South Metropolitan Health Service Mental Health Graduate Program
The South Metropolitan Health Service (SMHS) Mental Health Graduate Program offers a 12-month program in mental health nursing across SMHS hospitals (external site) in partnership with The University of Notre Dame (Fremantle).
The program is an outstanding opportunity to build knowledge, skills and confidence in mental health nursing.
During the program, graduate nurses have the opportunity to work across a wide range of practice settings, gaining a broad range of clinical experience. They are also provided with regular and ongoing clinical support, through site-based preceptorship model.
Benefits of the program include:
- a 12-month full-time employment contract
- formal study days provided by The University of Notre Dame (Fremantle)
- 2 supernumerary days in each clinical area
- excellent support from experienced mental health nurses and ward based education staff
- rotational nursing rosters (may include day, afternoon and night shifts)
- the ability to work in various locations.
Locations
Limited placements are available at 3 participating SMHS hospitals:
- Fiona Stanley Hospital
- Fremantle Hospital
- Rockingham General Hospital.
Applicants are required to list their preferences (1 to 3) at the time of application.
Program duration
The program runs for 12 months full time. Programs commence in February and August each year.
Course delivery
The program includes 2 weeks face-to-face learning at The University of Notre Dame Australia, (Fremantle) in line with the Graduate Certificate of Mental Health Nursing and Allied Health.
This involves attending a 2-week study block commencing in either February or August, and a further 2 days within the following 4 months.
On successful completion of the graduate program, graduates receive credit for two courses of study towards the Graduate Certificate of Mental Health Nursing and Allied Health:
- NURS4024 Contemporary Mental Health Practice
- NURS4025 Interpersonal Communication
Graduates are provided these two courses during the SMHS Mental Health Graduate Program at no cost.
Graduates are then eligible to enrol at their own cost in the remaining two courses to complete the Graduate Certificate of Mental Health Nursing and Allied Health:
- NURS4027 Role of the Mental Health Practitioner in Acute Psychiatry
- NURSXXXX Postgraduate Mental Health Elective (Professional Role Development, Perinatal Mental Health).
Graduates pursuing further study to achieve their Graduate Certificate of Mental Health Nursing and Allied Health may be eligible to apply for a Nursing and Midwifery Office Scholarship to cover the cost of these courses.
How to apply
Apply online via GradConnect (external site), the WA Department of Health’s centralised graduate recruitment website.
When applying:
- first select Registered Nurse Programs
- then select South Metropolitan Health Service, Mental Health Graduate Registered Nurse Program.
You will then be asked to identify your location preferences.
Further information
If you have a question, please contact:
- email FSFHG Graduate Nursing Program
- phone Rockingham General Hospital Nurse Educator Kate Marwood on 9599 4628 or send an email enquiry
- email The University of Notre Dame Postgraduate Coordinator