Graduate Diploma in Nursing

Overview

• Complete in 2 semesters full-time or 4 semesters part-time.
• Prepare for leadership roles and meet advanced practice competencies.
• Align your study with your career goals by selecting a clinical, research or professional pathway.
• Receive academic credit towards the Master of Nursing program.
• Domestic students can specialise in: acute care nursing; ageing and dementia studies; cancer nursing; emergency nursing; intensive care nursing; paediatric, child and youth health nursing; professional studies; or women's health.
• International students can specialise in: ageing and dementia studies; professional studies; or women's health.

Details

The Graduate Diploma in Nursing allows students to acquire advanced knowledge and skills in nursing practice and prepare for leadership roles in specialist areas of health care. This course meets advanced practice competencies that have been established by key professional nursing organisations and specialty nursing groups. Students can align their study with their career goals by selecting to complete a clinical, research or professional pathway.

Course structure

This course offers a variety of career pathways for nurses working in diverse settings and provides opportunities for in-depth study for advanced competence in selected areas of nursing practice. The course fully articulates into Master of Nursing.

Students in the graduate diploma complete four core units from an area of interest. In addition, students elect to undertake their studies in one of three pathway options—clinical, professional, or research. This allows students to tailor their study program to individual professional development needs.

Study areas

The following study areas are offered to domestic students:

• Acute Care Nursing
• Ageing and Dementia Studies
• Cancer Nursing
• Emergency Nursing
• Intensive Care Nursing
• Paediatric, Child and Youth Health Nursing
• Professional Studies
• Women’s Health.

The following study areas are offered to international students in the Graduate Diploma and Master of Nursing:

• Ageing and Dementia Studies
• Professional Studies
• Women's Health.

Acute Care Nursing

Students complete studies in advanced health assessment and nursing practice, issues and trends in acute care nursing, and critically analyse the advanced concepts that underpin this specialist area. Students will initiate plans of care to address common needs/problems experienced by clients.

Ageing and Dementia Studies

This study area provides opportunities to engage in theoretical and practical knowledge in aged care issues, assessment skills, palliative care and dementia studies. Students examine major issues and trends in health areas affecting older people.

Cancer Nursing

Students develop competency in the practice of cancer nursing, examine major issues and trends in cancer nursing scholarship and practice, plan appropriate strategies/intervention for client care and develop an understanding of research applied to cancer nursing practice.

Emergency Nursing

Students study the key issues and develop skills in patient assessment, planning and implementation of nursing care in the emergency area.

Intensive Care Nursing

Students explore the theoretical, conceptual and practical knowledge required to provide effective nursing care for diverse and complex critically ill patients in the intensive care unit, an increasingly complex technological environment.

Paediatric, Child and Youth Health Nursing

This program is designed for nurses working in acute or community settings to develop competency in the practice of paediatric nursing or child and youth health nursing. Students will examine major issues and trends in nursing scholarship and practice, and develop an understanding of research in this area.

Professional Studies

Students complete a program of study relevant to their professional development needs. The program is designed to extend and enhance nursing knowledge and skills, build confidence and leadership skills, provide a forum for critical examination of contemporary nursing, and foster an understanding of nursing under the broader umbrella of health care.

Women's Health

Students will engage in theoretical and practical knowledge in women’s health issues, sexual and reproductive health, and the screening and early detection of breast, cervical, uterine and ovarian cancers. The program will examine major issues and trends in health areas affecting women including chronic illness and mental health problems.

Units

Course structure

These courses offer a variety of career pathways for nurses working in diverse settings and provide opportunities for in-depth study for advanced competence in selected areas of nursing practice. The three courses fully articulate and applicants may choose to enter at the graduate certificate, graduate diploma or masters level.

The Graduate Certificate allows students to complete four core units from their selected area of nursing practice.

Students in the Graduate Diploma and Masters programs also complete four core units from an area of interest. In addition, students elect to undertake their studies in one of three pathway options: clinical, professional, or research. This allows students to tailor their study program to individual professional development needs.

Entry requirements

Ageing and Dementia Studies, Professional Studies and Women's Health are the only majors available to international studuents.

International applicants must:
• have gained from a recognised institution a qualification equivalent, on the University’s assessment, to that of a registered nurse in Australia
• be registered or authorised to practise in their country of origin or residence
• have gained a degree in nursing (or equivalent) from a recognised institution
• and normally have at least one year of appropriate post-registration clinical experience.

International applicants may also apply for alternative entry, on the basis of relevant experience, at the discretion of the Head of School of Nursing. 

Course fees

Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. All fees are based on current fixed fee prices. We review fees annually.

Scholarships and financial support

You can apply for scholarships to help you with study and living costs.

View all scholarships