4 Jun 2024
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Master of Mental Health Online in Australia

Support clients with psychological issues in fields such as health services, social work and nursing.

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Overview

A Master of Mental Health delivers advanced training in mental health practice and leadership. Programs are for allied health clinicians and other professionals to specialise in this field.

Students examine evidence-based interventions and theoretical principles. They develop practical skills and specialised knowledge to extend or enhance their healthcare roles. You'll learn to respond to patients experiencing mild, moderate, or severe psychological challenges.

The degree enables health professionals from different backgrounds to specialise in mental wellness practice and leadership. Depending on your background, you may focus on areas such as community health, child psychotherapy, and mental health nursing.

Online Course

SCU Online - Master of Mental Health

The accelerated, 100% online Master of Mental Health from Southern Cross University provides a well-rounded education. You learn to appreciate psychological challenges and are given tools to respond to client needs. Topics include mental well-being at different ages, physical healthcare, supporting behaviour change, and developing psychotherapy skills. SCU Online has a student-first approach and offers this course at an affordable price. Flexible learning allows you to work while studying and you can start the program with a 4-subject graduate certificate course.

Benefits of the Degree

A Masters in Mental Health is especially valuable if you work with clients who have psychological issues and have gaps in your training or level of qualifications.

Earning the degree will improve your professional aptitude and job satisfaction, and open up new career opportunities. A postgraduate qualification is highly advantageous when applying for senior roles, such as leadership and management positions.

The average salaries of mental health professionals usually range from $80k to $100k in Australia. A postgraduate qualification increases your chances of earning towards the higher end of this range or beyond. Online study options are also available, allowing you to study part-time without time off work.

Related: Is a Masters in Mental Health Worth It?

What You'll Study (Course Structure)

What you will study is program-dependent. But expect to cover a lot of ground as you explore psychological and stress issues, clinical assessment and treatment methods, and practice issues such as leadership, ethics and safety.

Masters programs typically consists of 12 subjects. As well as core subjects, some electives may be available.

Example subjects

  • Acute Mental Health
  • Applied Leadership in Clinical Practice
  • Appraising Evidence
  • Contemporary Mental Health
  • Developing Skills in Psychotherapies
  • Healthcare Professional Portfolio A
  • Mental Health Across the Lifespan
  • Physical Healthcare in Mental Health

Related: Mental Health Postgraduate Courses Online

Learning Outcomes

By studying for a master's degree, you learn a professional, evidence-based approach to managing clients. You'll gain insight into common psychological conditions and develop strategies for managing cases and providing treatment.

Here's a small sample of specific learning outcomes.

  • Apply and integrate evidence-based knowledge into clinical practice settings
  • Connect developmental theories to individual well-being and social roles
  • Create strategies to support the psychological wellness of people with eating disorders
  • Design nutrition and exercise based interventions for inclusion in treatment plans
  • Design, in partnership with consumers, helpful interventions to common conditions
  • Draw up a program of mindfulness-based interventions in response to consumer needs
  • Identify and search the most appropriate data sources for clinical evidence
  • Reflect critically on your own professional practice and learning

Related: Mental Health Courses Online in Australia

Career Opportunities

Consultation between professional man and an adolescent or young man

A masters degree can open opportunities for more senior or specialised roles along your current career path, as well as creating new pathways. Graduates are commonly employed by public and private healthcare providers, psychological service providers, government bodies, advocacy groups, and research institutions.

Jobs the degree supports or enables include: Social Worker, Mental Health Worker, Child Protection Officer, Counsellor, Mental Health Clinician, and Case Manager.

Mental wellness is a growing field that is generating strong demand for skilled professionals. Employment of Social and Welfare Professionals is projected to grow by 15% to 219,000 over the 5 years to 2028. The group includes welfare workers, social workers, psychologists, counsellors and ministers of religion.

Entry Requirements

Programs are open to university graduates with a relevant background. At a minimum, you should have a bachelor degree in a health, psychology or social science-related discipline and be proficient in English. Lerna Courses features these programs and their requirements.

Note that some masters are exclusively for clinical professionals already working in the field. For such programs, you may need a university qualification in a health discipline and, as part of your current job, be in regular contact with people who have psychological problems.

Related Courses

You can reduce your educational commitment, cost and risk by studying for a Graduate Certificate in Mental Health. This represents the first four subjects of a mental health masters. Another option is to stop short of a masters and complete a Graduate Diploma in Mental Health. For nurses, you may want to consider the Master of Mental Health Nursing.

The Graduate Certificate in Mental Health is a four-subject course for professionals in fields such as nursing, social work, and occupational therapy. This qualification enhances your ability to support clients with psychological issues.

The course also serves as a pathway to a Master of Mental Health. Graduates can continue studying for a graduate diploma or masters with four subjects already completed.

The Graduate Diploma in Mental Health is a one-year course for health professionals managing clients with psychological issues.

Graduates can qualify for roles such as Clinical Nurse Specialist, Credentialed Mental Health Social Worker, and Mental Health Occupational Therapist. This qualification enhances professional credibility and opens doors to senior positions. It also serves as a pathway to a master's degree, requiring just four additional subjects.

The Master of Mental Health Nursing is for registered nurses. Participants develop specialised skills to support people suffering from mental illness in healthcare settings.

Learning outcomes include understanding psychological issues, evidence-based approaches to treatment, and leadership in clinical practice. Online programs allow for part-time study with a full-time nursing job. Graduates are eligible to become a Credentialed Mental Health Nurse.

† Online courses are available in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Gold Coast, Newcastle. Australia-wide.