Victoria University
2 years, part-time (minimum)
Master of Mental Health Nursing is a specialised 2-year online postgraduate program for registered nurses seeking advanced expertise in mental health care, leadership, and evidence-based interventions. Designed for practising nurses, it combines flexible online learning with clinical practice to prepare graduates for senior mental health nursing roles and multidisciplinary team leadership.
Applicants must hold a completed AQF Level 7 Bachelor of Nursing or equivalent qualification and be registered as a Registered Nurse (Division 1) with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), or be a Registered Midwife with AHPRA or equivalent registration authority. Applicants must provide evidence of current employment in a mental health setting through employment contract, or have completed Victoria University's Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing or Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing. This course is available to Australian citizens and permanent residents only.
The Master of Mental Health Nursing comprises 12 core units covering: Recovery Oriented Mental Health (examining lived experience, consumer rights, and recovery frameworks); Biopsychosocial and Cultural Perspectives in Mental Health (exploring mental illness, comorbidities, and cultural considerations); Effective Trauma-Informed Care (analysing trauma impacts and foundational care principles); Mental Health Nursing (specialised care coordination and therapeutic relationships); Promoting Cultural Competence and Community Health (health promotion and cultural safety); Mental Health in Later Life (supporting older persons with mental illness); Care Coordination in Practice (inter-professional team competencies); Evidence and Research for Practice (research evaluation and critical appraisal); Pharmacology and Therapeutics in Mental Health (psychopharmacological treatments); Assessment in Mental Health (comprehensive mental health assessments); and a Research Project (consolidating evidence-based research capabilities). Elective units include Perspectives on Addictive Behaviours and Health and Wellbeing for the Older Person.
Victoria University's Master of Mental Health Nursing is delivered through the award-winning VU Block Model, which has won consecutive LearnX Live! Awards for Best Online Learning Model. The program combines structured, interactive online learning with personalised 1:1 academic support available seven days a week and in the evenings. VU Online provides dedicated Student Success Advisors for personalised assistance, responsive and accessible academics experienced in online delivery, and a supportive community through virtual seminars and discussion boards. The flexible study structure allows registered nurses to balance professional and personal commitments while gaining specialised mental health expertise.
Graduates of the Master of Mental Health Nursing are well-positioned for advanced practice roles in mental health services. Career opportunities include mental health care coordination roles, leadership positions in mental health nursing teams, senior roles in mental health services, and sessional academic work. The specialised knowledge and skills in evidence-based assessment, intervention approaches, and multidisciplinary team collaboration prepare graduates for higher-level positions with greater responsibility and earning potential. The postgraduate qualification enhances employability across hospitals, community health services, mental health clinics, and specialised mental health organisations.
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