Victoria University

Master of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Online

  • Delivery: Online
  • Study Level: Postgraduate
  • Duration: 24 months
  • Course Type: Master's

Build specialist expertise to support young people’s mental health. Develop skills in engagement, assessment and evidence-based approaches, connecting research with family-focused and collaborative practice.

Course overview

Help shape better support at a formative stage of life. Victoria University’s online Master of Child and Adolescent Mental Health develops specialist knowledge for professionals working with young people, strengthening your capacity to respond to mental health needs across education, health and community settings.

Explore approaches to engaging and assessing children and adolescents, alongside mental health foundations, recovery-oriented practice and trauma-informed care. Examine how social, family and cultural circumstances influence young people’s experiences and access to appropriate support.

Deepen your understanding of therapeutic approaches and interventions while building your ability to work collaboratively with families, carers, clinicians and other services. A research project develops your capacity to investigate practice challenges and use evidence to inform school-based, family-focused and inter-agency responses.

Complete 12 units online over two years part-time, studying one subject during each seven-week study period through VU’s Block Model. Build on your professional background as you strengthen your contribution to youth mental health and pursue opportunities in wellbeing coordination, service development or specialist advisory work.

Key facts

Delivery
Online
Course Type
Master's
Duration
24 months (Part time)
Price Per Unit
From $2,870
More Information
The price is calculated based on a part-time study load of 12 units.
Intake
11th January, 2027
8th March, 2027
10th May, 2027
5th July, 2027
30th August, 2027
25th October, 2027
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.
12
Fees
More Information
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students.
FEE-HELP

What you will study

To gain the Master of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, students will be required to complete the following 12 core units:

  • Introduction to Child and Adolescent Mental Health
  • Child and Adolescent Engagement and Assessment
  • Effective Trauma-Informed Care
  • Mental Health Foundations
  • Recovery-Oriented Mental Health
  • Biopsychosocial and Cultural Perspectives in Mental Health
  • Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Wellbeing in Schools
  • Evidence and Research for Practice
  • Assessment in Mental Health
  • Psychological Therapies
  • Perspectives on Addictive Behaviours
  • Research Project

Entry requirements

Applicants must have at least one of the following:

  • Completed an AQF Level 7 Bachelor's in cognate disciplines such as health science, social work, psychology, medicine, counselling, criminal justice, youth work and education.
  • Completed an AQF Level 7 Bachelor's in any discipline and at least two years of approved work experience.
  • A Victoria University Graduate Certificate in Mental Health.
  • A Victoria University Graduate Certificate in Child and Adolescent Mental Health.

Outcomes

Career outcomes

With VU Online’s Master of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, you can enhance your skills and transform mental health services. You’ll gain in-demand, specialised skills in evidence-based assessment and intervention approaches in child and adolescent mental health. You can apply your skills in various educational, therapeutic, community and clinical settings.

Fees and FEE-HELP

Cost per unit in 2026: From $2,870 up to $2,950 (domestic full-fee paying place)

Total cost for 12 units in 2026: $34,600 (domestic full-fee paying place)

The total cost of completing your degree at Victoria University (VU) Online depends on the number of units you study and whether you are eligible for advanced standing, which is assessed after you submit your application. 2026 student fees shown are subject to change.

Note that you may be eligible for the Australian Government’s loan scheme, FEE-HELP. The loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying students with the cost of a university program. It can be used for all or part of the tuition.