Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Sciences - Community Mental Health

This course is directed towards health care professionals working within the mental health and psychiatric disability fields who wish to upgrade and develop their skills and knowledge in contemporary community mental health practice.

Entry requirements

Entry is open to graduates of nursing, social work, psychology, medicine, psychiatry, occupational therapy or other allied health-related disciplines, with relevant experience in a mental health setting, or other setting providing services to people with mental illness.

Those working in case management positions in community mental health settings will find the course particularly relevant. As well, those working in disability support sectors or non clinical mental health settings will find the course most useful.

Applications

Monash University Direct Application Form – graduate/postgraduate courses

Course aims

The student will gain:

• a sound understanding of the principles of assessment, care planning and case management in mental health practice;
• a sound understanding of relevant policy and how it influences mental health practice;
• fresh insights into the experience of living with mental disorder and being a carer for someone with mental health problems;
• theoretical and practical insights into multi-disciplinary teamwork and models of service delivery;
• an understanding of how knowledge is acquired in mental health care and the role of different modes of enquiry in developing our understandings of mental disorders; and
• in-depth knowledge in up to four specialist interest areas in the mental health field.

Course structure

The course is conducted part-time over two years by off-campus learning. In first year, students complete four core units, and in second year they choose four elective units from the list below. See the Postgraduate Handbook for course objectives and unit descriptions.

Core units

• CMH1005 Clinical practice essentials
• CMH1006 The context for mental health practice
• CMH1007 Concepts in mental health illness
• CMH1008 Issues for mental health

Electives

• CMH2001 Mental health of the elderly
• CMH2002 Perspectives in developmental mental health
• CMH2003 Transcultural mental health
• CMH2004 Mental health in rural settings
• CMH2005 Dual disabilities
• CMH2006 Advanced psychological interventions
• CMH2007 Primary mental health practice

Assessment

Assessment will be in the form of written reports or essays.

Fees

The 2009 course fee is $12,210. The cost per unit is $1,526.25, payable at the beginning of the semester in which the unit is being taken. After enrolment an invoice will be mailed to your postal address. Payment is usually expected within two weeks from the time the invoice is issued.

There are no compulsory amenities fees in 2009.

Further information is available on the Fees Website.

Students may be eligible for the Commonwealth Government Fee-Help loan scheme, an interest-free loan facility for Australian residents who are enrolled in fee-paying, postgraduate non-research courses. Fee-Help enables eligible students to obtain a Commonwealth Government loan to pay all or part of their tuition fees.

Students will be sent Fee-Help information with their letter of offer and enrolment details.

Further information is available from the Fee Help Website.

Enquiries

Associate Professor Brendan Murphy
Course Coordinator
Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service
145 Cleeland Street
DANDENONG   Vic   3175
Phone: 9767 5214
Email: gdcmh@med.monash.edu.au

Ms Mel Sonogan
Postgraduate Administrative Officer
Psychological Medicine
Monash University
Monash Medical Centre
246 Clayton Road, Clayton
Victoria 3168

Phone (03) 9594 1478
E-mail melinda.sonogan@med.monash.edu.au