Graduate Diploma in Mental Health

The Graduate Diploma in Mental Health offers the opportunity for health professionals from a range of health-related backgrounds to develop the knowledge and practical skills needed to assess and deliver care to people experiencing mental health problems and mental illness.

You will explore the psychosocial and behavioural sciences, as well as the legal and ethical aspects of practice, preparing you to provide mental health care in a variety of health care settings.

This qualification is offered online, with attendance required at some on-campus workshops.

Entry requirements

Applicants are required to hold a recognised, relevant Bachelor degree or equivalent from a recognised higher education institution.

Note: This program does not include clinical placements. Registered Nurses wishing to seek employment in the area of Mental Health Nursing should apply for entry into the Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing.

This unique qualification will give you an in-depth understanding of mental health issues and conditions and develop your ability to care for people experiencing mental illness, and design intervention and evaluation strategies.

You will explore the bio-psychosocial and behavioural sciences, co-morbidity, pharmacology and the provision of family support within mental health. Emphasis is placed on the practice of mental health care for a culturally diverse society in metropolitan, rural and remote clinical settings.

You will also develop advanced interviewing and assessment skills as well as knowledge of support services.

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:

You will be taught by experienced mental health professionals, which not only gives you the opportunity to learn from some of the best, but also offers you the opportunity to build important industry connections.

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

This qualification is offered online. With interactive online course materials and a 24/7 learning environment you can organise your study to suit your lifestyle. You can:

Your career

Mental health professionals aim to facilitate an improved quality of life for people with mental health problems and mental illness. They actively participate in the recognition, assessment and treatment of people with mental health and co-morbid related conditions and provide support and assistance to families and friends.

There is an increasing prevalence of mental illness in Australia - in 2017-18, more than 20 per cent of Australians (4.8 million people) had a mental or behavioural condition.1 Specialist training in the area of mental health will therefore further improve employment prospects for graduates, and offer career diversity.

Mental health professionals can gain employment in a variety of mental health care settings, such as:

• public and private mental health services
• rehabilitation services
• aged care
• child and adolescent services
• community health services.

1Australian Bureau of Statistics, National Health Survey: First results 2017-18.

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.