How Can You Become a Successful Mental Health Nurse in Australia?

There is an urgent need for skilled Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing practitioners in Australia. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) estimates show 43.7 per cent of Australians aged 16-85 have experienced a mental disorder, signalling a shared national issue.

As more Australians become aware of the value of mental health, Registered Mental Health Nurses become essential members of the healthcare community. The need for mental health specialists has increased as a result of the mainstream media's normalisation of health care conditions like depression and PTSD. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone who is thinking about pursuing a career in mental health nursing.

The field of a mental health professional is a demanding but ultimately significant and rewarding. In addition to working with a distinct set of difficult illnesses and disorders like anxiety, depression, eating disorders, personality disorders, addiction, etc, nurses who pursue this specialisation get to significantly improve the quality of life for both their patients and the community. You will be in charge of determining the requirements of your clients, connecting them with social or community resources, and offering them consolation, assurance, and encouragement.

Establishing a career in mental health support work does require certain qualification, here's where you can start:

Laying the groundwork (complete an undergraduate degree)

You need an undergraduate degree in nursing. Obtaining this introductory degree can equip you with foundational skills required for a more advanced qualification like master's degree which will enable you to operate in more complex environments. Bachelor of Nursing is a 3-year university degree that qualifies you to become a Registered Nurses (RN) in Australia. This is a basic requirement by law as mental health nurses still need to be qualified nurses before they specialise. Keep in mind that some bachelor's degrees may offer a specialisation in mental health nursing, whereas others may require that it be studied at a postgraduate level depending on the university.

Alternative: If you don't have a bachelor's degree, your only other choice is to work in mental health nursing as an enrolled nurse (EN)

Registration (Become a registered nurse)

After receiving your bachelor's degree, the next step is to apply to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia to practice as a registered nurse.

Gaining experience in the in the mental health field

Once you are registered nurse, you will be allowed to work in a mental health setting but not yet as a mental health nurse as you have to gain experience in the mental health field. Thus, becoming the gateway to studying mental health nursing at a postgraduate level. Look for internships and volunteer work to increase your chances for the future.

Specialisation (Complete a postgraduate degree specialising in mental health nursing)

To officially qualify as a mental health nurse, you need an accredited Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing or Master in Mental Health Nursing.

Apply for credentials

ACMHN credentials is the only consistent standard for recognition of specialist mental health nurses in Australia. After finishing the postgraduate course, you are eligible to apply for the ACMHN Credentials, since you are a Registered Nurse and hold a recognised specialist mental health nursing qualification in addition to having experience in the mental health field.

There are two other points to consider to be eligible to apply for jobs in the mental health field

First, you should have work experience of at least 12 months since gaining your qualification or have 3+ years' experience as an RN working in mental health

Second, you should have support from two professional referees.

Start applying for jobs

Once you have obtained your qualifications and received your ACMNH accreditation, you will have a wide range of jobs available to you. You can now work as a fully qualified mental health nurse. A strong resume should highlight all of your employment experience, volunteer work, and educational background. You can gain work as a registered nurse working in mental health, or as a coordinator, case worker, liaison clinician and health services manager among others.

In conclusion, hope this blog has given you enough information on how to become a mental health nurse in Australia. Contact us at MWT Education Consultancy for more information.