Graduate Certificate in Youth Mental Health

This course serves as an introduction to the field of youth mental health, resulting in a graduate certificate at the end of one-year of part-time study. The course articulates to the Graduate Diploma of Youth Mental Health.

By the conclusion of the Graduate Certificate of Youth Mental Health of Youth Mental Health students will

have developed the following areas of knowledge:

• The major theories of development spanning the transition from adolescence to adulthood.
• The range of mental health problems that emerge during the transition from adolescence to adulthood.

In addition, students will be able to apply the following skills in their work:

• Assess the early signs of a range of serious mental illnesses in young people.
• Design comprehensive treatment plans that are applicable to the early stages of serious mental illness and sensitive to the developmental tasks facing young clients of mental health services.
• Design community awareness interventions focusing upon early detection and referral of young people to mental health services.

Students must complete all four core subjects.

Core subjects:

1. The Selection Committee will evaluate the applicant's ability to pursue successfully the course using the following criteria:

• an undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline such as Health Science, Social Work, Psychology, Medicine, or related discipline; or
• an undergraduate degree in any discipline, or equivalent, and at least 2 years of documented relevant work experience or
• at least 5 years of documented relevant work experience, including clear evidence of career development, of professional writing, and generally of professional achievement or practice comparable to that expected of undergraduate degree holders in cognate disciplines.

2. The Selection Committee may conduct interviews and may call for referee reports or employer references to elucidate any of the matters referred to above.

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this course are articulated in the Course Overview, Objectives and Generic Skills sections of this entry.
It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this course are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and the Disability Liaison Unit: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This course provides professional development for practitioners who are currently working with young people who have the intention of pursuing a career in youth mental health practice.

The program is recognized by professional bodies, e.g., Australian Association of Social Workers, Australian Psychological Society, Royal College of Nursing, and Australian College of Mental Health Nurses as fulfilling professional development (continuing education) requirements.