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. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:
• either
– 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 two years of documented relevant work experience, or
– five 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.
Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.

2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:
• prior academic performance; and, if relevant
• the professional experience.

3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.

4. Applicants are required to satisfy the university’s English language requirements for postgraduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 6.5 is required.

Note.
• Students who do not achieve a weighted average mark of at least H2B (70%) in the first year of the Master of Youth Mental Health are not eligible to continue to the second year of the program, but are eligible to receive a Graduate Certificate in Youth Mental Health or Graduate Diploma in Youth Mental Health as an exit award if all relevant subjects have been passed
• Quotas may be applied. For direct entry into the Master of Youth Mental Health, or for transfer from the Certificate or Diploma to the Master, preference may be given to applicants with evidence of appropriate preparation or potential to undertake research.
• Entry to the Master of Youth Mental Health is subject to the capacity of a participating department to provide adequate supervision in a research project appropriate to the interests and preparation of the individual student and may be subject to the agreement of a member of academic staff to supervise the project module.

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 subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Objectives, Assessment 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 subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://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.