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Course snapshot
Domestic snapshot
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Start Date
January, March, May, July, September, October
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Duration
8 months part-time
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Location
SCU Online
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Placement
No
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ATAR
Not applicable
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Inherent Requirements
Yes Learn more
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Language Requirements
IELTS Overall Score 6.5
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Entry Requirements
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Course abbreviation
GCMHN
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Course code
1008420
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Credit points
48
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Equivalent units
4
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Scholarships
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Indicative fee
Please note, some locations may not have all intake periods available. See the full availability details for further information.
International snapshot
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Start Date
-
Duration
8 months full-time
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Location
-
Placement
No
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ATAR
Not applicable
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Inherent Requirements
Yes Learn more
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Language Requirements
IELTS Overall Score 6.5
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Entry Requirements
-
Course abbreviation
GCMHN
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Course code
1008420
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Credit points
48
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Equivalent units
4
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Scholarships
-
Indicative fee
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CRICOS
Please note, some locations may not have all intake periods available. See the full availability details for further information.
Overview
Want to increase your specialist knowledge and employment outcomes in mental health?
This course is delivered completely online and responds to contemporary mental health research and policy. It has been designed with the input of leading clinical and academic mental health professionals. Core units include contemporary mental health theory and practice.
For nursing graduates, this is a useful foundational qualification in mental health nursing, enabling a pathway to further studies in this field for credentialing as a Mental Health Nurse.
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“My experience at Southern Cross has been really good. There has been a vast array of opportunities for me. I've seen the whole spectrum of what I'm capable of doing."
The Southern Cross Model is a game-changer in higher education study.
Our students now engage in shorter, six-week unit structures designed around immersive and interactive learning experiences. The shorter unit structure gives students a greater sense of momentum as they achieve milestones quickly, resulting in increased student success rates, and course and teacher satisfaction. Lectures are a thing of the past - students will be engaged in active, interactive and discussion-based learning.
On-campus students experience a variety of teaching approaches including lectures, tutorials, online activities and video-linked or podcast virtual classes.
Our online study option is highly interactive and may include a combination of podcast or video-linked lectures, electronic study materials, workshops, online discussion forums and virtual classes.
The method of teaching and assessment may vary from unit to unit.
Course Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a course. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes (GA).
| Course Learning Outcome |
|---|
GA1: Intellectual rigour Generates/translates novel information or theories, making a substantial contribution to the discipline through scholarly activities. |
GA2: Creativity Critically appraises the nature and extent of influences (social, political, economic and organizational) to overcome constraints in negotiation of options for clinical interventions. |
GA3: Ethical practice Interrogates and challenges the concepts of risk and safety from the basis of consumer centred care considering social protection, legal, moral and ethical principles to balance risk in recovery. |
GA4: Knowledge of a discipline Exercises expert/enhanced clinical judgement and decision-making and insight in novel situations in specialist mental health disciplines in pursuit of optimal consumer outcomes. |
GA5: Lifelong learning Consistently demonstrates a high level of autonomy, accountability, adaptability and responsibility in self-directed work and learning. |
GA6: Communication and social skills Develops and maintains partnerships in care (individually and with groups) with mental health consumers and their families which focuses on the recipient of care, the person’s right to choice and self-determination, and the person’s inherent capacity for recovery. |
GA7: Cultural competence Respects individual worldviews and enhances their own critical thinking to lead others in challenging assumptions underpinning worldviews. |
This course includes a choice from the following units:
- Contemporary Mental Health
- Mental Health Across the Lifespan
- Mental Health in Community, Non-Government and Primary Health Settings
- Acute Mental Health
- Supporting Behaviour Change in Mental Health Contexts
- Physical Health Care in Mental Health.
| Location | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| SCU Online | Summer Term, Term 1, Term 2, Term 3, Term 4, Term 5 |
Career Outcomes
For nursing graduates this may be a useful foundational qualification in mental health nursing. Graduates may wish to then further their studies by undertaking the Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing or Master of Mental Health Nursing which are accredited and recognised by the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses as postgraduate qualifications for credentialing as a Mental Health Nurse.
Graduates may be eligible for up to four units of credit towards the Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing or the Master of Mental Health Nursing at Southern Cross University.
This course has received accreditation from the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses and will partially meet the educational requirements needed for credentialing (which require a minimum of a postgraduate diploma).
Requirements
We encourage you to apply for the courses you most want to study. If you are not eligible to enter your chosen course right now, our team will work with you to find the best pathway option.
Before applying, make sure you double check all entry requirements, gather required documentation and review the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, noting any specifics listed below.
Entry requirements
A Bachelor degree or equivalent in a health, psychology or social science related discipline, and must be a Registered Nurse with access to Mental Health Nursing practice and to credentialed Mental Health Nurses during the course of their study.
Language requirements
English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for entry to this course are as follows
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Overall | 6.5 |
| Listening | minimum 6.0 |
| Speaking | minimum 6.0 |
| Reading | minimum 6.0 |
| Writing | minimum 6.0 |
Course requirements
To be eligible to receive the Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing, students must complete the equivalent of 4 units (48 credit points).
Inherent Requirements
Inherent Requirements apply to this course as defined on the Student Equity and Inclusion website. Students who have a disability or health condition which may impact on their ability to meet these requirements are encouraged to visit the Student Equity and Inclusion website for further information and contact details.
Other things to consider
Credit for Prior Learning, also referred to as ‘Advanced Standing’ or Recognition for Prior Learning (RPL), is the process of looking at your prior study and/or experience to assess if you can be awarded academic credit or gain entry to a course on the basis of your existing knowledge and skills.
Course structure
Why Health at SCU
One of the best clinical lab facilities in Australia
Health Clinics on-campus provide safe and supervised environments for practicums
5-star health ratings
We are 5-star rated in psychology, nursing and health services and support
(GUG 2023)Graduates in very high demand
Health graduates in very high demand as Health Care and Social Assistance is Australia's largest and fastest growing industry
Fees and Scholarships
Domestic students
You are a domestic student if you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident, New Zealand citizen, or Australian humanitarian visa holder. Your course will either be a Commonwealth Supported Place or a full fee-paying place. This is noted in the course snapshot.
Commonwealth Supported Places:
In a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP), the Government pays some of your fees and you pay the rest as the Student Contribution Amount (SCA).
SCA is calculated per unit, not per course. Eligible students can defer the SCA through a HECS-HELP loan.
Full Fee-Paying Places:
A full fee-paying place is where you pay the full (unsubsidised) tuition fee for your course. Eligible students can defer the payment of their tuition fees through the FEE-HELP scheme (including employer-reserved places for The Hotel School courses).
Also known as SSAF, the Student Services and Amenities Fee is a compulsory fee for most students used to provide important services and amenities to students both on and off campus. It’s charged per unit, based on the unit’s credit point value. Eligible domestic students have the option of deferring this fee through the SA-HELP loan scheme. More about SSAF
Depending on your course, your costs could also include computer equipment and software, books, stationery, field trips, uniforms or other course-specific expenses such as art materials, musical equipment or travel for practicums, internships, vaccinations or industry experience.
Scholarships vary in amount, from a few hundred to several thousand dollars each year. Eligibility isn't limited to top-performing students or those facing financial challenges; there are opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds and with different accomplishments. This ensures that education remains accessible to all, changing lives and helping individuals achieve their goals for a brighter future.
Fees and Scholarships
International Students
If you're an international student, you can find the annual course cost in Australian dollars (AUD$) on our International Courses and Fees page or on the web page for your course under fees.
Also known as SSAF, the Student Services and Amenities Fee is a compulsory fee for most students used to provide important services and amenities to students both on and off campus. It’s charged per unit, based on the unit’s credit point value. Eligible domestic students have the option of deferring this fee through the SA-HELP loan scheme. More about SSAF
Depending on your course, your costs could also include computer equipment and software, books, stationery, field trips, uniforms or other course-specific expenses such as art materials, musical equipment or travel for practicums, internships, vaccinations or industry experience.
Southern Cross University offers a range of scholarships designed to support you while you study, available for a variety of backgrounds and achievements. Scholarships range from a few hundred dollars a year to several thousand dollars a year. Southern Cross has also introduced Access25, a new initiative for 2025 to deliver a quality education combined with a straightforward tuition model, ensuring every international student has equal access.
Apply now
Preparing to apply
- Check requirements
- Get supporting documents ready
- Choose where and when from the available options
Click the Apply button to start your application in our Application Portal.
Dates for the diary
Our shorter, more focused six-week unit structure gives students a greater sense of momentum and motivation as they achieve milestones quickly. Application dates per Term are shown on each course page however refer to our key dates and teaching calendar for detail on when enrolment opens, studies commence and when grades are published. There are also Dual Term and Tri Term calendars for those who have specific subjects.
How can we help?
How can we help?
How can we help?
Credit Transfer
Get a head start on your degree. Find out if you’re eligible for credit from previous studies.
Go to credit assessorEntry Pathway
We believe in equal access to further education, so we offer a range of pathways to university.
Find a pathway