Graduate Certificate in Perinatal Mental Health

Provide specialised care, supervision and advice to women prenatally, during pregnancy and through postnatal recovery with our Graduate Certificate in Perinatal Mental Health.

Designed to advance your career as a practicing health professional, Registered Nurse or Midwife, you will gain the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to support perinatal women experiencing psychological distress.

You will also develop a deeper understanding of postnatal depression and the impact it has on mothers and their families.

This course is only available to study part-time, over a minimum of one year.

Entry requirements

Applicants are required to:

Hold a minimum of a Bachelor degree from the fields of Nursing, Midwifery, Health, Human Welfare Studies and Services, or Behavioural Science. Or equivalent qualification from a recognised higher education institution; or

This postgraduate qualification will extend your knowledge, skills and attitudes to care and support perinatal women experiencing psychological distress or mental illness.

Upon completion, you will have an advanced understanding of mental health and mental illness in perinatal women, as well as an in-depth knowledge of counselling theory and practice.

For each course you study, you will need to allocate time for learning activities. Depending on your study mode this may include online discussion forums, virtual classroom sessions, lectures, tutorials, workshops and seminars. Plus you will need additional hours to study in your own time to complete assignments, readings and projects. As a general rule most postgraduate study is completed part-time and if you are studying full-time you would need to allocate 12 – 26 hours of study when at university and 14 – 28 hours of independent study per week.

Your studies will incorporate practical, professionally-focused and research-based learning, so assessment types will vary. You can expect them to include:

Learn from award-winning teaching staff, academics and health professionals via our online forums and virtual classrooms, giving you the opportunity to learn from experienced clinicians in the field and build valuable industry networks and relationships.

We also host regular university-wide employee master classes and employment expos, and alumni events in Australia and overseas.

Your career

Researchers, policy makers, service users and health professionals have highlighted the impact of mental health problems during the perinatal period and the need for improved care in this area. The increasing prevalence of postnatal depression in Australia has led to the introduction of universal psychological assessment by midwives.

Specialist training in the area of mental health will therefore further improve employment prospects for graduates in this rewarding field.

Health Professionals specialising in perinatal mental health can work in a wide variety of healthcare settings, such as:

• hospitals or private practice
• women’s health services
• community services
• general practice.

Applying to study with us:

• check you meet the full entry requirements for this program
• go to the top of this page and make note of the SATAC code, then click Apply
• you will be redirected through to the SATAC website to continue your application

Our campuses have fantastic facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, tech zones, and areas that simulate real work environments. You’ll also find student gyms and campus sport activities to keep you active. We also offer flexible study options, with online resources available for accessing lecture recordings, virtual classrooms, library resources and learning support.

Adelaide has a variety of accommodation options to suit different requirements and budgets. Options include dedicated student accommodation or private rentals. See our long-term accommodation pages for plenty of options. If you need somewhere to live, our new student accommodation by urbanest is on Bank Street in Adelaide’s lively cultural precinct, a perfect location for students. It is within easy reach of UniSA’s city and metropolitan campuses, Rundle Mall shopping, the Central Market, Chinatown, and the West End’s vibrant nightlife. It is also across the road from the Adelaide train station, and on bus and tram routes.

Our student support services can make your life at university easier. We provide a full range of support services including academic and personal counselling. You can also access a range of services through our students association, USASA. When you become a UniSA student you can contact Campus Central for help with anything related to your degree. They will help you with your enrolment, ID cards, fees, timetables and any other questions you might have.

We have six campuses in metropolitan and regional areas, each with advanced facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, laboratories, and areas that simulate real work environments.