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Graduate Diploma in Mental Health for Teaching Professions
Frequently Asked Questions
Who developed these courses?
The Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma in Mental Health for Teaching Professions were developed by a Child Psychiatrist in consultation with academic staff in the Faculty of Education at Monash University. They are offered through the School of Psychology, Psychiatry, and Psychological Medicine, which is part of the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences. These courses were designed to strengthen the knowledge and skills of classroom teachers with respect to high-prevalence problems in childhood and adolescence (e.g. behaviour disturbances, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, attentional problems).
How long is the course?
The Graduate Certificate is a one year, part-time course. Students complete two units – one per semester. Each unit consists of three modules (see below)
The Graduate Diploma is an additional year and also part-time. Students complete two units – one per semester (see below).
What are the entry requirements?
Entry into the Graduate Certificate requires a three-year (minimum) teaching qualification, or equivalent. Applicants should ideally be currently working as a teacher in a school, so that they can draw on case material and actively participate in discussions. Successful completion of the Graduate Certificate is the entry requirement for the Graduate Diploma.
Do I need to attend on-campus lectures and tutorials?
Graduate Certificate - No, the course is run on-line. This means that at the start of each semester, students are provided with a book of week-by-week readings and self-assessment tasks. Students interact with each other and Monash teaching staff via online Threaded Discussion Groups (TDGs). An on-campus face-to-face welcome and orientation session is provided prior to the commencement of Semester 1. It is recommended that students attend this if they can, however it is not compulsory. The process for taking part in the TDGs is fully explained to students at the orientation session.
Graduate Diploma – there are 2 weekend workshops held during the year one per semester (usually in March/October). Attendance is required as assessment tasks are carried out over the weekend. The remainder of the course in conducted on line.
How much time a week would I need to be able to devote to study?
In general, students need four hours a week to devote to reading and participating in TDGs. Some additional time will be required to complete assessment tasks. The course was specifically designed with the full-time classroom teacher in mind, so time commitments are kept to a minimum.
How will I be assessed?
Graduate Certificate - consists of three modules each (each module lasts for 4 weeks of the semester). There is a separate assessment task for each module. These are generally of about 2000 words in length (e.g. an essay on a mental health disorder of the student’s choosing, outlining possible causal factors). Ten percent of students’ marks in each unit are derived from their level of participation in the TDGs.
Graduate Diploma – one unit per semester and assessment tasks consist of micro and macro assignments, weekly TDG participation, microskills exercises and case presentations at the workshop.
Does the course qualify me for a student welfare role?
Not specifically. The course was designed to meet the needs of the classroom teacher, so it is not intended to be a pathway to student welfare, although some teachers do use it to assist them to apply for more diverse roles.
What is the cost of completing the course?
In 2009, the full-fee cost for the Grad Cert will be $6,105 (i.e. $3,052 per unit). The same fee structure applies to the Grad Dip.
Is there any assistance available with fees?
FEE-HELP is available for postgraduate students.
In addition, teachers who are employed in the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development are eligible to apply for one of a limited number of bursaries that will cover 50% of the full-fees charged by the University when enrolling in the Graduate Diploma (2 years study). If you are interested in finding out about the application process for these bursaries, please contact Ms Mel Sonogan on 9594 1478 or Melinda.Sonogan@med.monash.edu.au
The University also offers Support Bursaries to eligible applicants.
9. What units will I study in the course?
The Graduate Certificate comprises the following two units:
MHT0001 - Understanding Mental Development - Child to Adolescent
This unit provides a significant grounding in theoretical perspectives on child and adolescent development; a knowledge of developmental stages and transitions; an understanding of the impact of development on a child's sense of self, relationship with family and others and with educationalists.
MHT0002 – The Teacher in the Classroom – Practical Considerations
Modules in this unit cover specific psychiatric and psychological syndromes, interventions in the classroom and school, and a case study discussion of classroom difficulties.
The Graduate Diploma comprises a further two units, as follows:
MHT0004 - Organisational and group aspects of the school environment
This unit provides a grounding in observational methods and the role of the participant observer. Students will develop an increased capacity to reflect upon and to manage own roles at school, a capacity to understand and analyse group dynamics in the class-room, the school, and the wider educational system, and knowledge of factors that foster a learning environment at school.
MHT0003 - Counselling techniques for members of the teaching profession
This unit provides students with a knowledge of practical counselling skills and some experience in practising them. Students will also learn about the phases of change which individuals go through in the process of first becoming aware of a problem to its resolution. Since the counselling of students raises questions related to development, students will gain some knowledge of personality development and how different personal styles affect counselling.
Is the course equivalent to 4th year?
The Graduate Diploma is a 4th year equivalent. Students who successfully complete the Graduate Certificate may apply to enrol in the Graduate Diploma the following year (a further one year of study, one unit per semester). If you are interested in pursuing study towards a recognised 4th year, you should check with your relevant state authority about this before you commence. In Victoria, contact the Victorian Institute of Teaching.
Who are the staff who teach on the course?
The Monash staff who teach in the Graduate Certificate are all qualified in different aspects of education, child development, psychology, and psychiatry. The Course Co-ordinator is Dr Pamela Snow, who is both a psychologist and a speech pathologist. She can be contacted via e-mail at Pamela.Snow@med.monash.edu.au or by phone at the Bendigo Regional Clinical School on 03 5440 9006.
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