Are you thinking about studying for an online mental health nursing masters? At SCU, we’re cultivating the leaders of tomorrow, today, right in our very own backyard. We aim to provide an exceptional education experience through our unique learning model and innovative online platform. We’re committed to lifelong learning and providing equal access to education for everyone, regardless of background or location. As one of the top universities in the world at only 25 years young, we’re pioneers in online education and have been doing so since 2015. We’re a rising, dynamic university that is proud to be a game changer and leader in education. That’s the SCU Online difference and why you should study an online masters degree in mental health nursing with us.
Have the flexibility to study around shift work, family commitments and other responsibilities so you can manage your own study progress.
Developed in line with the latest mental health industry standards, set by the ACMHN. You can use your qualification as part of the pathway to becoming a credentialed mental health nurse.
Developed in collaboration with passionate mental health nursing providers with a wealth of clinical experience, preparing you to apply specialist mental health knowledge in practice.
Find the ideal balance between work, life and study through our unique seven-week study units. Apply the knowledge and skills you learn immediately to real-world situations.
At SCU Online, we stand for our community. We’re committed to offering a vibrant teaching, learning, research and cultural environment to help you achieve your career goals.
Receive academic and non-academic support to assist with your study from enrolment through to graduation. Have full access to SCU campuses, including the library and other facilities.
As a registered nurse and a Master of Mental Health Nursing graduate, you’ll be equipped with the skills and knowledge to move into specialised mental health nurse roles across a range of settings. Here’s a quick preview of potential career options and their corresponding salary outcomes:
Mental Health Nurse, typical annual salary: $95,000
Mental Health Support Worker, typical annual salary: $73,000
Nurse Unit Manager, typical annual salary: $128,000
Clinical Nurse, typical annual salary: $105,000
Registered Nurse, typical annual salary: $85,000
Nurse Consultant, typical annual salary: $115,000
*Salary outcomes captured by Seek.com.au, accurate as of September 2023.
This unit will expose you to critical exploration and practical application of the core contexts of mental health within the Australian healthcare system.
This unit emphasises the life stage and bio-psycho-social contexts specifically related to providing effective engagement and interventions with children, adolescents and older persons.
This unit explores the varied roles of a mental health professional in the 21st century.
This unit explores the experiences of people with complex mental health presentations, co-morbidity and risk behaviours.
This unit introduces you to an evidence-based approach to health practice.
Enhance understanding and capability of mental health to ensure patient physical health needs are being addressed within holistic mental health assessment, diagnosis and interventions.
Develop a deeper knowledge of psychological approaches and models of understanding that influence a consumer taking constructive change that supports recovery.
In this unit, you will reflect on your own professional practice and learning, planning strategies to collect, select and reflect on evidence to include in a professional portfolio.
This unit emphasises on leading the translation and application of knowledge to clinical practice settings.
Develop knowledge and capabilities in evidence-based and effective talk-based interventions, through a critical analysis of key therapies from behaviourist theory perspectives.
Broaden and deepen your understanding of literature analysis and research design in relation to an area relevant to professional practice.
Analyse the current state of healthcare, while exploring the private and public sectors as well as their social and economic implications
This unit looks at problem-solving challenges in the private and public sectors, as well as regulated and deregulated systems, comparing Australian review systems against the rest of the world.
This unit will guide you to evaluate and critically reflect on leadership to apply that knowledge to drive change and innovation within health and social care.
Analyse the role of accountability, as well as evaluate the concepts of professional accountability within organisations.
This unit will extend theoretical knowledge, in addition to social and emotional skills to improve communication, teamwork and client safety.
This unit hones your leadership skills in a clinical learning environment.
Explore a diverse range of leadership styles, preparing you for a bright future in leadership or management.
Explore digital marketing tools and techniques to develop well-structured digital marketing plans and undertake a digital marketing campaign.
In this unit, you will research and develop change strategies, and learn how to adapt.
This unit looks at the aims and goals of HR and its role in business.
In this unit, you will study organisations and the individual, interpersonal and group processes and the organisational system.
This unit covers the foundation elements of managing business projects.
This unit covers important accounting principles that make up the core of business management.
Develop effective written and verbal communication skills for business and management.
We know that plans change, which is why we’ve built A flexible completion option into the online Master of Mental Health Nursing. If you need to exit early, you could still receive a Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing or a Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing.
Or continue studying
Or continue studying
Covering a broad spectrum of mental health, gain the skills to create holistic mental health care treatment plans to meet patient needs.
Explore current mental health policy and government legislation within the Australian healthcare system while building on your collaborative recovery and evidence-based mental health practice.
Build the capacity to analyse and critique the latest mental health research, preparing you to apply evidence-based approaches and drive better patient outcomes in clinical settings.
I believe I now have more skills needed in the contemporary health age, for example I have greater critical thinking skills in mental health, and I feel much more confident to work online within the community.
Cassandra Plesman
Master of Mental Health Nursing Student and Registered Nurse
Intakes: Jan, Mar, May, July, Aug, Oct
Duration: 16 months part-time
Intakes: Jan, Mar, May, July, Aug, Oct
Duration: 8 months part-time
To qualify for entry into the Master of Mental Health Nursing, all applicants must:
If you are not a registered nurse, you could be eligible for the Master of Mental Health degree.
No, but students have access to FEE-HELP Government loans. FEE-HELP is the Government loan that eligible full-fee paying postgraduate students can use to defer their payment.
As this course is delivered 100% online, you can be located anywhere and undertake the Master of Mental Health Nursing, provided you meet the entry criteria. Different nursing courses in Melbourne, even throughout Victoria and other Australian states have different study requirements - like on-campus attendance, however with SCU Online, our students don't need to worry about that.
To gain your online Master of Mental Health Nursing degree, you will complete 11 core units and 1 elective unit.
You can choose one from any of our 14 mental health nursing electives.
These include:
Nurses who specialise in mental health can be found at every level of service delivery, from Medicare-subsidised to specialised mental health care settings and support services.
The course is accredited under the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN). You can use your qualification as part of the requirements to become a credentialed mental health nurse.
For more information on the Career Outcomes in Mental Health, visit our blog.
Our Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing is comprised of four units, our Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing is comprised of eight units, and our Master of Mental Health Nursing is comprised of twelves units. The Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing is your first step towards a Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing and a Master of Mental Health Nursing, both of which are accredited under the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN).
Advanced standing focuses primarily on receiving credit from previous academic study, such as an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, while RPL encompasses a wider range of learning experiences as well as professional work experience. Both processes provide the opportunity for you to have your prior learning recognised, thereby reducing the amount of time and effort required to complete the online Master of Mental Health Nursing.
