Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing

The employed model program is an exciting joint initiative between NT Health and Charles Darwin University (CDU).

NT Health offers registered nurses paid employment while undertaking 2 years of part-time study (2 units per semester) in a Graduate Diploma of Mental Health through CDU.

The course is delivered online with clinical competency requirements.

Top End Mental Health Alcohol & Other Drugs Service (TEMHAODS)

TEMHAODS provides specialist clinical mental health services to clients in the Top End, including Darwin and Palmerston, Darwin Remote, Katherine and East Arnhem regions. TEMHAODS has a 36 bed acute inpatient unit which consists of:

• Joan Radley Unit (JRU) - 11 bedded High dependency Unit (HDU)
• Cowdy Ward – 20 bedded Low Dependency Unit (LDU)
• Youth Inpatient Program (YIP) – 5 bedded acute inpatient unit for adolescents at the Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH) campus.

In addition to this, TEMHAODS has 7 teams based in Darwin providing services to Darwin, Palmerston, and the surrounding rural areas:

• NT Mental Health Access team
• Perinatal team
• Child and Adolescent team
• Adult team
• Darwin Remote team

Alcohol & Other Drugs Service (AODS) has both inpatient and outpatient facilities.

Apply for the program

To apply for the program you must:

• Current registration as a registered nurse or hold a dual degree (registered nurse and registered midwife) with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
• Be an Australian citizen or hold a visa allowing ongoing, full-time employment in Australia (a copy of your visa or passport must be supplied with your cover letter and resume).
• Have completed a 12 month graduate program (or similar)
• Meet university enrolment criteria.

Conditions of the contract

The Graduate Diploma in Mental Health employed model program offers registered nurses employment on a 24-month fixed term contract as a Nurse 2 classification, (working a minimum of 24 hours per week while undertaking 2 years of part-time study (2 units per semester) in the Graduate Diploma of Mental Health with CDU.

You will be required to work rostered shifts inclusive of on-call, night shift and weekend shifts.

You will be required to successfully complete academic course and clinical practice requirements each semester in order to continue the term of employment.

Recognised university providers

Charles Darwin University is the preferred university to undertake the graduate diploma as part of this employed model program. However other universities offering a Graduate Diploma of Mental Health Nursing will be considered.

Important university dates

Semester one 2024 commences: March 2024.

For further information see the SATAC key dates website.

Positions and locations

Applicants will be working in the Top End Mental Health Service (TEMHS) Inpatient Unit (IPU) located at RDH in Darwin.

Clinical requirements

The CDU postgraduate nursing programs integrate theory with practical learning.

During employment, students are assisted to complete the required clinical competencies to successfully complete the Graduate Diploma.

All students must work at least 0.6 FTE in a clinical setting in which they can achieve the required clinical competencies, for example, comprehensive client assessment (all streams) and cognitive behavioural therapy (mental health). For further information regarding clinical requirements, visit for the CDU Postgraduate Nursing website.

Application checklist

This section contains a checklist of compulsory documentation you need to provide with your application through NT Careers in Government Employment Opportunities Online.

• Cover letter (1 page summary).
• Resume (include employment history and existing qualifications).
• Certified copy of passport/birth certificate or visa.
• SATAC application (please attached proof of application that includes your SATAC reference number).

Contact