The Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Sciences is a 36-unit program, involving coursework. It is offered by the Faculty of Health Sciences.
The program may be completed in one year full-time or not less than two years part-time.
The course articulates with the Graduate Certificate in Health (Mental Health Sciences) and students who hold this award are granted credit for topics already taken.
Applicants must hold an approved undergraduate degree or equivalent qualification in a health-related area, eg nursing, medicine, social work, psychology, occupational therapy, behavioural science or counselling, and have a minimum of two years#39; mental health clinical experience.
The selection process for the Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Sciences includes an interview process that involves techniques aimed at assessing personal characteristics compatible with the learning approaches taken in this program, and considered both essential and desirable for a career as a specialist mental health worker. These include attributes such as the ability to use a problem-based learning approach, collaborative learning, motivation to practise in mental health sciences, communication skills and trainability and flexibility.
All applicants must attach to their application a statement of 300-500 words detailing the reasons for seeking the qualification, the relevant experience they would bring to the clinical modality, and the value of the qualification to their clients and clinical practice and/or organisation.
The course is designed to equip graduates from a variety of health backgrounds with a sound knowledge and understanding of the theory, principles and practice of mental health sciences and co-morbid substance use disorders.
At the completion of the course, students are expected to be able to:
To qualify for the Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Sciences, a student must complete 36 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study below.
36 units comprising:
MHSC8019 Clinical Case Management 1A (4.5 units)
MHSC8020 Theoretical Foundations in Behavioural-Cognitive Psychotherapy 1 (4.5 units)
MHSC8021 Theory and Practice of Behavioural-Cognitive Psychotherapy 1 (4.5 units)
MHSC8022 Clinical Case Management 1B (4.5 units)
MHSC8023 Co-morbid Mental Health Substance Abuse Disorders (4.5 units)
MHSC8024 Theoretical Foundations in Behavioural-Cognitive Psychotherapy 2 (4.5 units)
MHSC8025 Theory and Practice of Behavioural-Cognitive Psychotherapy 2 (4.5 units)
MHSC8026 Research in Psychotherapy (4.5 units)*
*Or one 4.5 unit elective topic may be chose in consultation with the course coordinator.
CRICOS Provider: 00114A | Updated: 19 Jul, 2010