information on the Key Dates section of the SATAC website, but you can also call the Future Student Enquiries team for more information on 08 8302 376.
Many postgraduate by coursework degrees do not have set closing dates. The exceptions are highly competitive degrees, so it is best to check – either on the degree homepage on the SATAC website or by checking with our Future Student Enquiries team.
As most postgraduate applications are assessed as they are submitted and offers are continuous, there are no set closing dates for applications. Degrees can be filled and closed with little notice so it is best to apply as soon as possible to avoid missing out on a place. For more information, please contact our Future Student Enquires team on (08) 8302 2376 or submit an enquiry.
You may be eligible for credit or advanced standing for your chosen UniSA degree based on your previous studies, if they are in a related area and completed within a certain timeframe. Receiving credit or RPL will reduce the number of courses you undertake within the degree, and may also reduce the overall duration of your degree. You can read more about our pre-existing credit agreements through our online Credit Assessor. If you have related industry experience, you may also be eligible to receive recognised prior learning (RPL) for this experience. Credit and RPL is assessed by the Program Director once you've received an offer, and you apply through UniSA's current student experts, Campus Central.
Future Student Enquiries welcomes the opportunity to meet with you to discuss your study options at UniSA. We can discuss degree information, entry requirements and pathways, applications, general career outcomes and student life, so you have the information to make the best study decision for your future. Head to our Book an Appointment webpage to find a date and time to speak with us, and take your next steps on journey to university study.