Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing - CL16

The Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing is an innovative course designed for those who want to develop their knowledge, confidence, and nursing competence in the clinical setting. The course is a discipline-based degree with two core units covering Patient Deterioration and Clinical Governance, and two further units from your chosen major. Majors available include Generalist, or Gerontology.

You'll gain advanced nursing knowledge and skills based upon contemporary national and international evidence relevant to the beginning registered nurse, and you'll apply these in your own clinical setting. The combination of online delivery with group discussions, use of current international and national research, and review of standards of care in the clinical settings, will enhance learning and development of key clinical skills required in professional practice. You will have the opportunity to enhance your professional nursing attributes including autonomy, accountability and critical reflection.

Upon completion, you can articulate into our Masters of Clinical Nursing

Admission pathways

There are two application pathways for entry to this course. Upon application, you will be required to identify which pathway you are applying for.

Pathway 1 (Graduate Program with Recognised Health Services)

Applicants who are enrolled in a partnered graduate program at one of the following Health Services, will be eligible to enter the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing via Pathway 1. Under this pathway, you may be eligible to receive credit for two units - NURS20171 and NURS20172. Students entering via Pathway 1 will be eligible to receive a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).

• Cairns and Hinterland and Hospital and Health Services (CHHHS)
• Central Queensland Hospital and Health Services (CQHHS)
• Mackay Hospital and Health Services (MHHS)
• Mater Townsville
• Metro South Hospital and Health Services (MSHHS)
• Wide Bay Hospital and Health Services (WBHHS)
• North West Hospital and Health Service (NWHHS)
• Central West Hospital and Health Service (CWHHS)
• Yorke and Northern Local Health Network (YNLHN), South Australia

You will be required to submit the following with your application:

1. AHPRA registration number
2. Letter of support from your Health Service demonstrating you are currently employed with an approved clinical partner (as listed above) for new graduates. 

Pathway 2

If you are not currently enrolled in a partnered graduate program, you will need to apply via Pathway 2. This pathway requires you to have arranged access to work a minimum of 16 hours per week in a clinical setting with a Health Service. Students who receive an offer to study the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing via Pathway 2 will be offered a full fee paying place. You may be eligible to study via Pathway 2 in a Commonwealth Support Place (CSP) under the Government's Job Ready funding.

You will be required to submit the following with your application: 

• AHPRA registration number
• Letter of support from your Health Service that must detail your current employment as a Registered Nurse, a detail a minimum of 16 hours per week is worked in a clinical setting and what area/setting currently worked in. Please ensure the letter is on Health Service letterhead with a printed name, signature and contact details for verification if required.

Core Units	2	Major Units	2
Electives	None	Minor Units	None

Course Structure

This course consists of two core units and two units from your chosen major; Gerontology or Generalist nursing.

Graduate Pathways

If you enter the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing via Pathway 1, you must study two core units. If you enter via Pathway 2, you must study four units. 

Pathway 1 (Graduate Program with Recognised Health Services)

Gerontology Major:
If you are enrolled in the Partnered Graduate Program Pathway and studying the Gerontology Major, you must not enrol in:

• NURS20170 - Patient Deterioration in the Clinical Setting, and
• NURS20169 - Nursing and Clinical Governance

Credit for these two units may be applied at the completion of the two gerontology major units (DCHA20003, HAGE20001) and your industry Partnered Graduate Program.

Generalist Major:
If you are enrolled in the Partnered Graduate Program Pathway and studying the Generalist Major, you must not enrol in:

• NURS20171 - Nursing and Professional Practice 1, and
  
• NURS20172 - Introduction to Developing Specialty Practice
  

Credit for these two units may be applied at the completion of NURS20170, NURS20169, and your industry Partnered Graduate Program.

Pathway 2 - Standard Course Structure

If you are studying the standard course structure, you will complete two core units and two units from your chosen major; Gerontology or Generalist nursing.

Unit information

For information on the units you could study as part of this course, visit the Handbook and select the "Course Structure" tab.

Credit transfer information

If you have already completed study relevant to the course you have enrolled in, you may be eligible for credit transfer.

Our postgraduate clinical nursing course will enhance your skills and knowledge in providing high-quality nursing care in a clinical setting.

Career focused

Enhance your career and benefit from content that is continually developed and updated in consultation with industry. You will learn from course academics with extensive nursing experience.

Flexible study options

Benefit from the flexibility to study online, allowing you to study when and how it suits you.

Masters pathway

Upon completion of the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing (CL16), you can pathway into our Master of Clinical Nursing (CL22) with credit for four units. Our master course covers diverse content in a clinical nursing context and has a strong focus on professional practice in a clinical specialisation. 

Online Availability

Term 1 - 2024	Available Online
Term 2 - 2023	Available Online
Term 2 - 2024	Available Online

Majors	Units	Description
Generalist	2
Gerontology	2

This course has been designed to complement students who are completing an approved graduate program or undertaking the minimum clinical hours with a relevant Health Service.

This course has no residential schools.

To be eligible for entry into this course, applicants must supply:

• Evidence of current registration as a Registered Nurse with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA); and
• A letter of employment demonstrating you are currently employed in Australia with an approved clinical partner for new graduates; or
• A letter of employment demonstrating current employment in Australia as a Registered Nurse, detailing a minimum of 16 hours per week, in a clinical setting.

Letters of employment must be presented on a company letterhead and be signed and dated by a delegated authority. Please ensure that the letter contains your full name, position title, duties performed, hours per week, and length of service.

English Language Proficiency Requirements:

If you were not born in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa or United States of America you are required to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements set by the University. Applicants are required to provide evidence of completion of:

• A secondary qualification (Year 11 and 12, or equivalent), or
• An Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) diploma level qualification, or
• Bachelor level qualification study for a period of at least 2 years full time with a minimum overall GPA 4.0

Completed within Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, South Africa, Ireland, or United States of America, which will meet the English proficiency.

If you do not satisfy any of the above you will need to undertake an English language proficiency test and achieve the following scores as below:

• An International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic) overall band score of at least 6.0 overall with a minimum 5.5 in each subset; or
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - Requires 550 or better overall & minimum TWE score of 4.5 (Paper Based Test), or 75 or better overall and no score less than 17 (Internet Based Test); or
• Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) - Requires an overall score of 54 with no sub-score less than 46; or
• An Occupational English Test with Grades A or B only in each of the four components.

English test results remain valid for no more than two years between final examination date and the date of commencement of study and must appear on a single result certificate.

If you are an International student, please visit International students English requirements for further information.

Each student will be assessed individually.

Security Requirements

No information available at this time.

Health Requirements

No information available at this time.

Assumed Knowledge

NA

This course provides Registered Nurses with a nursing specific post-graduate qualification. As a graduate, you can enjoy a range of opportunities including:

• enhanced competency and confidence as a registered nurse;
• increased financial remuneration from some employers;
• a solid foundation to work towards nursing leadership roles in clinical specialties, management, education or research; and
• a seamless pathway into our Master of Clinical Nursing.

NA

Professional recognition is not applicable for this course.

2023 Indicative Fees
Fee Type	Fees
Commonwealth Supported Place – Indicative First Year Fee	$3,437.00
Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee	$12,604.50

Indicative first-year fee

The fees listed are indicative only and based on enrolling in a full-time study load for one academic year. Your fees may vary depending on the units you select and the number you study per term. Fees are reviewed annually and are subject to change. Understanding your fees.

Commonwealth supported places

With Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) available for this course, you may be eligible for significant fee savings. If you are not eligible for a CSP or if CSPs are full, you will be required to pay full fees. Find out more about CSP eligibility criteria.

Government assistance and HELP loans

Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) are subsidised by the Australian Government, meaning you are only required to pay the student contribution rather than full tuition fees if you meet eligibility requirements. If offered a CSP, you may be eligible for a HECS-HELP government loan. HECS-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme that assists you in paying your student contributions. Provided you meet the HECS-HELP eligibility criteria, you may use HECS-HELP to defer part or all of your student contribution fees. Learn more about paying for university.

Other study costs

Part of your course costs includes Student Services and Amenities Fees (SSAF). There may also be additional costs as part of your studies, such as textbooks, technology expenses, travel expenses, professional certifications, or vaccinations. Explore other study costs.

No information available at this time.

If you have decided what you would like to study and are ready to apply, we’re here to help you along the way.  Before you apply, you will need to have a Unique Student Identifier (USI).  If you do not have a USI, creating one is quick and easy.  Simply visit usi.gov.au to create one.

Want to know more about application dates and other admission information?
View our important dates information and read about other admission considerations such as information for domestic students with overseas qualifications, indigenous support, and elite athlete, coach and performer support.

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