Program Overview

Introduction to the Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health)

The Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health) program is designed to equip graduates with the necessary knowledge, understanding, skills, and attitudes to work competently as mental health workers within their own communities and mainstream mental health services. This specialist program aims to prepare graduates to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients, their families, and communities, as well as other health professionals, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous.

Program Overview

Graduates of the Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health) program will have a sound understanding of primary health care, cultural safety, equity, and socio-cultural aspects of care. The program includes the following awards:

• Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health)
• BHlthSc(MentalHlth)

Course Structure

The course consists of 192 points and includes the following subjects:

• MHP105 Primary Health Care: Mental Health (8cp)
• MHP109 The Body, Illness and Health (8cp)
• MHP111 Clinical 1 (16cp)
• MHP112 History, Social and Emotional Wellbeing (8cp)
• MHP113 Introduction to Pharmacology in Mental Health (8cp)
• MHP114 Human Development Across the Lifespan (8cp)
• MHP115 Introduction to Substance Use: Alcohol and Other Drugs (8cp)
• MHP211 Clinical 2 (16cp)
• MHP212 Healing Our Spirit: Grief, Loss and Yarning (8cp)
• MHP213 Crisis and Assessment Management (16cp)
• MHP214 Primary Health Care: Community Development (8cp)
• MHP209 Mental Health, Law and Ethics (8cp)
• MHP216 Suicide Prevention (8cp)
• MHP301 Research in Mental Health (16cp)
• MHP302 Professional Issues in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health (16cp)
• MHP311 Clinical 3 (16cp)
• MHP312 Sexual Assault, Family Violence and Associated Trauma (8cp)
• MHP313 Working with Families and Diverse Communities (8cp)

Enrolment Pattern

The enrolment pattern for the program is as follows:

Full-time Distance

• Year 1 (Session 1):
  • MHP105 Primary Health Care: Mental Health
  • MHP109 The Body, Illness and Health
  • MHP111 Clinical 1 (commencing)
  • MHP112 History, Social and Emotional Wellbeing
• Year 1 (Session 2):
  • MHP111 Clinical 1 (completing)
  • MHP113 Introduction to Pharmacology in Mental Health
  • MHP114 Human Development Across the Lifespan
  • MHP115 Introduction to Substance Use: Alcohol and Other Drugs
• Year 2 (Session 1):
  • MHP211 Clinical 2 (commencing)
  • MHP212 Healing Our Spirit: Grief, Loss and Yarning
  • MHP213 Crisis and Assessment Management (commencing)
  • MHP214 Primary Health Care: Community Development
• Year 2 (Session 2):
  • MHP209 Mental Health, Law and Ethics
  • MHP211 Clinical 2 (completing)
  • MHP213 Crisis and Assessment Management (completing)
  • MHP216 Suicide Prevention
• Year 3 (Session 1):
  • MHP301 Research in Mental Health (commencing)
  • MHP302 Professional Issues in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health (commencing)
  • MHP311 Clinical 3 (commencing)
  • MHP312 Sexual Assault, Family Violence and Associated Trauma
• Year 3 (Session 2):
  • MHP301 Research in Mental Health (completing)
  • MHP302 Professional Issues for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health (completing)
  • MHP311 Clinical 3 (completing)
  • MHP313 Working with Families and Diverse Communities

Admission Criteria

To be admitted to the Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health) program, applicants must:

• Be of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background
• Demonstrate an aptitude to undertake this course through previous relevant experiences in the field of mental health and Indigenous issues
• If required, have completed a bridging program

Credit

Charles Sturt University credit regulations will apply. Credits will be assessed and given for relevant prior learning in the field of mental health, mental health nursing, Indigenous health, and Indigenous mental health.

Articulation

The Bachelor, Associate Degree [Exit Point Only], and Diploma [Exit Point Only] make up an articulated set of courses, and credit is given in each higher-level course for the subjects completed in the lower.

Graduation Requirements

To graduate, students must satisfactorily complete 192 points.

Workplace Learning

The following subjects may contain a Workplace Learning component:

• MHP111 Clinical 1
• MHP211 Clinical 2
• MHP311 Clinical 3

Residential School

The following subjects may have a residential school component:

• MHP105 Introduction to Primary Health Care: Mental Health
• MHP109 The Body, Illness and Health
• MHP111 Clinical 1
• MHP112 History, Social and Emotional Wellbeing
• MHP113 Introduction to Pharmacology in Mental Health
• MHP114 Human Development Across the Lifespan
• MHP115 Introduction to Substance Use, Alcohol and Other Drugs
• MHP209 Mental Health, Law and Ethics
• MHP211 Clinical 2
• MHP212 Healing Our Spirit: Grief, Loss and Yarning
• MHP213 Crisis and Assessment Management
• MHP214 Primary Health Care: Community Development
• MHP216 Suicide Prevention
• MHP301 Research in Mental Health
• MHP302 Professional Issues in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health
• MHP311 Clinical 3
• MHP312 Sexual Assault, Family Violence and Associated Trauma
• MHP313 Working with Families and Diverse Communities

Exit Points

Students may be awarded:

• A Diploma of Health Science (Mental Health) if they exit the course having successfully completed 64 points
• An Associate Degree in Health Science (Mental Health) if they exit the course having successfully completed 128 points