Entry requirements
Admission criteria
Applicants are required to hold current registration as a Registered Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.
Applicants must be nominated for admission into the program by SA Health identifying their employer (Local Health Network) and line manager.
This degree can be studied mostly online, but in-person participation is mandatory for certain core courses, workshops and clinical placements.
This program is only available to Registered Nurses or Midwives employed by SA Health.
Why Graduate Certificate in Nursing (SA Health Clinical Specialisation Program)?
Advance your nursing career with specialised expertise.
Designed exclusively for SA Health employed Registered Nurses, this graduate certificate in nursing offers an opportunity to deepen your clinical knowledge and leadership skills.
Through part-time online study over one year, you'll explore various clinical specialisations, enhancing your ability to deliver high-quality patient care across diverse healthcare settings.
You’ll also gain advanced practical skills and knowledge to develop your understanding of the global issues, trends and practices that impact the delivery of nursing and health services.
Overview
The Graduate Certificate in Nursing (SA Health Clinical Specialisation) at Adelaide University is designed exclusively for Registered Nurses employed by SA Health who have been endorsed by their employer to study. Delivered part-time and fully online, you’ll build your knowledge of leadership, governance and advanced nursing practice across a range of clinical specialties.
Over one year, you’ll study two in-depth courses selected from areas such as perioperative care, mental health, aged care, high acuity nursing and more. Each course is backed by academic research and guided by experienced clinicians.
Eligible nurses can apply for a scholarship that covers the first course, and high-achieving students may be funded to complete the full graduate certificate.
Whether you’re preparing to step into a specialist area or want to bring new leadership and evidence-based practice into your current role, this graduate certificate offers a flexible, career-focused way to grow your impact in the healthcare system.
Key features
Advance your nursing career through a SA Health endorsed qualification.
Access a fully funded course supported by SA Health.
Study flexibly online with 24/7 access to interactive course materials.
Choose clinical specialisation courses that suit your career goals.
Learn from expert clinicians and leading nursing researchers.
Build leadership skills and strengthen your evidence-based practice.
What you'll learn
In the Graduate Certificate in Nursing (SA Health Clinical Specialisation) you’ll get advanced practical skills and knowledge to navigate the complexities of modern healthcare. You'll explore topics such as healthcare leadership, policy analysis and specialised clinical care, aligning your studies with your career aspirations.
Learn about how social, political and economic factors influence care delivery in Australia’s healthcare system and build skills in leadership, policy analysis and healthcare governance.
You’ll complete two nine-unit courses, selected from a broad range of options so you can align your studies with your clinical interests and career goals. Courses include:
- Perioperative Nursing
- Comprehensive Care of the Older Person
- Palliative Care Nursing
- Perspectives in Mental Health Practice
- Nephrology Nursing
- Introduction to High Acuity Nursing and Midwifery, with subspecialties in Neonatal and Acute Care
- Leadership and Management in Nursing and Midwifery
- Foundations of Teaching and Learning in Health Education.
Each course combines theory with practical knowledge to help you deliver safe, informed and evidence-based care.
By engaging with evidence-based practices, you'll enhance your ability to contribute meaningfully to patient care and healthcare delivery.
Degree Structure: Graduate Certificate in Nursing (SA Health Clinical Specialisation Program) specialising in SA Health Clinical Specialisation Program
Program code: GCNUS
Complete 24 units comprising:
- 24 units for Specialisation courses
Study plan
A study plan sets out the courses students need to complete and the recommended timing for each, helping to guide enrolment in each study period, alongside any additional information provided below. Students who have received a personalised plan or alternative advice from their Program Director should refer to that guidance.
Year 1
Semester 1
Courses
This section shows all the courses that contribute to a student’s program, including elective options that can be selected. These courses come together to form a study plan.
What courses you'll study
Complete 24 units comprising:
- 24 units for Specialisation courses
Complete 24 units comprising:
- 24 units from Core courses
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Perspectives in Mental Health Practice
|
Course code
NURS5026
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Perinatal Mental Health for Health Professionals
|
Course code
NURS5030
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Skills for Recovery Practice in Mental Health
|
Course code
NURS5031
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Best Practice in Adolescent Mental Health
|
Course code
NURS5032
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Best Practice in Older People's Mental Health
|
Course code
NURS5033
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Foundations of Teaching and Learning in Health Education
|
Course code
NURS5038
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Implementing Teaching and Learning in Health Education
|
Course code
NURS5039
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Nephrology Nursing
|
Course code
NURS5065
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Perioperative Nursing
|
Course code
NURS5066
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Introduction to High Acuity Nursing and Midwifery
|
Course code
NURS5067
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Palliative Care Nursing
|
Course code
NURS5073
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Comprehensive Care of the Older Person
|
Course code
NURS5124
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Critical Care Nursing
|
Course code
NURS5125
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Decision-Making for Midwifery and Nursing Practice
|
Course code
NURS5171
|
Units
12
|
Complete 24 units comprising:
- 24 units for one Specialisation from Specialisation courses
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
SA Health Clinical Specialisation Program
|
Course code
SAHLGCNUS
|
Units
24
|
|
|
Course name
SA Health Clinical Specialisation Program - Critical Care Nursing
|
Course code
SACCGCNUS
|
Units
24
|