What will I learn?

The Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Practice provides students with an opportunity to develop advanced level mental health assessment skills and evidence-based practice. The course is designed to equip graduates from a variety of health backgrounds with an ethically sound knowledge and understanding of the theory, principles and practice of mental health practice. The course is underpinned by the bio-psychosocial model of mental health and is designed to prepare competent, self-reflexive, multi-disciplinary health and human service professionals to support people experiencing mental health problems and their families.

Course Aims

The Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Practice aims to provide students, from a range of health and social care backgrounds, with the opportunity to systematically develop knowledge, skills and attitudes for contemporary mental health practice; and meet the 2013 National Practice Standards for the mental health workforce.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

critically analyse the theoretical knowledge of mental health practice (including substance related and behavioural addictions) and apply evidence-based principles to meet the needs of mental health consumers, careers and families, and communities in a range of contexts;
critically apply advanced knowledge of evidence-based focused psychological strategies used for diverse client groups in a range of settings;
critically reflect on the application of mental health theory, team dynamics and effective communication in practice and the role of ongoing supervision and self-reflection for practice development;
conduct ongoing mental health assessment sessions in a competent, adaptable and professional manner in order to best meet the needs of the consumer;
demonstrate application of legal and ethical principles to practice in ways that demonstrate respect for the differing needs of people from diverse cultural backgrounds across the lifespan and communicate reasoning underpinning decision making:, and
demonstrate the application of person-centred, consumer-focused relationship building to evidence based mental health practice in a range of health and social care settings.

Which department am I in?

Faculty of Medicine and Health

Study options

Online/Distance (0.5 years)

Tuition fees

A$29,344.00 (15,81,034) per year

*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please check with institution

Start date

27 February 2023

Entry requirements

For students from United States

To qualify for admission into UNE postgraduate programs you must have completed an educational qualification considered to be at least comparable to an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) bachelor degree. English language requirements: An International English Language Testing System (IELTS) academic overall score of at least 6.0, with no sub-band less than 5.5. A Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of at least 213 in the computer-based test OR at least 79 in the internet-based test. You must receive a rating of no less than 22 in the written component. A Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE) minimum overall score of 57 with no skill less than 50.

For international students

A candidate shall:

(a) hold an AQF Level 7 Bachelor degree; or

(b) hold an AQF Level 8 Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Practice from UNE; or

(c) hold an AQF Level 8 Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma, AQF Level 9 Masters or AQF Level 10 Doctorate degree, or

(d) satisfy UNE by means of other relevant* professional experience by submitting a Statement of Service from your employer/s and a resume outlining a minimum of three years' full-time (or equivalent) relevant* professional experience and training undertaken in the past 10 years.

* Relevant disciplines include, but are not limited to: Counselling, psychology, social work, nursing mental health nursing, community services, children's services, youth work, care for the aged, care for the disabled, residential client care, welfare, mental health support and pastoral care.

An IELTS (Academic) overall score of at least 6.0 with no sub-band less than 5.5; or equivalent TOEFL score of at least 213 in the computer-based test; or at least 79 in the internet-based test with no less than 22 in the written component; or a PTE Academic minimum overall score of 57 with no skill less than 50.

*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.

About University of New England (UNE)