Graduate Diploma of Forensic Mental Health Nursing

The Graduate Certificate in Forensic Mental Health Nursing (GC-FMHN) and the Graduate Diploma of Forensic Mental Health Nursing form part of the broad suite of courses in forensic psychology and forensic mental health at Swinburne University of Technology.

In particular, the units in the diploma form part of the subjects that lead to the Master of Forensic Behavioural Science (MA-FBS).

Graduates will acquire in-depth knowledge and skills required to work effectively in forensic mental health nursing, including an understanding of legal and correctional systems, advanced instruction in the complex systemic and individual mental health factors that influence offending behaviour, and how to work effectively with challenging patients and behaviours.

This course is offered through the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science at Swinburne, in collaboration with the Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health (Forensicare).

Graduate Certificate in Forensic Mental Health Nursing Master of Forensic Behavioural Science Note: This course is available to local students and off-shore international students who are studying in a country other than Australia; this course is not available to on-shore international students on a student visa.

To qualify for the Graduate Diploma of Forensic Mental Health Nursing, students must complete 100 credit points comprising:

• 6 core units (75 credit points)
• 2 elective units (25 credit points)

Units of study

Complete the following six units (75 credit points):

FBS80001 Core Skills in Forensic Practice FBS80002 Fundamentals of Criminal Law Process FBS80003 Principles of Violence Risk Assessment and Management FBS80008 Forensic Mental Health Nursing FBS80005 Mental Disorder and Offending FBS80016 Forensic Mental Health Nursing Practice

Complete two from the following list (25 credit points):

FBS80004 Advanced Violence Risk Assessment and Management FBS80006 Working with Difficult Personalities in the Forensic Context FBS80007 Substance Misuse and Offending FBS80009 Trauma and Offending FBS80015 Development, Developmental Disability and Offending FBS80011 Problem Behaviours 1 FBS80012 Problem Behaviours 2 FBS80013 Working in Corrections and Youth Justice

* Outcome units - matched exemptions are generally not granted for higher education outcome units.

• Nursing
• Mental health nursing

The university may determine selection criteria and restrictions, in respect of courses, to apply in addition to these entry requirements.

Upon successfully completing the Graduate Diploma of Forensic Mental Health Nursing, students will be able to:

• apply advanced knowledge of a broad range of theories and principles required for nursing practice in forensic mental health contexts
• apply advanced knowledge of the complex systemic and individual mental health factors that influence offending behaviour
• cognitive skills that demonstrate the ability to critically appraise and interpret the range of complex factors that contribute to offending behaviour, both at a general and individual level
• apply technical skills to identify and evaluate evidence that helps inform creative problem solving and decision making in the nursing role
• communicate complex ideas in a coherent and informative manner with clients, carers and other health professionals
• adapt advanced knowledge and skills to the contexts of forensic mental health nursing, such as correctional or mental health settings
• utilise a wide range of knowledge and skills to independently develop, plan and implement responses to challenging issues faced by forensic mental health nurses
• employ advanced knowledge of psychopathology and offending behaviour to develop and deliver more effective treatment to clients in forensic mental health settings.

Swinburne intends that its teaching programs assist all its graduates to be:

• capable in their chosen professional, vocational or study areas
• entrepreneurial in contributing to innovation and development within their business, workplace or community
• effective and ethical in work and community situations
• adaptable and able to manage change
• aware of local and international environments in which they will be contributing (e.g. sociocultural, economic, natural).