Mental health courses

Study mental health to support the one in five Australians who need your help

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Introduction to Mental health

Demand for mental health services is at an all-time high in Australia. The industry is crying out for more specialists who can make a difference—specialists like nurses, counsellors, advocates and policy makers.

With the right mental health qualification, you could answer that call.

Study mental health online through Open Universities Australia, and explore rewarding opportunities in nursing, community care, education or law enforcement.

We’re here to help you compare flexible study options from across the country and enrol with the university of your choice.

Explore mental health courses
Open Universities Australia student, Emma, outdoors.
Emma studied psychology with Swinburne University through Open Universities Australia

Discover mental health courses

Online mental health subjects and short courses

University of Tasmania

UndergraduateTAS-PSY114

Stress, Self-Care and Mindfulness

100% online

No ATAR required. Start with a subject.

Starts 22 Jul 2024

Enrolments open until 18 Jul

University of South Australia

UndergraduateUSA-HLTH1052

Introduction to Mental Health

100% online

No ATAR required. Start with a subject.

Starts 16 Sep 2024

University of Tasmania

100% online

No ATAR required. Start with a subject.

University of South Australia

100% online

No ATAR required. Start with a subject.

View all subjects

Online mental health degrees

University of South Australia

An introduction to psychological science and counselling concepts

100% online

6 months full time or part time equivalent

Edith Cowan University

Explore modern, evidence-based mental health nursing care

100% online

1 year full time or part time equivalent

Australian Catholic University

PostgraduateACU-PSY-GDI

Graduate Diploma in Psychology

Pursue a career in psychology

100% online

Approx. 1 year full time or part time equivalent

Torrens University Australia

UndergraduateTUA-COS-DEG

Bachelor of Community Services

Help people in communities connect and thrive

Online & on-campus

3 years full time or part time equivalent

View all bachelor degrees

Discover 69 ways to study mental health with leading Australian universities.

Explore mental health courses

Need help choosing the right course?

Our student advisors are here to guide you with expert advice on:

  • Enrolling and planning your studies
  • Finding a study option that suits your needs
  • Understanding your funding options

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Mental health study FAQs

Why should I study mental health online?

If you’re here to find a mental health course, odds are you already work in a demanding practical setting. You would love to sharpen your mental health support skills, but you don’t have time to commute to campus or attend lectures in person. 

Enter online study. 

You should consider an online course in mental health through Open Universities Australia if you want to unlock extra flexible study methods with your university. We give you the freedom to control how many subjects you take at once, so that it’s easier to fit study around your job. You can also trial single mental health subjects before committing to a full qualification, which is a fantastic way to make sure you’ve chosen the right study path. 

What’s the difference between mental health and psychology courses?

The mental health courses available here are designed to upskill those who already work in clinical healthcare or community services. The Master of Mental Health Nursing, for example, is only open to registered nurses. You should choose a postgraduate mental health course if you want to learn best practices in mental health support and go after more specialised jobs. 

Psychology courses focus on the science behind thinking, behavior, personality and psychological disorders. You should study an undergraduate or postgraduate psychology course if you want to become a registered psychologist—or if you want to understand how people tick. What you learn about the human mind can be applied to careers in a lot of industries, including social services, human resources, marketing and business.   

What careers opportunities can I explore after studying mental health?

Students typically study this area so they can become mental health specialists or leaders in their field.

The online courses available through Open Universities Australia can help you pursue mental health career opportunities in:

  • Nursing
  • Occupational therapy
  • Community services
  • Correctional health
  • Counselling and psychology
  • Social work
  • Disability support services
  • Youth work
  • Law enforcement
  • Teaching and education

Still considering your options? Here are four areas in mental health where job opportunities are growing fast. 

How do I enrol?

Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.

When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Apply now’ on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We’ll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.

Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.

Please note that enquiries and applications for some courses are handled directly by the university. If this is the case, it will be indicated on the course listing page.  

For more information about enrolment, read our online self-service enrolling instructions. If you get stuck at any time, reach out to us and we’ll talk you through it.

How do I know if I’m eligible to apply for a course?

Before starting an enrolment, it’s important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you’re eligible to apply. If you don’t quite meet the requirements, we may be able to help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study.

Chat with us to find out more.

Why should I study online through Open Universities Australia?

There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.

  • You can enrol without entry requirements 
    We have a unique open-door policy that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don’t meet the entry requirements for a degree, we’ll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there.
  • You have total control over how you study
    Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We’ll introduce you to flexible study options you didn’t even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.
  • You’ll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
    Once you enrol through us, you’ll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you’ll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.
  • We’ll help you navigate the university world
    Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.

What do you learn in a mental health course?

Online mental health courses cover a range of topics, so what you learn will depend on the qualification you choose.

If you’re yet to start your career, then we recommend exploring an undergraduate counselling or psychology course, where you can build your foundational knowledge.

If you already work in your field and you want to become a mental health specialist, you can focus on an area like:

  • Counselling and mental health first aid
  • Mental health nursing
  • Mental health leadership
  • Research and policy
  • Forensic mental health
  • Mental health for educators

Student stories and study advice

From minimum wage to psychologist: Meet single mum Courtney

Courtney is a single mum living in Tasmania. She was earning minimum wage, didn’t finish Year 12, and didn't think she would ever go back to study again–until she spoke to a student advisor at Open Universities Australia.  

How online learning can empower students with school refusal

If school refusal (or ‘school can’t’) is affecting your family, there is hope. Learn more about this growing issue, and how online learning might help.

The power of a workout: Can exercise boost your grades?

If you’re looking for ways to improve your focus, studying longer and harder might not actually be the answer. 

5 inspiring reasons to pursue a community services career

You could support people living with disability, advocate for those suffering a health crisis, or assist those experiencing family violence. Find out why a career in community services can be rewarding and varied. 

We’re here to guide you to the right uni course

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Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation helping every Australian to access thousands of university courses.

Over 518,000 students have enrolled in university through us since 1993.

How we can help you

Studying through Open Universities Australia means we take care of the guesswork and administration of university study, so you can focus on learning.

You don't need a strong academic history to go to uni

We make it possible for everyone to start university through single subjects, regardless of ATAR or study experience. These subjects are covered by government loans, and can be used to upskill or gain entry into a qualification.

You have the flexibility to start at multiple points during the year

We’re not restricted by a traditional academic calendar, so you can enrol when it suits your life. You also have total control over how you study. You can scale up (or down) your study load and even pause your course if you need to.

You can rely on us as an unbiased destination for online tertiary education

As a not for profit, we have your best interests at heart. Our advisors are here 7 days a week to guide and support you. It’s our priority to get you qualified with the university of your choice.

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