CQUniversity

Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing Online

  • Delivery: Online
  • Study Level: Postgraduate
  • Duration: 12 months
  • Course Type: Graduate Diploma

Develop specialist mental health nursing expertise through flexible online study, building advanced clinical skills in assessment, recovery-oriented care and therapeutic interventions while preparing for specialist practice.

Course overview

The CQUniversity Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing is a fully online, self-paced postgraduate qualification designed for registered nurses seeking to develop the advanced knowledge and skills required for specialist mental health nursing practice. Completed in one year full-time or two years part-time, the course allows you to study anytime while balancing professional commitments. Assessments completed throughout the program require you to be working in a mental health setting, enabling you to apply your learning directly to clinical practice.

Throughout the course, you will strengthen your expertise in mental health assessment and formulation, psychotropic medications, recovery-oriented care, therapeutic interventions, mental health promotion and alcohol and other drugs. The program incorporates the Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing and extends your learning through advanced clinical content developed with industry and lived experience academics to ensure it remains evidence-based and clinically relevant.

On successful completion, you will graduate with the Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing. The qualification is nationally accredited by the Australian College of Mental Health Nursing (ACMHN) and enables graduates who meet the additional requirements to apply to become a Credentialed Mental Health Nurse. It also provides a seamless pathway into the Master of Mental Health Nursing.

CSP Subsidised Fees Available

This program has a limited quota of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). The indicative CSP price is calculated based on first year fees for EFT. The actual fee may vary if there are choices in electives or majors.

Key facts

Delivery
Online
Course Type
Graduate Diploma
Duration
More Information
Can be studied part time
12 months (Full time)
Price Per Unit
From $2,293.75
More Information
The estimated per-unit fee is calculated using the annual average first-year fee. It is based on a full-time study load of 24 credit points (four units) per semester or 48 credit points (eight units) per year.

From $600 (CSP)
More Information
You may be eligible for CSP where the government pays part of your fees. It is based on a full-time study load of 24 credit points (four units) per semester or 48 credit points (eight units) per year.
Intake
Anytime
Units
More Information
You may be required to complete 0 credit point units throughout your course. The university will confirm this as part of your enrolment.

The unit total reflects the number of units required for course completion, not the total credit point weight. Some units may be double- or triple-weighted, so the number of units you complete may be lower.
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Fees
More Information
FEE-HELP loans and HECS loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students with the cost of a university program.
FEE-HELP, HECS, CSP

What you will study

To earn the Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing, you must successfully complete units totalling 24 credit points as detailed below. Unless otherwise noted, each course is worth 6 credit points.

Core units

  • Contextual Foundations of Mental Health Nursing Practice
  • Mental Health Nursing Assessment and Formulation
  • Creating Meaningful Relationships
  • Clinical Foundations for Practice
  • Recovery Into Action
  • Mental Health Promotion
  • Advanced Mental Health Nursing Skills
  • Alcohol and Other Drugs

Entry requirements

To be eligible for entry into this course, applicants must supply:

  • Hold a current registration as a Registered Nurse (Division 1) with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulatory Authority (AHPRA).
  • Hold a letter of employment demonstrating current employment in a setting requiring mental health nursing skills.

Letters of employment must be presented on a company letterhead and be signed and dated by a delegated authority. Please ensure the letter contains your full name, position title, duties performed, hours per week and length of service.

Recognition of Prior Learning

You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help reduce the number of units you need to study to finish your course. Contact the university for more information.

Outcomes

Career outcomes

On the completion of this course, you will receive the award of Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing.

Students who complete this course of study will be able to seek employment in the mental health field as a career pathway.

Fees and CSP

Estimated first-year tuition fee in 2026: $4,800 (Commonwealth Supported Place)

Estimated first-year tuition fee in 2026: $18,350 (domestic full-fee paying place)

All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a study load of 48 credit points (normally eight units) per year.

A student’s annual fee may vary in accordance with:

  • The number of units studied per term.
  • The choice of major or specialisation.
  • Choice of units.
  • Credit from previous study or work experience.
  • Eligibility for government-funded loans.

Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.

Commonwealth Supported Places

The Australian Government allocates a certain number of CSPs to the universities each year, which are then distributed to students based on merit.

If you're a Commonwealth Supported Student (CSS), you'll only need to pay a portion of your tuition fees. This is known as the student contribution amount – the balance once the government subsidy is applied. This means your costs are much lower.

Limited CSP spaces are offered to students enrolled in selected postgraduate courses.

Your student contribution amount is:

  • Calculated per unit you're enrolled in.
  • Depending on the study areas they relate to.
  • Reviewed and adjusted each year.

HECS-HELP loans are available to CSP students to pay the student contribution amount.

FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.