Master of Mental Health Practice

Why study the Master of Mental Health Practice at UNE?

The Master of Mental Health Practice provides advanced professional training in evidence-based mental health assessment and practice. The course is designed to equip graduates from a variety of health backgrounds with an ethically sound, specialised knowledge and understanding of the theory, principles and practice of mental health practice. The Master of Mental Health Practice is underpinned by the bio-psychosocial model of mental health and is designed to produce competent, self-reflexive, multi-disciplinary health and human service professionals to support people experiencing mental health problems and their families, at an expert level. The award prepares students to work in a range of clinical settings. Throughout the course, rural mental health is emphasised while maintaining a focus on urban, multi-cultural and international practices. Students in this course have the opportunity to work independently and collaboratively with peers in a manner that is respectful of professional commitments. The course provides a pathway to the Doctor of Philosophy.

Career Opportunities

Graduates will be able to practice at an advanced level in a range of generalist and specialist mental health settings.

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Degree Snapshot

DURATION

0.5 or 1 or 1.5 Years Full-time
Up to 6 years Part-time

FEES

CSP (quotas apply)
Full Fee
International

2018 STUDY OPTIONS
Armidale

Trimester 1, Online
Trimester 2, Online

Official Abbreviation MMentalHlthPrac
Course Type Postgraduate
Commencing
Location Admission Period Mode of Study
Armidale Trimester 1 Online
Armidale Trimester 2 Online
Course Duration
  • 0.5 or 1 or 1.5 Years Full-time
  • Up to 6 years Part-time
Fees CSP (quotas apply) / Full Fee / International
Total Credit Points 72
Entry Requirements

A candidate shall:

(a) hold an AQF Level 7 Bachelor degree in a health or social care discipline; or

(b) hold an AQF Level 8 Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Practice from UNE; or

(c) hold an AQF Level 8 Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Practice from UNE; or

(d) hold an AQF Level 8 Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma; or

(e) satisfy the School by means of other relevant qualifications and workplace experience [at least equivalent to Admission Rule (a)] of adequate preparation for candidature.

Additional Requirements

Inherent Requirements: Students must meet the Inherent Requirements in order to complete this course.

Advanced Standing

Candidates admitted under Rule (a), (d) and (e) are referred to the University Policy on Advanced Standing.

Candidates admitted under Rule (b) shall be granted 24 credit points of Block Advanced Standing based on their admission to candidature.

Candidates admitted under Rule (c) shall be granted 48 credit points of Block Advanced Standing based on their admission to candidature.

No advanced standing will be granted for HLTH554A.

Academic Colours

Peony Red (BCC 37)

Further Information

You can find instant answers to many of your questions or contact UNE directly via AskUNE

These course rules & plans are ONLY to be used if you commenced, transferred or changed versions in the Master of Mental Health Practice in 2018.

Admission to Candidature

A candidate shall:
(a) hold an AQF Level 7 Bachelor degree in a health or social care discipline; or
(b) hold an AQF Level 8 Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Practice from UNE; or
(c) hold an AQF Level 8 Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Practice from UNE; or
(d) hold an AQF Level 8 Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma, or
(e) satisfy the School by means of other relevant qualifications and workplace experience (at least equivalent to admission rule (a)) of adequate preparation for candidature.

Additional Requirements

Inherent Requirements

Students must meet the Inherent Requirements in order to complete this course.

Advanced Standing

Candidates admitted under Rule (a), (d) and (e) are referred to the University Policy on Advanced Standing.

Candidates admitted under Rule (b) shall be granted 24 credit points of Block Advanced Standing based on their admission to candidature.

Candidates admitted under Rule (c) shall be granted 48 credit points of Block Advanced Standing based on their admission to candidature.

No advanced standing will be granted for HLTH554A.

Period of Candidature

For candidates admitted under Rule (a), (d) and (e), the period of candidature shall be:
(a) one and a half years as a full-time candidate;
(b) up to six years as a part-time candidate.

For candidates admitted under Rule (b), the period of candidature shall be:
(a) one year as a full-time candidate;
(b) up to four years as a part-time candidate.

For candidates admitted under Rule (c), the period of candidature shall be:
(a) 0.5 years as a full-time candidate;
(b) up to two years as a part-time candidate.

Course Requirements

To qualify for the award a candidate admitted under Rule (a), (b), (d) or (e) must pass units to the value of 72 credit points including at least 36 credit points at 500 level.

To qualify for the award a candidate admitted under Rule (c) must pass units to the value of 72 credit points including at least 24 credit points at 500 level.

Program of Study

Candidates shall complete an approved program of study as outlined in the Course Schedule comprising:

For candidates admitted under Rule (a), (d) and (e)
Course Structure Credit Points
Core Units 66 cps
Listed Units 6 cps
Total 72 cps

To view complete Program of Study click here

For candidates admitted under Rule (b)
Course Structure Credit Points
Block Advanced Standing 24 cps
Core Units 42 cps
Listed Units 6 cps
Total 72 cps

To view complete Program of Study click here

For candidates admitted under Rule (c)
Course Structure Credit Points
Block Advanced Standing 48 cps
Core Units 24 cps
Total 72 cps

To view complete Program of Study click here

Award of Degree

Candidates who meet the course requirements shall be awarded the Master of Mental Health Practice.

Exit Pathways

Subject to meeting Advanced Standing rules, candidates admitted to the Master of Mental Health Practice under Rule (a), (d) or (e) and who apply to discontinue their studies in the course may be eligible to exit with the Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Practice upon completion of 24 credit points comprising units HLTH421, HLTH422, HLTH423, HLTH424 or with the Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Practice upon completion of 48 credit points comprising units HLTH421, HLTH422, HLTH423, HSLTH424, HLTH425, HSCS533, HSHM506 and one Listed Unit.

Subject to meeting Advanced Standing rules, candidates admitted to the Master of Mental Health Practice under Rule (b) and who apply to discontinue their studies in the course may be eligible to exit with the Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Practice upon completion of 24 credit points comprising units HLTH425, HSCS533, HSHM506 and one Listed Unit.

Candidates who apply to discontinue their studies must apply for readmission and will be subject to current course requirements of the Master of Mental Health Practice. This may mean that they will not receive full recognition for their previous studies should the course structure have changed in response to University requirements.

Appeals

Candidates are referred to the Academic Assessment Appeals Policy and the Academic Assessment Appeals Procedures.

Course Progression

Candidates are referred to the Course Progression Rule and the Course Progression Procedures.

Improper Conduct

Candidates are referred to the Student Coursework Academic Misconduct Rule and the Student Coursework Academic Misconduct Procedures.

Course Aims

The Master of Mental Health Practice aims to provide students, from a range of health and social care backgrounds, with the opportunity to systematically develop knowledge, skills and attitudes for contemporary mental health practice and meet the 2013 National practice standards for the mental health workforce. Further, it requires students to contribute to the development of knowledge and change in practice through the conduct of a project related to mental health practice.

Learning Outcomes Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
  1. demonstrate advanced specialist theoretical and practical knowledge of mental health practice, including knowledge and the application of evidence-based intervention strategies used to support diverse client groups in a range of settings;
  2. critically analyse and reflect upon the application of mental health theory in practice and the role of ongoing supervision and self-reflection for practice development;
  3. implement an evidence-based research approach to mental health practice that meets the complex needs of mental health consumers, carers, families and communities;
  4. critically analyse, contextualise and demonstrate an applied understanding of legal and regulatory frameworks affecting people experiencing mental health problems, their families and communities;
  5. communicate understanding of, and apply ethical reasoning and decision-making to practice, that demonstrates respect for the differing needs of people from diverse cultural backgrounds across the lifespan; and
  6. report on a mental health research or clinical translation project that contributes to current knowledge of mental health practice.
Graduate Attributes
Knowledge of a Discipline

Graduates have advanced knowledge of their discipline including a global perspective for application and collaborative practice in the field of mental health in a range of practice contexts. Graduates possess the capacity to acquire and apply a wide range of international policy, practices and scholarship in a real-world mental health practice context.

Communication Skills

Graduates have sound oral and written skills and the capacity to communicate ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences, including mental health consumers, their families/significant others and communities.

Problem Solving

Graduates apply logical, critical and creative thinking to solve a range of problems in mental health contexts.

Information Literacy

Graduates possess a range of higher-level information literacy skills such as sourcing, retrieving, referencing and evaluating relevant primary and secondary sources, including the skills to critically appraise different types of evidence for practice and select the most relevant for particular situations.

Ethical Conduct and Social Responsibility

Graduates appreciate the values of social justice and social responsibility and understand how to reason and behave ethically within their discipline, within interprofessional teams and in the broader contexts of mental health practice. They are able to account for and engage with cultural, ethical, economic, legal and social dimensions encountered in practice.

Lifelong Learning

Graduates are prepared for lifelong learning in pursuit of personal and professional development including the need for supervision for mental health practice development.

Independence and Collaboration

Graduates are able to work independently and collaboratively to achieve individual and common goals to improve health and wellbeing for mental health consumers, their families/significant other and communities.

How to Apply

Domestic Students

All domestic students apply through the link below

For more information, click here

International Students

International students apply direct to UNE through UNE International. This course is only available online (distance education).

For more information, click here

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