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Australian Catholic University (ACU)

  • 12% international / 88% domestic

Master of Mental Health

  • Masters (Coursework)

The Master of Mental Health expands health clinicians' knowledge and skills in mental health practice and leadership through evidence-based knowledge and practice. Students can pursue a project or research stream, with the latter offering a PhD pathway. The course is accredited under the ACMHN National Framework for Postgraduate Mental Health Nursing Education.

Key details

Degree Type
Masters (Coursework)
Duration
1.5 years full-time
Study Mode
Online
Intake Months
Jan, Mar
Domestic Fees
$6,918 per year

About this course

Overview

Expanding on units undertaken in the Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma of Mental Health, the Master of Mental Health aims to expand health clinicians' knowledge and skills in mental health practice and leadership through evidence-based knowledge and practice. Students have the option to pursue a project stream or a research stream within this course. As such, they may complete either a project and two elective subjects, or complete a research dissertation in their final semester. The research stream has a PhD articulation pathway.

Both streams consolidate learning from the Graduate Certificate in Mental Health and Graduate Diploma in Mental Health in research, specialist clinical skills and knowledge as well as clinical leadership.

Commonwealth Supported Places are available for this course. See the Courses costs section below, under Fees.

Professional recognition

This course meets the requirements of a postgraduate qualification for employment beyond entry level in mental health settings.

Accreditation

The Nursing stream of this course is currently accredited under the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN) National Framework for Postgraduate Mental Health Nursing Education.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

To be eligible for admission to the Master of Mental Health course, an applicant must have completed:

  • a bachelor degree in a health discipline; OR
  • the Graduate Diploma in Mental Health or the Graduate Certificate in Mental Health, or equivalent.

An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.

Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2026 Admission.

To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must :

  • have completed a Bachelor degree in a Health Discipline; OR
  • have completed the Graduate Diploma in Mental Health or the Graduate Certificate in Mental Health, or equivalent.

An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.

You will need to meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites for your chosen course.

If you have completed at least two units of AQF-recognised study at bachelor level or above, we'll assign you with a new selection rank that reflects your study level, duration, and grade point average.

If your prior study or relevant work experience has provided you with knowledge, skills or experience aligned with the learning outcomes of units in your new course, you may be eligible to gain credit for study or have your prior learning recognised. This means you may be able to complete your ACU course in a shorter timeframe.

You can use our credit search tool to see what you might be eligible for. For more information about credit and recognition of prior learning at ACU, follow the link below.

Search our credit database

Learn more about recognition of prior learning

Applicants who have completed an ACU Graduate Certificate in Mental Health, can articulate into a Graduate Diploma of Mental Health. Applicants who have completed an ACU Graduate Diploma of Mental Health can articulate into a Master of Mental Health.

There are essential components of a course or unit that demonstrate the capabilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of the course or unit. Learn more about inherent requirements and how they affect you, and explore the requirements for your course.

Study locations

Online

What you will learn

Overview

Expanding on units undertaken in the Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma of Mental Health, the Master of Mental Health aims to expand health clinicians' knowledge and skills in mental health practice and leadership through evidence-based knowledge and practice. Students have the option to pursue a project stream or a research stream within this course. As such, they may complete either a project and two elective subjects, or complete a research dissertation in their final semester. The research stream has a PhD articulation pathway.

Both streams consolidate learning from the Graduate Certificate in Mental Health and Graduate Diploma in Mental Health in research, specialist clinical skills and knowledge as well as clinical leadership.

Career pathways

Graduates will be able to apply their theoretical and practical learning in a range of mental health settings.

Examples of potential employment settings include:
  • public and private health care organisations
  • child and adolescent, adult and older person mental health services
  • acute, community, rehabilitation and long term care focused settings
  • local, state and commonwealth government policy
  • consumer and carer groups
  • mental health based research

Examples of potential employment roles include:
  • clinician
  • case manager/worker
  • team leader
  • service manager
  • triage manager
  • psychiatric consultation and liaison nurse
  • nurse practitioner

Course structure

Course details

To complete the Master of Mental Health, a student must complete 120 credit points (cp).

Commencing ACU Term 1 - Project Stream (Full-time)Year 1ACU Term 1
  • Specified Mental Health UnitsHLSC650Recovery Oriented Mental Health10.0 cp
  • Specified Mental Health UnitsHLSC651Holistic Individual Centred Mental Health Practice10.0 cp
Year 1ACU Term 2
  • Specified Mental Health UnitsHLSC652Health Promotion and Social Inclusion10.0 cp
  • Specified Mental Health UnitsHLSC655Reflective Practice and Clinical Supervision in Mental Health10.0 cp
Year 1ACU Term 3
  • Project Stream UnitsHLSC640Interpreting Health Research10.0 cp
  • Project Stream UnitsPHIL623Healthcare Ethics: Principles in Practice10.0 cp
Year 1ACU Term 4
  • Project Stream UnitsHLSC605Leadership in Health Care10.0 cp
  • Project Stream UnitsHLSC657Cognitive Behaviour Therapy10.0 cp
Year 2ACU Term 1
  • Project Stream UnitsHLSC617Independent Project
  • Elective UnitsElective 10.0 cp
Year 2ACU Term 2
  • Project Stream UnitsHLSC617Independent Project
  • Elective UnitsElective 10.0 cp

All units are delivered in Online Unscheduled mode.

Credit for prior study or work

Applicants who have completed an ACU Graduate Certificate in Mental Health, can articulate into a Graduate Diploma of Mental Health. Applicants who have completed an ACU Graduate Diploma of Mental Health can articulate into a Master of Mental Health.

How to apply

Apply now

Deferment is available for one year. Students must meet employment at the point of commencing studies. Find out more about deferment.

Graduate outcomes

Graduate satisfaction and employment outcomes for Nursing courses at Australian Catholic University (ACU).
62.4%
Overall satisfaction
65.5%
Skill scale
48.3%
Teaching scale
96.8%
Employed full-time
$83.5k
Average salary