Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Practice
- Commencing Terms
- Term 1 & 3
- Duration
- 1 year
- Delivery Mode
- Online
- Campus
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Kensington
- Codes
- Program code 7365
- CRICOS code -
-
Commonwealth Supported Places are available for this program2026 Indicative CSP first year fee
- $7,000*
-
2026 Indicative CSP fee to complete degree
- $7,000*
-
2026 Indicative first year full fee
- $20,000*
-
2026 Indicative full fee to complete degree
- $20,000*
Entry Requirements
Fees
Fees
-
Cutting-edge curriculum
-
Community impact
-
Flexible online learning
- Overview
- Entry requirements
- What will I study?
- Future careers
- How to apply
- Fees & Scholarships
Overview
Are you a health professional wanting to deepen your understanding of mental health and improve your practice? The Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Practice at UNSW offers a flexible way to study advanced mental health skills and how mental health services operate in Australia. This program focuses on mental health assessment, treatment, psychological therapies, mental health service provision and managing challenging and difficult situations.
Designed to fit alongside your existing work, this part-time, online program supports career progression, or can provide a strong foundation if you’re thinking about transitioning into a mental health role.
One in five Australians aged 16-85 experience a mental disorder each year (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2025), driving strong demand for health practitioners trained in mental health across sectors (National Mental Health Workforce Strategy, 2022-2032). Mental health often shapes how people experience illness and how they respond to treatment and recovery. As a health professional, upskilling in mental health can help you better support patients across a range of clinical settings.
Led by experienced, expert mental health clinicians and educators from the Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, the program supports thoughtful, ethical, patient-centred practice. You’ll graduate with the confidence to apply what you’ve learned across a range of health roles, contributing to better outcomes for patients and the wider community.
Key features
Flexible learning
The Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Practice is a fully online program, allowing you to study alongside work and other life commitments. The qualification is designed for busy medical practitioners, including nurses, psychologists, social workers and occupational therapists.
Cutting-edge curriculum
Benefit from a comprehensive curriculum that covers the theoretical and practical aspects of mainstream mental health services, including acute inpatient and community mental health assessment and treatment. This program will assist you in meeting the mental health needs of patients across diverse mental health presentations, in both private and public settings.
Academic excellence
The Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Practice is delivered by the Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health within UNSW’s School of Clinical Medicine – one of Australia’s top medical faculties (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2025). The Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health has a distinguished academic history, excelling in both research and education across postgraduate mental health degrees.
Why study at UNSW?
World-renowned research
UNSW Medicine & Health is a leading teaching and research environment. Throughout the Graduate Certificate of Mental Health Practice, you’ll have the opportunity to engage with distinguished researchers and gain insights from collaborations with prestigious institutes like the Black Dog Institute and Neuroscience Research Australia.
Excellent employment outcomes
UNSW is #1 in Australia and #32 globally for employment outcomes (QS World University Rankings, 2026 ). Our graduates earn the highest median salaries among graduates of Go8 universities (QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey, 2024). As a UNSW alumni, you’ll have access to ongoing career support, including workshops, resume assistance and job opportunities.
Global recognition
UNSW is a global top 20 university (QS World University Rankings, 2024–2026), renowned for its academic excellence and commitment to progress for all. Play your part in shaping a better future by joining a university that drives real-world impact and contributes to solving complex challenges on a global stage.
Explore related degrees in forensic mental health
If you’re interested in advancing your expertise in mental health with a focus on the justice system, consider exploring our Graduate Certificate in Forensic Mental Health and Graduate Diploma in Forensic Mental Health. These programs provide specialised knowledge and practical skills for those working at the intersection of mental health and the legal system.
Whether you’re looking to build a foundation or deepen your understanding of forensic mental health, these pathways offer flexible study options and access to leading experts in the field.
Want to see more from UNSW Medicine and Health?
Entry requirements
Entry into this program requires an undergraduate degree in a relevant health discipline (nursing, psychology, social work, medicine, occupational therapy, or other allied health).
English language requirements
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on your educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If you’re completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (e.g. NSW HSC or equivalent), you do not need to provide anything extra to prove your proficiency. Your qualification will be used as evidence of your English proficiency.
If you do need to provide evidence of your English proficiency, this will be indicated in your application. You can prove this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
- English language tests and university English courses
- Prior study in the medium of English
- Other qualifications
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
For more details, visit the English Language Requirements page.
Entry into this program requires an undergraduate degree in a relevant health discipline (nursing, psychology, social work, medicine, occupational therapy, or other allied health).
In exceptional circumstances, applicants with qualifications from non-relevant disciplines and/or extensive relevant professional work experience (e.g., Aboriginal health workers) may be considered.
English language requirements
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on whether you are from an English-speaking background or non-English speaking background. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If English is not your first language, you’ll need to provide proof of your English proficiency before you can be given an offer to study at UNSW. You can do this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
- English language tests and university English courses
- Prior study in the medium of English
- Other qualifications
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
For more details, visit the English Language Requirements page.
Check the specific English language requirements for this program
What will I study?
UNSW is introducing a new academic calendar from 2028.
We are moving to a new flex-semester calendar. What does this mean for your studies?
Program structure
The Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Practice is a one-year, fully online program that provides comprehensive training in the discipline of mental health practice. You’ll evaluate evidence-based practice and its application to patient outcomes, conduct comparisons across a wide range of patient groups and learn how to explain various mental health conditions and treatment modalities.
Full program structure
Students must complete 24 Units of Credit (UOC) of the following mental health courses:
- Mental Health Assessment and Treatment – 6 UOC
- Fundamental Psychological Therapy Skills – 6 UOC
- Philosophies of Mental Health Care, Services and Systems – 6 UOC
- Assessing Risk and Managing Challenging Behaviour – 6 UOC
For more information about the Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Practice and its learning outcomes, visit the Handbook.
Future careers
The Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Practice from UNSW opens doors to a wide range of future career opportunities in mental health. The field requires significant development and expansion, with demand for highly trained health professionals identified as a key priority (National Mental Health Workforce Strategy, 2022-2032).
If you’re continuing with your current health specialisation, you can use this qualification to strengthen your understanding of mental health, better support your patients and advance your career in mental health practice, and this specialist mental health knowledge may support your progression into more senior roles.
The Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Practice also provides a recognised foundation for further study and professional development in the field. It could lead to career opportunities in more specialised areas of clinical practice, such as mental health nursing. It can also open doors in research, education and training, policy and advocacy, consultancy or community engagement.
Potential roles
- Clinical mental health practitioner
- Community mental health worker
- Clinical nurse specialist/consultant
- Health service policy or advocacy advisor
- Mental health clinician (within existing scope of practice)
- Mental health consultant (healthcare or organisational settings)
- Mental health educator or trainer
- Mental health nurse*
- Mental health program coordinator
- Mental health researcher
- Mental health service development officer
- Mental health workplace consultant
*Role titles and scope of practice depend on professional background, registration requirements and further training.
Our academic
"With Australia facing a critical shortage of mental health specialists, our Mental Health Practice Program equips students with practical skills and increased confidence to deliver mental health support within their own professions. This course is long overdue and couldn’t come at a better time."
Katya Numbers
Lecturer
How to apply
Applications must be submitted through our Apply Online portal. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term. Some high-demand programs and Faculties with limited places may have an earlier application deadline or commencement date. Find out more.
Ready to start your application?
For most international students, applications are submitted via our Apply Online service. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term.
Some high-demand programs with limited places, may have an earlier application deadline or may have an earlier commencement date. For details, visit the international admissions information page.
Ready to start your application?
Fees & Scholarships
There are a limited number of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) available for this degree/program. Your eligibility to receive a CSP will be automatically assessed when you apply, please ensure you preference the CSP code in UAC to be considered. Start your postgraduate application today with our guide on how to apply.
Please note that eligibility for Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) is competitive, with places awarded based on academic merit. To find out more about Commonwealth Supported Places visit Postgraduate Commonwealth Support.
Commonwealth Study Assistance such as Austudy, and Youth Allowance is available for some master’s degrees. For the most up-to-date information and list of degrees visit UNSW Current Student Financial Support.
*The indicative Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) fees are an estimate based on the relevant student contribution band/s for a Commonwealth Supported Place undertaking a standard full-time load of 48 units of credit per year (1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load/1 EFTSL). To find out more about Commonwealth Supported Places visit Postgraduate Commonwealth Support.
Indicative fees are a guide only and have been calculated based on the typical enrolment patterns of students undertaking the degree/program. The indicative fee listed here is an estimate for tuition only and excludes non-tuition fees and charges. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year of enrolment, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (48 units of credit (UOC) per year).
You should not rely on indicative fees as fee increases are assessed when required and may exceed the indicative figures listed here. Actual fees are calculated on enrolment. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.
*Fees are subject to annual review by the University and may increase annually, with the new fees effective from the start of each calendar year. The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average and are for tuition only, other fees and charges are not included. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year to enrol, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (8 courses per year).
Indicative fees are a guide for comparison only based on current conditions and available data. You should not rely on indicative fees. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.
Indicative fees to complete the program have been calculated based on a percentage increase for every year of the program. Fee increases are assessed annually and may exceed the indicative figures listed here.
Indicative fees to complete the program include tuition plus an estimate of study-related costs of approximately $1,000 per year. To find out more about other costs, visit UNSW International.
Scholarships
At UNSW, we award over $83 million in scholarships each year. We pride ourselves on rewarding excellence and making university accessible to students from all walks of life. Whether you’re a domestic or international student, our range of scholarships, prizes and awards can support your journey.
Progress starts here – at a world-leading university
Top 20 Worldwide
UNSW is ranked #20 university in the world
QS World University Rankings, 2024–2026
Most Employable Graduates
Winner of the AFR Most Employable University Award seven years in a row
AFR Top100 Future Leaders Awards, 2020–2026
Australia's #1 for Innovation
Highest number of startups and spinouts from university-developed tech
SCOPR report, 2024
Partnering with our clinical colleagues, we developed a comprehensive mental health Program.
