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Master of Nursing Mental Health

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Gain the expertise to improve mental health outcomes and influence how care is delivered with the Master of Nursing (Mental Health) from UOW.

Designed for registered nurses, this course deepens your knowledge of contemporary mental health care and builds the leadership skills to put it into practice.

Build your future in mental health nursing

Strengthen your specialist practice

Develop advanced knowledge and skills to support better mental health outcomes.

Learn from experts shaping the profession

Gain insights informed by current clinical practice, research and leadership.

Focused on contemporary mental health priorities

Explore critical issues including suicide prevention, substance use, recovery-oriented practice, lived experience and the mental health needs of an ageing population.

100% online, part-time study

Build your expertise while continuing to work, with a flexible course designed for registered nurses balancing professional and personal commitments.

Develop specialist and leadership capability

Go beyond clinical expertise to build skills in leadership, healthcare systems, service improvement and leading change in mental health care.

Apply your learning to a real-world project

Put your advanced skills into practice through a project addressing a contemporary issue in your workplace or area of practice.

Duration: 3 years part-time
Subjects: 12
Intakes: March & July
Study Mode: 100% online

Key facts

Master of Nursing (Mental Health)

This degree is ideal if you're a Registered Nurse who wants to deepen your mental health expertise while developing the broader capabilities needed to influence practice, improve services, and contribute to better patient outcomes.

Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing

This course is designed for Registered Nurses with an interest in mental health nursing.

Entry requirements

Both courses require a recognised bachelor's degree in nursing, or a qualification to practice as a Registered Nurse or equivalent.

Please check Course °µÍø½ûÇøer for detailed information:

The Master of Nursing (Mental Health) is taught over three years, on a part-time basis.

The Graduate Certificate of Mental Health Nursing is taught over one year, on a part-time basis.

Master of Nursing (Mental Health)

The Master of Nursing (Mental Health) requires the successful completion of 72 credit points. This is made up of eight core subjects, workplace minor project and a choice of two elective subjects.

Core subjects:

  • Digital innovations in health
  • Effective leadership and management in Health
  • Essential skills for health researchers
  • Health, law and ethics
  • Mental health in older people
  • Psychoactive substance and mental health
  • Recovery and the lived experience of mental illness
  • Suicidality

Workplace (12 credit points)

Students choose two electives from below:

  • Climate change vulnerabilities and risk
  • Clinical governance
  • Emotional intelligence for leaders
  • Foundations in medical imaging for healthcare professionals
  • Health care systems
  • Leading change in healthcare
  • Policy and practice in the care of older people
  • Rehabilitation: Concepts and practice
  • Sustainability project

This course is only offered part-time and is offered 100% online.

Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing

The Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing requires the successful completion of 24 credit points. This is made up of three core subjects, and a choice of elective subjects.

Core subjects:

  • Essential skills for health researchers
  • Suicidality
  • Psychoactive substance and mental health

Students choose one elective from below:

  • Emotional intelligence for leaders
  • Health, law and ethics
  • Digital innovations in health

This course is only offered part-time and is offered 100% online.

Session Session Details
2027 Autumn

Commences: 1 March 2027
2027 Spring

Commences: 26 July 2027 

All key dates

UOW Online

UOW integrates online learning into nearly all subjects. However, when your course is offered through UOW Online, 100% of your course will be delivered online, including all tutorials, class discussions and submission of assessments. This delivery mode allows you to study from anywhere in the world with an internet connection. 

Studying online still means you will be able to connect with our passionate lecturers and teachers and network with your classmates.

Lorna Moxham wins NSW Nursing Trailblazers Award

Course Director and mental health nurse, Professor Lorna Moxham awarded for her work co-founding Recovery Camp, a ground breaking trauma-informed person-centred program for people living with mental illness.

Learn more

Belong to one of the best

One of Australia's largest mental health nursing academic teams

UOW's mental health nursing team include award-winning renowned experts, who have all gained a PhD or higher in this field. The teaching focuses on evidence-based practice and reflects developments in mental health service delivery locally, nationally and internationally. 

  • , award-winning mental health nurse, researcher and co-founder of the award-winning .
  • , mental health nurse and co-founder of . 
  • whose research focuses on lived experiences of inpatient mental healthcare and the ethics of mental health treatment.
  • a registered psychiatric nurse who continues clinical practice within NSW Health.
  • , expert mental health care in emergency and acute care settings.

Postgraduate health practitioner

This course addresses the priorities established in the National Mental Health Plan while developing universal skills alongside specialist knowledge including critical analysis, writing and presentation skills – all of which have practical impact on every role in the medical field.

Throughout the graduate certificate, the teaching focuses on evidence-based practice and reflects developments in mental health service delivery locally, nationally and internationally. It combines theoretical aspects of mental health to develop and refine clinical skills and interventions.

UOW maintains strong links with industry bodies, such as the Local Health Districts, Private Health providers and Heath Agencies to ensure programs are relevant to the latest industry developments. 

Our courses are taught by professionals who are world-leading experts and experienced practitioners/clinicians so the skills and knowledge you acquire can be applied to real-world challenges today and in the future. Our professional health degrees are highly respected and valued by industry.

Our multidisciplinary programs are designed to enable you to gain a postgraduate qualification while maintaining a full-time or part-time career and balance family commitments. We provide a dynamic environment for teaching, learning and research and aim to achieve standards of excellence in professional preparation for those wishing to enter the nursing profession and in continuing education or existing clinicians. Close links with service providers ensure programs meet the needs of healthcare providers and the populations they serve.

These courses are fully online, using best practice in technology-enhanced learning meaning you can study from any location at your own pace. Many students maintain full-time or part-time careers in healthcare while undertaking these courses. Students report being part of a collaborative online community that supports their learning journey. 

  1. 36th in the world

    UOW ranked 36th in the world for Nursing.

  2. 2nd in NSW

    UOW postgraduate Nursing received a 5-star rating and is ranked 2nd in NSW for learner engagement and student support.
More awards & rankings

What next?

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Support for postgraduate students

If you have questions about postgraduate study, book a consult with one of our postgraduate course specialists.

Fee support

In 2027, eligible students may have access to Commonwealth supported places in selected disciplines. HELP loans may be available depending on eligibility.

Career support

UOW Careers service can help you gain professional experience, provide advice on finding new opportunities, applying for roles, resume reviews via our online appointment service.

Study support

UOW understands that postgrad students may need study support. UOW offers online study support via our Student Success Specialists and Learning Skills Advisors.

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