Program Overview

Graduate Diploma of Mental Health

The Graduate Diploma of Mental Health is a completely online course designed for allied health and social care professionals who wish to increase their specialist knowledge and employment outcomes in mental health. This course responds to contemporary mental health research and policy and has been designed with the input of leading clinical and academic mental health professionals.

Overview

Undertaking this course will enhance your clinical capabilities and theoretical knowledge of both current and future mental health practice, for the benefit of mental health consumers, your professional discipline, and yourself. Graduates may be eligible for up to eight units of credit towards the Master of Mental Health or the Master of Mental Health Nursing at Southern Cross University.

Career Outcomes

Graduates who hold registration as a Registered Nurse can use this qualification as part of their application to the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses for credentialed Mental Health Nurse status, the only specialist award for the discipline. The course has received accreditation for the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses. Graduates with a generic undergraduate degree who are interested in pursuing a mental health-based career may also benefit from having this postgraduate mental health qualification, to expand their knowledge and career options.

Requirements

• A Bachelor degree or equivalent in a health, psychology, or social science-related discipline; OR
  • A Bachelor degree or equivalent, with evidence of extensive experience in the mental health field, deemed as equivalent to a cognate degree.
• English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English.
  • The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for entry to this course are as follows:
    • Category: Score
    • Overall: 6.5
    • Listening: minimum 6.0
    • Speaking: minimum 6.0
    • Reading: minimum 6.0
    • Writing: minimum 6.0

Course Structure

To be eligible to receive the Graduate Diploma of Mental Health, students must complete the equivalent of 8 units (96 credit points) comprising all 8 core units.

• Core units:
  • MHNS5001: Contemporary Mental Health
  • MHNS5002: Mental Health Across the Lifespan
  • MHNS6002: Mental Health in Community, Non-Government, and Primary Health Settings
  • MHNS5003: Acute Mental Health
  • MHNS6004: Physical Health Care in Mental Health
  • MHNS5004: Supporting Behaviour Change in Mental Health Contexts
  • PBHL6004: Leading Evidence-based Practice in Health
  • PBHL5006: Building a Professional Portfolio

Fees and Scholarships

• Domestic students: Your course will either be a Commonwealth Supported Place or a full fee-paying place.
  • Commonwealth Supported Places: The Government pays some of your fees, and you pay the rest as the Student Contribution Amount (SCA).
  • Full Fee-Paying Places: You pay the full (unsubsidised) tuition fee for your course.
• International students: The annual course cost in Australian dollars (AUD$) can be found on the International Courses and Fees page or on the web page for your course under fees.
• Scholarships: Available for domestic and international students, ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars each year, for various backgrounds and achievements.

Learning Outcomes and Graduate Attributes

Course Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand, and be able to do on completion of a course. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes (GA).

• GA1: Intellectual rigour
• GA2: Creativity
• GA3: Ethical practice
• GA4: Knowledge of a discipline
• GA5: Lifelong learning
• GA6: Communication and social skills
• GA7: Cultural competence

Why Study Health at Southern Cross University?

• Hands-on learning: Health Clinics on-campus provide safe and supervised environments for practicums.
• 5-star health ratings: Rated 5 stars in nursing and psychology by the Good Universities Guide 2026.
• Global top 800: Rated in the top 800 universities worldwide for Medical and Health by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject (2025).