Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Practice

Graduate Diploma

The Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Practice provides students with an opportunity to develop advanced level knowledge about mental health assessment skills and evidence-based practice.

Key details

Degree Type

Graduate Diploma

Duration

0.5 - 1 years full-time, 4 years part-time

Course Code

GradDipMentalHlthPrac

Study Mode

Online

About this course

The Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Practice provides students with an opportunity to develop advanced level knowledge about mental health assessment skills and evidence-based practice. The course is designed to equip graduates from a variety of 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.

Entry requirements

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, pastoral care.

Study locations

Armidale

Online

What you will learn

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, carers 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;
critically apply advanced knowledge about how to conduct 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 awareness of the need for person-centred, consumer-focused relationship building to evidence based mental health practice in a range of health and social care settings.

Career pathways

Graduates will be able to practice with an advanced level of knowledge in a range of generalist and specialist mental health settings.

Graduate outcomes

Graduate satisfaction and employment outcomes for Health Services & Support courses at University of New England (UNE).

80.8%

Overall satisfaction

76.9%

Skill scale

61.5%

Teaching scale

96.8%

Employed full-time

Data source