INTRODUCTION

The Graduate Certificate in Forensic Mental Health Nursing course will expand the mental health nurse’s knowledge base and enable informed and competent practice in settings that have mentally disordered offenders. The course equips students with the necessary assessment, planning, intervention and evaluation skills required for nursing mentally disordered offenders in the forensic and community setting.  The course also enables students to explore their attitudes to mentally disordered offenders to encourage a positive approach to this group of clients.

Students require a current registration as a nurse. Students are expected to have current employment in a forensic mental health or custodial setting that meets the approval of the course coordinator and provide evidence of such employment as a part of the application process.

This course consists of 60 credit points (three units) and has a clinical practice component.