Mental Health Nurse

Written By Cristy Houghton

A mental health nurse in Australia is recognised as either a registered nurse who holds specialist postgraduate qualifications in mental health nursing or a nurse who has been directly trained in psychiatry.

In Australia, nurses trained prior to the mid-1980s were trained using this model and were referred to in the profession as a ‘Psychiatric’ nurse (Lewis & Garton, 2017). The mental health nursing workforce is in sustained demand according to national workforce data (AIHW, 2024).

What does a mental health nurse do? 

Mental health nursing is regarded as a specialty area of nursing which centres on forming therapeutic relationships and providing holistic mental health care that supports a person’s physical, psychological, emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing. As a specialised area of practice, mental health nursing focuses on supporting people of all ages who are at risk of, or currently experiencing, mental health challenges ranging from mild to acute, as well as issues related to substance use or behavioural difficulties, and includes assisting individuals in acute distress or crisis.

Mental health nurses draw on interpersonal connection, communication and physical care to create safe, supportive environments that encourage positive behaviour change and acknowledge the influence of environmental and social factors on a person's physical and mental health. Their practice spans both physical and mental health needs and includes expertise in pharmacological management. In Australia, the scope and standards guiding this work are outlined by the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN 2021), which detail the expectations and professional activities central to contemporary mental health nursing.

Most mental health nurses working in Australia's public system are employed by state or territory health services under the relevant Nurses Award. With experience and credentialling, nurses increasingly move into community-based roles, NGO and charity-sector organisations, private psychiatric hospitals, and self-employed private practice — a trend that has accelerated with the expansion of telehealth services for rural and remote clients (ACMHN, 2023; AIHW, 2023).

How to become a Mental Health Nurse

Undergraduate

In Australia a 3-year undergraduate nursing degree is required as a starting point to become a mental health nurse. On completion of this degree a registered nurse may work clinically providing mental health care, but they are not professionally recognised as a mental health nurse. In accordance with the ACMHN additional postgraduate education is required to be professionally recognised as a mental health nurse in Australia.

Nurses seeking to begin a career in mental health after graduation are encouraged to enter a New Graduate program offered through the public health system. These programs vary depending on the state and employing health service but typically involve a 12‑month placement that provides structured support and mentorship while developing core mental health nursing skills. The optimum level of postgraduate qualification to be recognised as a MHN is a Graduate Diploma in mental health nursing, but may also include a Master’s degree in mental health nursing. It is important to note that postgraduate education must be nursing specific and that a Masters in mental health will not meet the professional requirements for recognition as a mental health nurse.

After completing a Graduate Diploma in mental health nursing, nurses, regardless of whether they have undertaken a New Graduate program, become eligible to apply for Credentialling with the ACMHN.

Postgraduate

The first year of practice in nursing is typically completed as a new graduate year, which provides in-house training, support and education to develop the skills necessary to work in the mental health field (The Royal Melbourne Hospital, 2025).

As previously mentioned, additional study is necessary for nurses seeking credentialing to become recognised as a mental health nurse. During work as a new graduate nurse or at any other time in their working career, registered nurses can complete a Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing initially, progressing to a Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing. Completion of a Graduate Certificate will allow for provisional recognition as a mental health nurse with the ACMHN through their credentialing process.

Once credentialled the diversity in career options expand allowing a mental health nurse to work in private practice and consider further career advancements. Advanced roles include working in higher clinical roles such as a Clinical Nurse Consultant, Nurse Practitioner, or roles in senior nurse management or academia (Nursing and Midwifery Board Australia, 2024).

Clinical placement

During their undergraduate degree, nursing students will need to complete a minimum of 800 hours of work-integrated learning across a variety of clinical settings to support their future practice.

Credentialling

The Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN) provide criteria for registered nurses to become credentialled and recognised professionally as a mental health nurse. Nurses have the option of staging their learning as they work towards completing their credentialing process. For example, a new graduate may enrol in a Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing allowing them to become provisionally recognised as a mental health nurse. This starts the credentialling process allowing for partial recognition as a mental health nurse. Nurses wanting to become fully credentialed can then complete their Graduate Diploma either immediately or at a later date.

The credentialling process requires nurses to provide recorded evidence of their professional development and education and proof of their mental health nursing qualifications.

Career Pathways in Mental Health Nursing

Mental health nursing offers a clear career progression with significant diversity in roles as skills and knowledge progress. Once credentialed nurses have greater opportunity to expand their scope of practice. This includes the development of expertise to practice in primary healthcare settings, private psychiatric practices or to develop their own private practice.

Medicare rebates for mental health nurses remain limited compared with those available to other mental health professionals and are currently excluded from the Better Access Initiative. Some Medicare rebates are however available for Credentialed Mental Health Nurses and Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (MHNPs). MHNPs are nurses who have achieved advanced clinical practice, completed an accredited master’s degree, and compiled a professional portfolio demonstrating their expertise and compliance with the Nurse Practitioner Standards for Practice set by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

Medicare item numbers for patients with a Chronic Disease Management Plan written by a GP can be referred to a CMHN for specialised care. Patients under this plan may receive up to five sessions, each lasting at least 20 minutes for a fee of $72.65. A comparable rebate is available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. CMHNs may also deliver up to three counselling sessions related to pregnancy when referred by a GP, provided they have completed the ACMHN’s online CPD training. Each session must run for more than 30 minutes and attracts a rebate of $85.30.

Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (MHNPs) are also eligible to claim Medicare rebates, with a 60‑minute consultation attracting a fee of $134.35. All CMHN’s and MHNP’s can apply to become Medicare providers and must complete this registration before offering Medicare‑funded services.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this download is intended to make career options in mental health more transparent and should only be used as a broad guide only. It illustrates example grades, steps and career directions for health professionals and does not represent an exhaustive or guaranteed career pathway. Progression may vary depending on role, discipline, experience, qualifications, organisational requirements and applicable industrial instruments. Examples of government rebates and general hourly rates for private services are only to be used as a guide and for accurate and up to date figures, please consult original sources.

Cristy Houghton
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