Master of Mental Health Practice

Graduates of the Master of Mental Health Practice will have advanced knowledge in the field of mental health including:

• the history, theoretical constructs and practice implications of a recovery-oriented approach when working with mental health consumers and carers
• evidence related to prevalence, patterns, interactions, risks and outcomes for people experiencing complex mental health and comorbid conditions
• methods relevant to research and evaluation in clinical and community settings and to critique and integrate research findings into practice.

In this degree, focused on a rapidly evolving healthcare area, you will acquire specialised knowledge and understanding of how to work effectively with people with a mental illness, their carers and family members. As well as accessing highly relevant courses based on the latest evidence-based research and collaboration with consumers, carers and mental health professionals, you can choose to undertake a 200 hour placement in a mental health service.

You will need to choose to complete either the:

• Practice stream or
• Dissertation stream

For students who prefer to primarily focus on increasing their mental health skills, the Practice Stream which includes coursework only may be preferred. Students who undertake the dissertation stream will complete a research dissertation on your area of interest in the mental health field. This will provide you with the knowledge and skills for conducting independent research projects, and the research experience necessary for those who wish to pursue a PhD or Masters of Philosophy.

All students will commence in the Practice stream. For students wanting to complete the Dissertation stream, they can transfer to that stream when all eligibility criteria have been successfully met.

Within a flexible online learning environment, you will study with fellow students from different professional backgrounds who bring a range of valued perspectives. Our recovery-based courses are designed for workers in various settings where mental health knowledge is essential. These include nursing, occupational therapy, psychology and social work, in roles as community support workers, peer support workers, consumer and carer consultants, rehabilitation workers, disability workers, housing officers, police liaison officers and people working in other mental health support roles.

It is anticipated that successful graduates of the Master of Mental Health Practice will enhance their opportunities for advancement in the mental health area. For some practitioners this program may also be used towards accreditation as a mental health worker. Please check with your registration body for program eligibility.

Recommended study pattern

This program is offered full-time or part-time in external mode only. There is no requirement for on-campus attendance and access to a reliable computer with Internet access is essential. Students may choose to complete work-integrated learning in 7048HSV Professional Practice (which has on-site requirements), but it is not compulsory.

As a guide, core subjects in this degree can include:

• Consumer, Carer, and Community Engagement in Mental Health
• Contemporary Mental Health Practice
• Foundations of Research Inquiry
• Person-Centred Planning

Plus there’s a selection of electives to choose from. As part of your application, you’ll be guided through how to get the right degree structure in place for you.

Award requirements

To be eligible for the award of Master of Mental Health Practice (MMentHPrac), a student must acquire 120 credit points as prescribed below:

• Practice stream:
  • gain 100 credit points for prescribed core courses
  • gain 20 credit points for listed electives.
• Dissertation stream:
  • gain 70 credit points for prescribed core courses
  • gain 10 credit points for a listed elective (from List A)
  • gain 10 credit points for a listed elective (from List B)
  • gain 30 credit points for the dissertation.

To be eligible for the award of Master of Mental Health Practice (MMentHPrac), a student admitted with 40 credit points of advanced standing must acquire 80 credit points as prescribed below:

• Practice stream:
• gain 60 credit points for prescribed core courses;
• gain 20 credit points for listed electives.
• Dissertation stream:
• gain 30 credit points for prescribed core courses;
• gain 10 credit points for a listed elective (from List A);
• gain 10 credit points for a listed elective (from List B);
• gain 30 credit points for the dissertation.

Note: All students will commence in the Practice stream. For students wanting to complete the Dissertation stream, they can transfer to that stream when all the following eligibility criteria have been successfully met:

• achievement of a Grade of at least 5 in 7001HSV Foundations of Research Inquiry;
• achievement of a GPA of at least 5.5 for all courses in the program (except Dissertation courses);
• the suitability of the proposed dissertation topic;
• the resources available to support the candidature including availability of appropriate supervision.
• This degree may be awarded with Distinction where a student achieves a minimum program GPA of 6.5 with no failed courses. The words 'This award was achieved with Distinction' will be recorded on the testamur.

Exit points

To be eligible to exit the Masters program with the Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Practice award, a student must acquire 80 credit points from courses listed in the program

The Graduate Diploma exit point is not available to students admitted to the Masters program with advanced standing.

Students who exit with the Graduate Diploma will not be eligible for re-admission to complete the Master of Mental Health Practice.

To exit, a student should apply for a program transfer.

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $22,500

The amount shown here is indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.

Fees may vary depending on:

• the subjects you choose
• credit from previous work experience
• your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.

To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.

With a network of campuses spanning three cities in South East Queensland, Griffith University is committed to progressive multidisciplinary teaching and research and a valuable online provider with Open Universities Australia. Already attracting students from over one hundred countries, Griffith's dedication to academic excellence is available across Australia through OUA.

Learn more about Griffith University.

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20

To be eligible for admission to the Master of Mental Health Practice, a student must have completed:

• a Bachelor degree in a health/allied health discipline such as nursing, social work, psychology, occupational therapy, pharmacy, speech pathology, medicine, dentistry, or other human services field with a minimum GPA of 4.0 (using a 7.0 scale);
• OR a Bachelor degree with Honours, Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma qualification in a human services field with a minimum GPA of 4.0 (using a 7.0 scale);
• OR the Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Practice from Griffith University with a minimum GPA of 4.0 (using a 7.0 scale) (successful applicants will be eligible for 40 credit points of advanced standing).

As the number of applicants may exceed the Commonwealth Supported Places available in the program, selection for admission is competitive and will be based upon past academic performance and the relevance of previously completed tertiary studies and work experience. To be eligible for a Commonwealth Supported Place, applicants are required to submit past academic transcripts and a curriculum vitae. You also have the opportunity to provide additional supporting documentation (personal statement of up to 500 words plus supporting evidence) if you consider that your past GPA was adversely impacted by significant circumstances such as poverty, homelessness, mental or physical ill-health, or family violence. If you are not successful in gaining a Commonwealth Supported Place, you may be eligible for a Fee-Paying Postgraduate place.

English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for entry to this program are as follows:

• A minimum overall band score of 6.5 on IELTS (Academic) with no sub-score of less than 6.0
• OR a minimum score of 575 on TOEFL
• OR an internet-based (iBT) TOEFL score of 79 (no sub-score less than 19)
• OR no score less than 3+ in each skill of the ISLPR (conducted by ISLPR Language Services only)
• ORa minimum overall score of 176 (no score less than 169) on C1 Advanced (formerly Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English) or C2 Proficiency (formerly Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English)
• OR an overall score of 58 in the Pearson Test of English (Academic) with no score less than 50.

English test results must be no more than two years old.

Students who complete Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Practice (3232) may be eligible for 40 credit points of advanced standing towards the Master of Mental Health Practice. No further credit will be granted and students must complete the remaining 80 credit points at Griffith University to be eligible for the award of Master of Mental Health Practice.

Reduce the time it takes to finish your degree. You can apply to Griffith to recognise your prior learning, including:

• Formal learning through courses completed at uni and TAFE.
• Informal learning through workplace experience or volunteer training.
• Non-formal learning through social experiences and hobbies.

There are placements associated with this program and before undertaking professional experience placements, all students in this program are required to have completed the following by the end of their first trimester of study:

• Vaccinations and Health Tests
• Licenses and Certificates
• Online Training
• Health Placement Requirements

Work-integrated learning activities (professional placements) integrate theoretical learning with its application in the workplace. The inclusion of work-integrated learning activities in the degree program demonstrates Griffith's commitment to preparing its graduates for success in their working life.

Students may choose to complete work-integrated learning in 7048HSV Professional Practice, but it is not compulsory.