Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing
2027 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2027 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing |
| Deakin course code | H679 |
| Course credit points | 8 |
| Course version | 1 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Health |
| Course information | For students who commenced from 2024 onwards |
| Campus | This course is only offered Online |
| Duration | 2 years part-time |
| Course map - enrolment planning tool | The course map for students commencing from Trimester 1 2027 will be available soon Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8 |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Indicative student workload
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Pathways
- Alternative exits
- Course learning outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Fees and charges
Course overview
Advance your mental health nursing practice with Deakin’s Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing. Designed for practising nurses, this flexible course builds on foundational knowledge to develop deeper expertise in assessment, intervention and person-centred care.
You will strengthen your understanding of complex mental health conditions, therapeutic approaches and pharmacological treatments, alongside trauma-informed and recovery-oriented practice. Develop the skills to support consumers, carers and supporters across diverse care contexts.
In your second year, you will extend your capability through advanced topics, including the physical health impacts of mental illness and strategies to sustain your own professional wellbeing. With elective options, you can tailor your studies to align with your career goals and areas of interest.
Indicative student workload
As an online student in the Faculty of Health you will be expected to spend 11-13 hours every week studying, interacting online and completing assessment tasks for each unit in your course. Refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information.
Professional recognition
Nurses employed in a health service with mental health postgraduate qualifications, may be eligible for a higher duties allowance relevant to their practice.
Career opportunities
As government and industry continue to focus on building and securing the mental health workforce, registered nurses with specialised postgraduate qualifications in mental health nursing are in strong demand, and in many services are a minimum requirement to work in the setting following an undergraduate nursing degree.
Deakin’s outstanding employment rate for postgraduate nursing means you can be confident in taking the next step in your career. As a graduate of the Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing you’ll have the skills and knowledge to enhance your mental health nursing career as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN), senior clinician, or step into a leadership role across a range of community and inpatient settings.
Upon graduation, you may find work in:
- acute public mental health/psychiatry
- aged care services
- child and adolescent mental health/psychiatry
- forensic services
- mother and baby services
- community mental health
- drug and alcohol services
- private mental health
Participation requirements
At Deakin, we’re committed to creating an inclusive learning environment that supports all students to succeed. We work closely with students to identify and reduce barriers, and where possible, provide tailored support to help students engage with learning and assessment activities, ensuring every student has the opportunity to belong and thrive.
If you are disabled, neurodivergent, Deaf, and/or you live with the effects of a mental health condition, chronic health condition, or other condition that impacts your studies or participation in university life, we encourage you to reach out to our Disability Resource Centre for a collaborative and confidential discussion.
Pathways
Alternative exits
| Graduate Certificate of Mental Health Nursing (H579) |
Course learning outcomes
| Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|
| Critically analyse and apply theories and evidence informed practice to facilitate recovery-oriented, trauma informed and consumer-centred mental health nursing care. |
| Apply advanced therapeutic nursing communication skills and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to promote the advocacy, agency and self-determination of mental health consumers, families, and carers. |
| Maintain and advance mental health nursing knowledge and practice through the critical analysis of mental health research using digital technologies. |
| Apply advanced critical thinking nursing skills through the analysis, evaluation, and critique of evidence-based sources to inform clinical decision making. |
| Assess, plan an deliver mental health nursing care to diverse consumers with complex mental health needs. |
| Practice independently demonstrating accountability and personal responsibility, whilst reflecting on nursing practice. |
| Collaborate with mental health consumers and the multidisciplinary team to optimise consumer outcomes and engagement. |
| Maintain professional and ethical standards of nursing practice whilst recognising diverse cultural and community perspectives. |
Note – From 2026, Deakin commenced introducing Graduate Attributes (GAs), which define the distinctive characteristics of a Deakin graduate. You may notice some courses still refer to Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) during this transition period.
Course rules
To complete the Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing you must pass 8 credit points. The number of credit points required may vary, depending on your entry point or how much credit you receive as recognition of prior learning (RPL) based on your professional experience and previous qualifications.
An 8-credit point Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing includes:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
- 6 credit points of core units
- 2 credit points of course electives.
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Course structure
Core units
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points) |
| HNN761 | Biopsychosocialspiritual Mental Health Nursing Assessment |
| HNN762 | Person-Centred Approaches to Engagement in Mental Health Nursing |
| HNN782 | Recognising and Understanding Mental Illness |
| HNN783 | Therapeutic Interventions in Mental Health Nursing |
| HNN789 | The Physical Health Needs of Persons with Mental Illness |
| HNN790 | Sustaining the Mental Health Nursing Workforce |
Course electives
| HDS727 | Auslan and the Deaf Community: Health and Wellbeing |
| HND701 | Pathophysiology of Diabetes |
| HND702 | Management of Diabetes |
| HND731 | Contemporary Approaches to Diabetes Education |
| HND732 | Diabetes in Social and Psychological Contexts |
| HNN714 | Ethical Dimensions in Nursing |
| HNN715 | Leadership and Management in Nursing |
| HNN754 | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples' Histories, Cultures and Health |
| HNN771 | Facilitating Clinical Learning |
| HNN772 | Healthcare in Low Resource/Complex Environments |
| HNN778 | Research in Nursing and Midwifery |
| HNN780 | Quality and Safety in Medication Management |
| HNN781 | Therapeutic Medication Management |
| HPS775 | Biological Psychology (Brain and Behaviour) |
| HPY733 | Lifespan and Developmental Counselling |
| HPY735 | Counselling Diverse Populations |
| HSH712 | Alcohol, Tobacco, and other Drugs |
| IND734 | Australian Aboriginal Holistic Health and Healing |
Fees and charges
Tuition fees will vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, your study load and/or unit discipline.
Your tuition fees will increase annually at the start of each calendar year. All fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD) and do not include additional costs such as textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment, mandatory checks, travel, consumables and other costs.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.
Further information
Contact Student Central for assistance in course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements. Student Central can also provide information for a wide range of services at Deakin. To help you understand the University vocabulary, please refer to our Enrolment codes and terminology page.