phd in mental health nursing australia

Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences

Mental Health PhD Program

A multidisciplinary PhD Program in Mental Health

This Program brings together graduate researchers addressing mental health from diverse disciplinary perspectives - psychiatry, psychology, epidemiology and community mental health, history and philosophy of psychiatry, general practice, paediatrics, psychiatric nursing and social work, among others. Launched in March 2018, the Program is a joint initiative of the University of Melbourne's School of Psychological Sciences, Centre for Mental Health and the Department of Psychiatry. These were joined in 2020 by the Centre for Youth Mental Health and the Florey Institute of Neuroscience & Mental Health.

Our goal is to provide all University of Melbourne PhD students researching mental health with a platform to connect, share and discover new disciplines so that they can become fully-rounded researchers who can approach the field of mental health from a multi-disciplinary perspective.

Host departments

The  Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences is one of the most highly regarded schools of psychology in Australia. The School attracts some of the best students nationally and internationally to its broad range of APAC-accredited undergraduate, graduate, professional and research programs. The School's teaching is underpinned by excellence in research across a range of fields, including cognitive and behavioural neuroscience, quantitative psychology, social psychology, developmental psychology and clinical science.

The  Centre for Mental Health is part of the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health and aims to improve mental health and mitigate the impact of mental illness at a population level. It does this through high-quality, collaborative, interdisciplinary research, academic teaching, professional and community education, and mental health system development. The Centre contributes to evidence-informed mental health policy and practice in Australia and internationally through the work of its three units:

• Global and Cultural Mental Health
• Mental Health Policy and Practice
• Population Mental Health.

The Centre's three units are involved in active and productive collaborations within the University and beyond. These relationships range from not-for-profit agencies like Mind Australia through to international NGOs such as the World Health Organization, and enables the translation of their research into policy and practice.

The   Department of Psychiatry is committed to the prevention of mental illness and improved quality of life for individuals affected by mental illness, both nationally and internationally. The Department has unique strengths around biological and translational psychiatry research which are internationally recognised. Together with clinical collaborations and involvement in mental health policy and practice, this provides a stimulating environment for learning and research training programs. Their research is driven by pure and applied questions that require cross-disciplinary approaches and partnerships with diverse community organisations - especially those effected with mental illness. The research informs our teaching and clinical training and engagement with the wider community.

The Centre for Youth Mental Health brings together the experience and expertise of world leaders in the field of youth mental health and has become an internationally renowned research centre in this field. The Centre focuses on understanding the biological, psychological and social factors that influence onset, remission and relapse of mental illnesses in young people. Its research findings are actively translated into improved policy, practice and training that inform the development of better interventions, treatments and service systems for young people at different stages of mental ill-health. The multidisciplinary nature of its research provides a diverse and stimulating environment for students. The local and international collaborations with other universities and research institutes link it with a broader research community, with unique global perspectives and the opportunity for an exciting exchange of ideas.

The Florey Institute of Neuroscience & Mental Health (The Florey) is the largest brain research group in the southern hemisphere and one of the world’s top brain research centres. It is an independent medical research institute with strong connections to other research groups, globally. Our scientists are found at three research facilities, one on the grounds of the University of Melbourne in Parkville, one in the adjacent Royal Melbourne Hospital and the other at Austin Health in Heidelberg.

Program activities

Mental health is a multidisciplinary, complex and rapidly growing research domain. Your years as a graduate researcher at the University of Melbourne are the perfect time for you to broaden your skill set, build your network and expand your understanding of this dynamic field. At the moment we have over 70 graduate researchers in our community who come from over a dozen different Centres and Schools within the University and we would love for you to join us!

Our online platform

In order for you to get to know others and learn from the MHPP community's wide variety of disciplines and expertise, we have an online platform with different channels offering a host of opportunities:

• PhD Progress and Professional Development Channel: Ask any questions  you might have about all aspects of your PhD, get peer support and develop your research skills by making the most of professional development opportunities such as online workshops and skills training.
• MHPP Events Channel: Find information here about the events organised by the Program , including social get-togethers, webinars and workshops.
• Members and Alumni Channel: Connect with your fellow PhD students across the many different institutes and schools represented in the Program, learn from alumni and build your research network.
• Items of Interest Channel: Be kept up to date about University of Melbourne events related to mental health and get invited to attend colloquium talks  by local and visiting experts across the different academic host units, offering unparalleled access to cutting-edge research in mental health.

And more…

In addition, you can also use the MHPP as a unique opportunity to expand your CV by working on your transferable skills and help run an event or become a Mental Health PhD Program Event Coordinator ( not mandatory ).

Program structure

Mhpp co-directors team.

“This PhD Program provides currently enrolled University of Melbourne PhD students working within the domain of mental health with the opportunity to become accomplished graduate researchers who are not only prepared to engage with their own discipline, but are equipped with the capacity to place their work in a broader multidisciplinary context within mental health.”

Centre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health

“A PhD position is a big commitment and this program creates a platform to support a true cohort experience and provide a network of support, aimed to help PhD candidates working within the mental health domain through their doctorate and beyond.”

Department of Psychiatry, Melbourne Medical School

“Undertaking a PhD can be one of the most rewarding experiences in your life, yet sometimes, as one buries deeper into their topic, there is risk of feeling quite isolated and disconnected. The Mental Health PhD Program provides a wonderful opportunity to share the journey, connect with others with similar interests, and gain exposure to the broader mental health research landscape.”

Centre for Youth Mental Health

“The Mental Health PhD Program is a vibrant community of post-graduate students who share a common passion and interest in creating new knowledge in the field of mental health, but who come at this through different disciplines, lenses and research methodologies. This program provides a wonderful and unique opportunity for exposure to different ways of thinking about similar problems in a supportive, collaborative and engaging way.”

Florey Institute of Neuroscience & Mental Health

“To transform our understandings into mental health and metal ill-health, we really need multifaceted complimentary approaches that span preclinical tools to clinical approaches and services. This PhD Program provides a unique opportunity for students to be exposed to this breadth of multidisciplinary research that is available within Parkville and the University of Melbourne, and to share their PhD journey with a diverse cohort that will get them thinking about all the levels at which we need to tackle research in the mental health field.”

MHPP Operations Manager

The Mental Health PhD Program now has a wonderful Operations Manager: Brendan Pearl (Department of Psychiatry). Brendan is involved in the organisation, coordination and promotion of many of our great events.

MHPP Event Coordinators

The Mental Health PhD Program has a new online platform with a team of Event Coordinators. This is a team of current MHPP PhD students who help organise events and provide a true cohort experience.  The invaluable contributions of these wonderful MHPP members is what makes the Program truly great!

It is also a great way for members to work on their transferable skills, expand their CVs and create a vast multidisciplinary network with the University of Melbourne. If you would like to join the MHPP and are perhaps interested in taking on the role of Event Coordinator for some time during your PhD journey then please visit the application tab here . We would love to hear from you!

Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health

Centre for Mental Health

Department of General Practice

Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry

Department of Psychiatry

Please find below testimonials from some of our current graduate researchers about their experience of the Mental Health PhD Program.

If you are a mental health graduate researcher, this program is a fundamental building block to understanding how dynamic, complex, inspirational, positive and exciting the field of mental health can be.

Tam Dennis - Graduate Researcher at the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences

I am very fortunate to be a part of this amazing community and highly recommend it for any PhD student in the area of mental health!

Kavisha Fernando - Graduate Researcher at the Department of Psychiatry

The Mental Health PhD Program (MHPP) is a wonderful program which promotes learning and professional development during your PhD journey.

Carra Simpson - Graduate Researcher at the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences

What I like about the MHPP is that it provides a platform which is graduate-researcher driven and truly multidisciplinary; it provides opportunities for developing skills which we identify as useful and are above and beyond the scope of our individual departments.

Brendan Pearl - Graduate Researcher at the Department of Psychiatry

I recommend all students with a project related to mental health join the program, get involved and reap the benefits!

Hannah Savage -Graduate Researcher at the Department of Psychiatry

I highly recommend this program to any PhD students in the field of mental health research.

Phoebe Thomson - Graduate Researcher at the Department of Paediatrics

The Mental Health PhD Program creates an inspiring and supportive community of researchers who are united by a common passion for improving mental health and well-being.

Annai Charlton - Graduate Researcher at The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health

The Mental Health PhD Program provides me with lots of different opportunities; networking, career development and the opportunity to ask experts from interdisciplinary fields for advice.

"The MHPP has helped me develop skills that I otherwise wouldn’t have developed, such as being able to communicate about research to people who work in related fields but use very different research techniques (animal work or qualitative research). It’s also a very social program, and I’ve met a lot of other very friendly PhD students. Being an off-campus PhD student, I sometimes felt a bit disconnected from the university, but this program has helped alleviate this feeling. The new online Teams platform is great, I get to check it whenever I want and there are optional events to join. I’ve found lots of them very useful and I ended spending about 1.5 hours a fortnight engaged with the program (5 minutes a day reading updates and chatting to other students and 1 hour attending an event such as an expert discussion, watching an interview or a coffee moment). I’m hoping to meet you soon and feel free to contact me if you have any questions!"

Yara Toenders - Graduate Researcher at the Centre for Youth Mental Health

Being a part of the MHPP community has been one of the best parts of my PhD.

Anna Ross, Graduate Researcher at the Centre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health

How to apply?

The Mental Health PhD Program is offered by the University's School of Psychological Sciences, the Centre for Mental Health, the Department of Psychiatry, the Centre for Youth Mental Health and the Florey Institute of Neuroscience & Mental Health.

Graduate researchers at any stage of their PhD candidature and in any Department, Centre or School at the University of Melbourne are eligible to participate.

The Mental Health PhD Program is intended to be a supplement to the training graduate researchers receive in their home department. Program participants will remain enrolled in their current faculties and departments.

Eligibility

To be eligible, graduate researchers must be currently enrolled in a PhD, have their primary supervisor based at the University of Melbourne and be undertaking doctoral research on a topic related to mental health.

Prospective graduate researchers

If you are not currently enrolled, you will need to apply separately for entry to a PhD in a relevant field. This will generally involve finding an appropriate supervisor in a suitable academic Department, School or Faculty. Once you have commenced your mental health-related PhD course, you can then register to join the Mental Health PhD Program.

Check that you meet the University's eligibility and entry requirements to undertake a PhD, and find instructions on how to apply on MDHS' Graduate Research pages . You can also read more general information about the MDHS PhD course .

Applications

The application procedure is currently closed. Due to unforeseen technical issues, the opening for 2021 applications has unfortunately been delayed until February 8, 2020. Our apologies for any inconvenience.

Applications to join the Program can be submitted throughout the year and graduate researchers can join the Program at any time during their candidature.

If you meet the eligibility criteria and you are interested in meeting your peers from throughout the University of Melbourne and creating a more multidisciplinary understanding of mental health research then please apply below. We look forward to welcoming you to our community!

Apply for the Program

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us .

Frequently Asked Questions

What will i get out of the program.

It has never been more important for PhD students to be strategic about career moves, build broad networks and master the right skills to get into their career of choice. The Mental Health PhD Program offers you a platform to:

• Increase your understanding of the multidisciplinary field of mental health
• Save you time finding support and learning about events and resources at the University of Melbourne
• Engage in professional development opportunities specific to the domain of mental health
• Expand your CV
• Present your work, to practice your conference talks or poster presentations
• Get access to extra professional development opportunities workshops, lectures and events that are organised within the University of Melbourne PhD Program Network and only advertised to PhD students who are enrolled in one of the University of Melbourne PhD Programs
• Socialise, share, reflect and learn with and from your peers.

What will the time investment be?

We understand that as a PhD student you have a busy schedule and often competing demands, so we have created an online platform that you can access when and where you like. As a member of the MHPP, we kindly ask you to meet the following time commitment of around three hours per month:

• A weekly active contribution to the online platform. This can be done by posting a question, sharing a tip with your peers, replying to a question posted by another member, liking a post, etc (5-10 minutes per week).
• Join our bi-weekly online events. We really encourage you to attend these live online events so you can ask any questions or join the discussion and share your expertise. That way we really can learn with and from each other. However, we understand you might not always be able to make it so we record most of our events so you can access them at a later point (one hour fortnightly).
• Read any emails you get from the MHPP carefully and reply promptly when needed.

Do I need formal approval from my supervisor to be part of the Mental Health PhD Program?

As of 2020, the Mental Health PhD Program has a new model and formal proof of approval from your Primary Supervisor is no longer required. However, we strongly encourage you to discuss your enrolment into this specific program, as well as your professional development in general, with your supervisor before signing up.

Does the Mental Health PhD Program offer PhD positions?

This multidisciplinary PhD Program is an academic and professional development initiative for currently-enrolled PhD students who are researching a topic within Mental Health. Therefore, this program does not directly enrol students.

Eligible students will need to apply separately for entry to a PhD in a relevant field. This will typically involve finding an appropriate supervisor in a suitable academic Department, School or Faculty. Once students have commenced their mental health-related PhD course, they can register to join the Mental Health PhD Program, which is intended to be a supplement to the training that students receive in their home department.

How can I unsubscribe?

If you need to terminate your enrolment you can do so by unsubscribing from the Mental Health PhD Program Newsletter.

Where can I go for further information?

Please email Anna Schroeder at [email protected] with any questions or feedback. I’d love to hear from you.

This interdisciplinary PhD Program provides participants with the opportunity to become accomplished graduate researchers who are not only prepared to engage with their own discipline, but are also equipped with the capacity to place their work in a broader multidisciplinary context within mental health, maximising their graduate career outcomes.

If you have any questions about the Program or our events, please contact the Program Coordinator Anna Schroeder at [email protected] .

Program Co-Directors

Professor Nick Haslam Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences

Professor Jane Pirkis Centre for Mental Health

Professor Chris Davey Department of Psychiatry

Associate Professor Kelly Allot Centre for Youth Mental Health

Professor Andrew Lawrence Florey Institute of Neuroscience & Mental Health

Operations Manager

Brendan Pearl Department of Psychiatry

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Mental Health Nursing

The postgraduate mental health nursing program offers registered nurses the opportunity to study and develop skills in the specialist field of mental health nursing within a framework of acute health care.

The courses address care delivery processes, critical reflection on mental health nursing practice and the effects of policy and politics on health care provision and access. This ensures you are prepared for mental health nursing practice and have the ability to research and critique your individual practice, its part in the provision of care and the effect of the healthcare system on practice.

These courses can be taken fully online with placements undertaken in person at a health service near you, or as work integrated learning within your place of work.

Up to 80% off fees due to Government subsidies*. 

*Government subsidies enable Flinders to offer Domestic applicants a reduction of up to 80% off full course fees through Commonwealth Supported Places. Offer subject to change.

Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing

Duration: 1 year

Delivery mode: Online plus placement/intensive

Location: Bedford Park

Availability:   Part-time

Start dates: March

SATAC code: 2GC190 (Commonwealth supported) 2GC690 (Full fee paying)

Indicative fees (2024): $12,500 (Full fee paying)

Further information on fees listed

Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing

Duration:  1 year

Location: Bedford Park 

Availability: Full-time                          Part-time

SATAC code: 2GD132 (Commonwealth supported) 2GD632 (Full fee paying)

Annual indicative fees (2024): $4,440 (Commonwealth supported)

Graduate Diploma in Nursing

Delivery mode: In person Online

Start dates: March July

SATAC code: 2GD133 (Commonwealth supported)                2GD633 (Full fee paying)

Annual indicative fees (2024): $4,440 (Commonwealth supported) $25,000 (Full fee paying)

Master of Nursing  

Duration:  1.5 or 2 years

Delivery mode: In person Online 

SATAC code: 2CM319 (1.5 years) (Commonwealth supported) 2CM619 (1.5 years) (Full fee paying) 2CM318 (2 years) (Commonwealth supported) 2CM618 (2 years) (Full fee paying)

The postgraduate program is not available to international students.

Continue to explore course options at Flinders University or send us an enquiry.

What you will study 

Entry requirements 

How to apply 

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Your career

Graduates of the graduate certificate, diploma and masters are eligible to seek employment in mental health nursing settings.

Potential occupations include

• case coordinator
• clinical nurse specialist
• health promotion nurse
• community health nurse
• mental health nurse
• nurse research assistant
• registered nurse and rehabilitation consultant.

What you will study

The Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing consists of 18 units of topics, including theory-based topics and professional experience placements topics. It is designed to provide you with the opportunity to acquire advanced knowledge and skills in mental health nursing, and to apply these in a range of healthcare environments.

The Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing consists of 36 units, including a 4.5-unit topic that introduces you to research. It is designed to provide you with the opportunity to deepen your clinical and theoretical knowledge base in mental health nursing at a leadership and advanced communication level within your workplace and practice.

This course is designed to provide nurses with the opportunity to develop advanced knowledge and skills in scholarship, evidence-based practice, and leadership. It is suited to nurses with a solid foundation in clinical practice who want to improve healthcare.  This course does not include any placement in a clinical environment. Students who complete the course specialisation will not meet the requirements to qualify for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

Masters of Nursing

The Master of Nursing program is specifically tailored for registered nurses in Australia who aspire to enhance their contribution towards the development of healthcare services and the nursing profession. By undertaking this program, they can gain an in-depth understanding of contemporary healthcare practices and develop the skills necessary to apply this knowledge proficiently in both national and international contexts. 

You will be required to do professional experience placement (PEP) during your program of study. Certain statutory and other requirements must be met before any student is permitted to attend placement. View more details .

You must make a self-declaration as to your fitness to practise and advise of any pre-existing illness or disability that may impair your ability to practise. You will also be required to undergo a police check before your placements.

Students on placement have both an increased risk of most vaccine-preventable diseases as well as the potential to transmit infections to susceptible patients. Students who are required to complete placements as part of their course must therefore be immunised in accordance with the relevant state or territory immunisation standards and any additional private provider requirements as needed.

View study program

Master of Nursing (1.5 years)

Master of Nursing (2 years)

Entry requirements

Graduate certificate and graduate diploma in mental health nursing.

Applicants must normally hold a bachelor degree or equivalent qualification; hold current Registered Nurse registration and have one year (Full-time equivalent) work experience as a Registered Nurse, within the last five years.

Applicants for the graduate diploma must normally hold an approved degree or equivalent qualification, be a registered nurse and have a minimum of one-year (Full-time equivalent) post-registration experience.

Masters of Nursing (2 year)

Applicants for the masters must normally hold an approved degree or equivalent qualification, have a minimum of one-year post-registration experience, and be registered nurses.

Masters of Nursing (1.5 year)

Applicants must normally hold a bachelor degree or equivalent qualification; hold current Registered Nurse registration and have two years (Full-time equivalent) work experience as a Registered Nurse, within the last five years

How to apply

Select your preferred course.

Check entry requirements.

Check individual course entries on SATAC for information on important dates.

Apply online at SATAC .

Flinders students can apply to transfer to this course internally. Visit:  www.flinders.edu.au/internaltransfer for more information.

Course enquiries

For all course enquiries phone or email us or complete the course enquiry form. 

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Study nursing

Specialise or upskill your nursing career.

Expand your knowledge and skills and develop your career in nursing. You can enhance your practice in a broad range of fields including mental health, palliative care, aged care, immunisation and rheumatology.

We also offer leadership-related courses for nurses who want to pursue roles such as nurse educator, nurse unit manager or clinical nurse consultant.

Many of the below courses can be studied 100% online and part-time, so you can study while you work. As part of our work-integrated learning (WIL) model, even with online classes, you will receive guided supervision at your employing hospital. This model is designed to maximise your learning, clinically and theoretically, and enable you to confidently apply your knowledge to practice.

Our courses

Lead health service developments and oversee dynamic changes to nursing practice in a way that creates change at a population level. 2 years full-time / 4 years part-time.

Upon completion of the program, students will be eligible for entry on the Australian Health Practitioner Register as an endorsed Nurse Practitioner. 2 years part-time. On campus (Parkville).

Upon graduating, nurses can assume a major responsibility in developing new professional roles, devising new models of care and overseeing dynamic changes to nursing practice. 1 year full-time / 2 years part-time. On campus (Parkville).

Created in response to the growing need for specialist nurses with excellence in mental health, the course is based on the National Framework for Postgraduate Mental Health Nursing Education developed by the Australian College of Mental Health Nursing. 1 year full-time / 2 years part-time. Online.

This course delivers comprehensive and evidenced-based education in chronic disease management, preventive health, and advanced nursing practice. 1 year part-time.

Develop a sound understanding of the theory and scientific advances that underpin the comprehensive care and management of people affected by cancer. 1 year part-time. Online.

Gain skills and evidence-based knowledge needed to provide specialist care in a high-pressure, constantly changing emergency department environment. 1 year part-time.

Enhance your knowledge of epidemiology, health issues related to incontinence, and the anatomy, applied anatomy, physiology and pathology relevant for the assessment and treatment of incontinence. 1 year part-time. On campus (Parkville).

Ideal for professionals entering the neonatal workforce as well as experienced SCN staff who require updating of knowledge and skills to confidently and competently care for increasingly complex neonate.

Gain the clinical competence to practise paediatric intensive care nursing as benchmarked against Australian Practice Standards for Specialist Critical Care Nurses. 1 year part-time.

Learn from the latest evidence and best practice guidelines to provide high quality care for sick paediatric patients and their families.

Why study nursing?

• #3 University in Australia for Nursing and #17 in the world ( QS World University Rankings (by subject) 2023 )
• Benefit from industry links and research networks, including The Royal Melbourne, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Austin Health, Western Health, Northern Health and more.
• Study nursing courses endorsed by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) and informed by the Australian National Professional Development Framework for Cancer Nursing.

Looking for personalised advice?

Find out more about our graduate degrees and get support with your application. Speak to our expert staff online, via phone or at an upcoming event. You can also register to learn more about your course options and opportunities via email.

I had been working in advanced clinical nursing roles for a few years, and wanted to build upon my practical experience and take the step towards becoming a nurse practitioner. I work with other nurses who studied at Melbourne University and had a good experience, so I decided to study here. It can be challenging to balance full-time work with part-time study, but flexible learning arrangements with the blend of online and face to face learning have helped me to achieve some balance. The course helped me to plan and implement some clinical practice changes that I believe will greatly improve care for vulnerable patients and has also allowed me to develop essential leadership skills needed to lead change. Thomas Jones Master of Advanced Nursing Practice (Nurse Practitioner) 

Postgraduate Mental Health and Neuroscience | UniSC | University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

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Postgraduate Mental Health and Neuroscience

Mental health and neuroscience  request info, mental health and neuroscience, combine the study of mental health with neuroscience, through a unique, 100% self-paced and online program created and taught by clinical and research experts with hands-on experience from unisc's thompson institute..

*All eligible, domestic applicants will receive a guaranteed Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP). Reducing course fees by more than 60%.

Fees are indicative for 2024 and subject to yearly government adjustments.

Only program of its kind to be offered 100% online. Study at your own pace with support from experts at the Thompson Institute.

Graduate Certificate in Mental Health and Neuroscience

One year part-time (4 courses)

• Gain knowledge of cutting-edge applied neuroscience that has the power to transform mental health practice across a wide range of disciplines
• Study other important areas of focus in the program, including youth mental health, advanced neuroimaging, and suicide prevention

More about the Grad Cert

Graduate Diploma in Mental Health and Neuroscience

One year full-time (8 courses)

• Gain knowledge in youth mental health, advanced neuroimaging, suicide prevention, brain ageing, neurocognition, lifestyle factors, and stress-related disorders, including PTSD
• Study cutting-edge applied neuroscience, with the power to transform clinical practice across mental health disciplines

More about the Grad Dip

Eligibility

• If you have completed a bachelor degree in a health-related field such as medical science, nursing, medicine, psychology, health science or pharmacy (or similar), you are eligible for this program.
• Or, if you have completed an undergraduate degree in any other field (such as business, education, social work, etc), and have evidence of relevant employment experience linked to mental health work, you may be eligible.

Questions about your eligibility? Please get in touch to find out more.

Enhance your career opportunities

The topic of mental health is becoming increasingly relevant, no matter what field you’re in. So whether you want to expand your career horizons or apply mental health support to your current career, this program is applicable to a wide range of multidisciplinary fields, including:

• Mental health
• Policy and government
• Not for profit
• Public health
• Working with vulnerable people
• Supporting young people
• Emerging research fields
• Higher degree research

Learn from a multi-disciplinary team at Thompson Institute

Pathway to further postgraduate study

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Master of Mental Health Nursing

This degree is part of the programs offering government subsidised places

Study Mental Health Nursing

One in two Australians will experience mental illness at some point in their life. The need for mental health nurses across all cultures and economies is escalating, and new models of care are being established to meet the specific needs of these people. The Master of Mental Health Nursing will help you develop the specialised skills and knowledge to advance your career in this challenging and rewarding area of healthcare.

Why study with us?

• Join the largest cohort of mental health nursing students in Australia at the University of Newcastle.
• You will receive support during your studies from experts such as Professor Rhonda Wilson and Conjoint Professor Michael Hazleton who are experienced mental health nurses – you will undertake learning and assessment that will prepare you to meet the needs of consumers and their communities as well as employers.
• Study online at your own pace – the University of Newcastle’s advanced online learning system will allow you to achieve your Master of Mental Health Nursing at a time that suits you.
• High demand for nurses – projected shortage of nurses makes qualified mental health nurses highly sought after.
• Graduates of the Master of Mental Health Nursing are eligible to apply for credentialling with the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses .
• Save up to 70% with a commonwealth-supported place.
• $1937 median weekly income - for Registered Nurses before tax (Labourmarketinsights.gov.au).
• Be in demand - 40,400 new Registered Nurses needed with 13.9% projected employment growth by 2026 (Labourmarketinsights.gov.au).

Study a Master of Mental Health Nursing

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What you will study

The Master of Mental Health Nursing is intended for Registered Nurses wishing to undertake a specialist qualification in Mental Health Nursing. The main focus is on clinical practice in the area of mental health service provision.

In addition to providing foundational studies in mental health, the program also provides opportunities to study topics of particular interest such as:

• Talking therapies
• The delivery of psycho-social and psycho-educational interventions
• Mental health care for older people
• Illness management and recovery
• Mental health in primary care
• Forensic mental health
• Youth and young adult mental health

View the full course list

2024 Program Handbook

Refer to the program handbook for details of the complete program structure, course requirements and availability.

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My Degree Planner

Use our degree planner to see what your study journey through the Master of Mental Health Nursing might look like.

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Application info, career opportunities.

Mental health nursing is as rewarding as it is challenging; your work as a mental health nurse will play a significant role in supporting and treating people who need individualised, person-centred recovery care to achieve sustainable wellness. With the Master of Mental Health Nursing, you can achieve clinical excellence and help people on their path to recovery.

Prospective career paths may include:

• Clinical Mental Health Nurse
• Clinical Nurse Consultant
• Mental Health Nurse Researcher
• Nurse Practitioner
• Credentialed Mental Health Nurse
• Health Services Manager
• Mental Health Services Manager

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The University of Newcastle is a multi-campus institution offering programs in a number of locations.

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Applying for Master of Mental Health Nursing

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Applications to study are now open. Submit your application now.

Important: If you have a completed Bachelor of Nursing, and are yet to complete postgraduate study, please ensure that certified copies of undergraduate academic transcripts are included with your application. You must also provide details of a minimum of one year's experience, documented in a professional curriculum vitae (CV).

If you are a hospital trained nurse, please provide details of a minimum of eight year's experience, documented in a professional CV.

Download an example CV (PDF, 396KB)

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Important: If you have a completed Bachelor of Nursing, and are yet to complete postgraduate study, please ensure that certified copies of undergraduate academic transcripts are included with your application. You must also provide details of a minimum of one year's experience (documented in a professional curriculum vitae )

If you are a hospital trained nurse, please provide details of a minimum of eight year's experience (documented in a professional curriculum vitae ).

• What you will need

Apply to study online

This program is open to online international students. Applications to study online are now open.

Before you get started

To ensure that the process goes smoothly for you, you should complete the following steps before applying:

• Review the program that you wish to apply for. Note the admission criteria, admission instructions, requirements & structure and any additional information listed.
• Review the program fees and costs .
• Check whether your postgraduate program has a Semester or a Trimester closing date. Please view the application closing date.
• If you are from a non-English-speaking background, you need to satisfy the University's English language requirements and ensure that you can provide evidence of your English proficiency if required.

You will be considered for entry based on criteria such as your undergraduate studies and/or equivalent prior learning and/or relevant work experience.

Postgraduate application process

Clinical supervision

Throughout the Master of Mental Health Nursing Program, you will be required to reflect on your experience. The use of a clinical supervisor may be helpful in this.

Other things to consider

Make sure you double check the special entry requirements, assumed knowledge or recommended studies for the degree:

Applicants must be a Registered Nurse with:

• Honours; or
• A postgraduate qualification; or
• A minimum of one year's practice in nursing; or
• A minimum of one year's practice in another health profession.

Applicants must be a Registered Nurse in their own country, with

• A postgraduate qualification (equivalent to AQF level 8 or higher); or

Accepted work experience may include pre-registration experience and is not required to be undertaken full time and can be undertaken as an Enrolled Nurse, or Registered Nurse or any health profession.

Work experience can be identified through: a detailed Curriculum Vitae, and a statement of service or signed letters from employers confirming role, duties and period of employment.

You can look at Uni prep for options to brush up on knowledge before you start.

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Disclaimer Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this website. However, changes to courses and programs may occur. The University accepts no responsibility for any information supplied on this web site or any actions taken on the basis of the information. Users are advised to seek confirmation of the information from the relevant area of the University.

The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.

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Victorian Postgraduate Mental Health Nurse Scholarships

• Scholarships
• Victorian Postgraduate Mental Health Nurse…

The Victorian Department of Health (the department) is offering scholarships of up to $3,000 to registered nurses working in Victorian public mental health and wellbeing services to support postgraduate study in mental health nursing. The scholarships are administered by the Australian College of Nursing on behalf of the department.

These scholarships are available to mental health nurses working in Victoria who are enrolled or intending to enrol in an eligible postgraduate course in semester one 2024.

Applications

Applications are now closed, please sign up to our expression of interest list to receive updates on future application rounds.

• Applications open Friday 15 September 2023
• Applications close End January 2024
• Scholarship recipients advised of outcome From early December 2023 to late February 2024

Information sessions Please refer to the application guide for more information related to accessing information sessions for this scholarship application.

Eligibility

Applications will be considered from those who are currently enrolled (or intending to enrol) in postgraduate studies relating to their work in mental health for semester one, 2024. All courses must be undertaken with an accredited Australian tertiary institution.

Applicant eligibility

Applicants must:

• be a registered nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia
• be an Australian citizen, or permanent resident or New Zealand citizen
• be employed (or commencing employment) in a Victorian public mental health and wellbeing service at 0.5 FTE or more for the duration of their studies and at least one year following completion
• be enrolled (or intending to enrol) in an eligible postgraduate course for semester one, 2024
• have the endorsement of their Director of Mental Health Nursing or manager in their application.

Course eligibility

Eligible courses are those that:

• classify as level 8 or higher under the Australian Qualifications Framework
• are delivered by a university or accredited higher education provider
• lead to a tertiary qualification in mental health nursing that advances the applicant’s knowledge, skills and capacity to provide effective mental health care
• build the capabilities required to deliver high quality, evidence-based consumer-centred care in the public mental health and wellbeing sector and/or
• build the capacity of the Victorian mental health and wellbeing sector by improving the skills and knowledge of other mental health nurses within the sector.

Please note, individuals undertaking studies to become a nurse practitioner are ineligible for this scholarship program. The department recommends that you speak to the relevant person at your organisation (usually the Head of Nursing Midwifery Education) on how to apply for the Postgraduate Nursing and Midwifery Scholarship Program.

For information about other postgraduate nurse scholarships in a range of practice areas (including Nurse Practitioner Scholarships), please refer to the Postgraduate nursing and midwifery scholarships page .

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15 Universities in Australia offering Mental Health Nursing (General) degrees and courses

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Are you looking for Mental Health Nursing (General) courses? Here you can find course providers offering full-time, part-time, online or distance learning options.

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Edith Cowan University (ECU)

THE World Ranking: 351

Victoria University

THE World Ranking: 401

La Trobe University

THE World Ranking: 251

University of Newcastle

THE World Ranking: 201

The University of Melbourne

THE World Ranking: 37

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Swinburne University of Technology

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Monash University

THE World Ranking: 54

CQUniversity Australia

THE World Ranking: 501

Institute of Health and Management

RMIT University (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University)

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Analysis We looked at more than 166,000 psychiatric records. Over half showed people were admitted against their will

Picture two people, both suffering from a serious mental illness requiring hospital admission. One was born in Australia, the other in Asia.

Hopefully, both could be treated on a voluntary basis, taking into account their individual needs, preferences and capacity to consent. If not, you might imagine they should be equally likely to receive treatment against their will (known colloquially as being "sectioned" or "scheduled").

However, our research published in  British Journal of Psychiatry Open  suggests this is not the case.

In the largest study globally of its kind, we found Australians are more likely to be treated in hospital for their acute mental illness against their will if they are born overseas, speak a language other than English, or are unemployed.

What we did and what we found

We examined more than 166,000 episodes of voluntary and involuntary psychiatric care in New South Wales public hospitals between 2016 and 2021.

Most admissions (54 per cent) included at least one day of involuntary care.

Being brought to hospital via legal means, such as by police or via a court order, was strongly linked to involuntary treatment.

While our study does not show why this is the case, it may be due to mental health laws.

In NSW,  which has similar laws  to most jurisdictions in Australia, doctors may treat a person on an involuntary basis if they present with certain symptoms indicating serious mental illness (such as hallucinations and delusions) which cause them to require protection from serious harm, and there is no other less-restrictive care available.

Someone who has been brought to hospital by police or the courts may be more likely to meet the legal requirement of requiring protection from serious harm.

The likelihood of involuntary care was also linked to someone's diagnosis. A person with psychosis or organic brain diseases, such as dementia and delirium, were about four times as likely to be admitted involuntarily compared to someone with anxiety or adjustment disorders (conditions involving a severe reaction to stressors).

However, our data suggest non-clinical factors contribute to the decision to impose involuntary care.

Compared with people born in Australia, we found people born in Asia were 42 per cent more likely to be treated involuntarily.

People born in Africa or the Middle East were 32 per cent more likely to be treated this way.

Overall, people who spoke a language other than English were 11 per cent more likely to receive involuntary treatment compared to those who spoke English as their first language.

Some international researchers  have suggested  higher rates of involuntary treatment seen in people born overseas might be due to higher rates of psychotic illness. But our research found a link between higher rates of involuntary care in people born overseas or who don't speak English regardless of their diagnosis.

We don't know why this is happening. It is likely to reflect a complex interplay of factors about both the people receiving treatment and the way services are provided to them.

People less likely to be treated involuntarily included those who hold private health insurance, and those referred through a community health centre or outpatients unit.

Our findings are in line with international studies. These show higher rates of involuntary treatment among people from b lack and ethnic minority groups , and people living in areas of  higher socioeconomic disadvantage .

A last resort? Or should we ban it?

Both the  NSW  and  Australian  mental health commissions have called involuntary psychiatric care an avoidable harm that should only be used as a last resort.

Despite this,  one study found  Australia's rate of involuntary admissions has increased by 3.4 per cent per year and it has one of the highest rates of involuntary admissions in the world.

Involuntary psychiatric treatment is also under increasing scrutiny globally.

When Australia signed up to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, it  added a declaration  noting it would allow for involuntary treatment of people with mental illness where such treatments are "necessary, as a last resort and subject to safeguards".

However, the UN has rejected this,  saying  it is a fundamental human right "to be free from involuntary detention in a mental health facility and not to be forced to undergo mental health treatment".

Others question if involuntary treatment could ever be  removed entirely .

Where to from here?

Our research not only highlights concerns regarding how involuntary psychiatric treatment is implemented, it's a first step towards  decreasing  its use. Without understanding how and when it is used it will be difficult to create effective interventions to reduce it.

But Australia is still a long way from significantly reducing involuntary treatment.

We need to provide more care options outside hospital, ones accessible to all Australians, including those born overseas, who don't speak English, or who come from disadvantaged communities.

This includes intervening early enough that people are supported to not become so unwell they end up being referred for treatment via police or the criminal justice system.

More broadly, we need to do more to reduce stigma surrounding mental illness and to ensure poverty and discrimination are tackled to help prevent more people becoming unwell in the first place.

Our study also shows we need to do more to respect the autonomy of someone with serious mental illness to choose if they are treated. That's whether they are in NSW or  other jurisdictions .

And legal reform is required to ensure more states and territories more fully reflect  the principal  that people who have the capacity to make such decisions should have the right to decline mental health treatment in the same way they would any other health care.

Amy Corderoy is a medical doctor and PhD candidate at the School of Psychiatry, University of NSW Sydney. This article originally appeared on The Conversation.

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