Graduate Mental Health Nursing Program
Western Health’s Mental Health Graduate Nursing Program aims to provide a supportive environment for new nursing graduates to develop skills and knowledge to care for people who are mentally unwell and require treatment and support in the public mental health system.
We are committed to the ongoing professional development of the beginner practitioner in a learning organisation. The 2-year program consists of study days that will support the graduate nurse to provide evidence based, human rights focused care for consumers.
Program outline
Year 1 – Mental health graduate program
- 54 weeks with two 6-month rotations
- Work 0.8 full-time equivalent (FTE)
- Rotations may include:
- Acute adult inpatient
- Older Adults Inpatient Unit
- Secure Extended Care
- Women’s Mental Health Inpatient Unit (Ward 4A, Footscray)
- Continuing Care Unit
Year 2 – Postgraduate program
- Enrol in postgraduate mental health nursing
- Two rotations, or a 12-month placement in a community team
- You may receive Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for some units from Year 1
Criteria for completion
- Complete required clinical hours
- Attend eight paid study days
- Complete each rotation to a satisfactory standard
- Complete your clinical portfolio
- Complete all required assignments to a satisfactory standard
Support
You will be supported by Clinical Nurse Educators, a Graduate and Postgraduate Nurse Coordinator, and a Graduate Support Nurse.
You will also receive support from line managers, team leaders, and Mental Health Intensive Care nurses.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the program, you must be completing an Undergraduate degree in Bachelor of Nursing in 2026.
You also need to hold a practicing certificate with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority (AHPRA) by 2027.
2027 information sessions
Tuesday 19 May 2026 at 4:30 pm
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/48012829495521?p=r97gjDo7JjtTmJlYYk
Meeting ID: 480 128 294 955 21
Passcode: te3ne9do
Intakes
January 2027, other intakes to be confirmed.