Graduate Diploma of Health (Perinatal Mental Health)
Propel your career and specialise in a new and rewarding field of perinatal and infant health. Work with families in community and institutional settings during a challenging time of transition.
Course essentials
Entry requirements
Credit
Study mode
Duration
Start dates
01 March 2027
26 July 2027
Locations
Course overview
Co-designed and co-developed in partnership with Gidget Foundation Australia (GFA), this course equips clinicians with the skills to support the mental health of women and their families throughout the perinatal period. By integrating the expertise of both perinatal mental health professionals and academics, students gain access to contemporary knowledge, excellence in education, and high-quality supervision.
Complexities of placement requirements requires all clinical placements in this course are with the Gidget Foundation Australia. Applicants need to submit an expression of interest (EOI) to Gidget Foundation Australia https://www.gidgetfoundation.org.au/ to secure placement for the duration of the course.
The curriculum explores key topics such as the normal psychological adjustment to pregnancy and parenting, infant development, and the identification, screening, and management of perinatal mental health conditions. A unique feature of this course is the integration of clinical placement with university study, allowing students to apply their learning directly to practice under supervision while earning a recognised university qualification.
IT requirements
To do this course you’ll need a fast and reliable computer and access to high-speed internet. Expect to use about 5GB of data per month for every unit you’re doing. Find out more about the minimum IT requirements for studying with us.
Got questions?
Call us on 1800 333 864, start a live chat or submit an enquiry.
Student support
The support we offer is second to none. Need academic help? No problem. Extra access or financial assistance? Let’s see what we can do. View our student services.
The fine print
The commencement of all courses is subject to available funding and enrolment quotas.
Everything in this course overview is correct at the time of being published. However, the University reserves the right to alter any course, procedure or fee. Please check for changes before you apply or enrol.
Federation University uses Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding (for eligible students) to deliver training.
School department
Nursing
Course co-ordinator
Michael Barbagallo
Career paths
To prepare graduates to work as clinicians in the field of perinatal mental health.
Fees and scholarships
Tuition fee information
Commonwealth Supported Places are subsidised by the Australian Government. The tuition fee is called the student contribution amount. The indicative fee above is based on a typical first-year enrolment for this course and should be used as a guide only. For 0.5 EFTSL (60 credit point) courses the certificate fee is displayed. Your fee will depend on the units you chose, your study load, the time it takes to complete your course and any approved credit you receive.
How it's calculated
The government sets the fee each year. The amount depends on the discipline area and band of each unit. 2026 annual student contribution amounts for 1 EFTSL (equivalent full-time student load) range from $4,738 (Band 1) to $17,399 (Band 4). The sample course structure below link to the EFTSL, Band and fee for each unit or you can use our unit search to find these details.
Other fees
You will also need to pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).
Fee assistance
If you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan, you can defer the payment of all or part of your student contribution fee. If you’re also eligible for a SA-HELP loan, you can defer your SSAF payment too. You won’t have to start paying either loan back until your income reaches the compulsory repayment threshold.
Scholarships
There’s a range of scholarships and grants available. Find out what you can apply for.
Course details
Start dates
Semester 2, 2026
20 July 2026
Locations
Online
Semester 1, 2027
1 March 2027
Locations
Online
Semester 2, 2027
26 July 2027
Locations
Online
Information
- Online learning is only an option if you’re not studying on an international student visa.
Contact hours
You’d be looking at about 25-30 hours per week (if you’re full time), but this includes on-campus classes and self-directed study (i.e. homework).
Work integrated learning
Compulsory Placement
To complete this course, students must secure a placement with Gidget Foundation Australia for the course duration. Written confirmation from GFA must be submitted to Federation University.
Application Process for Placement
1. Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to Gidget Foundation Australia
2. Once placement is confirmed, apply for admission to Federation University. As part of your application, you will need to upload your placement confirmation letter provided to you by the Gidget Foundation.
Sample course structure
Here’s what the course structure could look like. It’s just an example (so don’t use it for enrolment). Interested in the details? You can find current course structure or select a single unit name below to find out what it’s about and how much it costs.
- Perinatal and Infant Mental Health 115 credit pointsHEALP6201
- Perinatal and Infant Mental Health 215 credit pointsHEALP6202
- Advanced Therapeutic Skills30 credit pointsHEMTL6004
- Perinatal Mental Health B30 credit pointsHEALP6205
Entry requirements
Entry requirements (non year 12)
All applicants must hold:
- A Bachelor’s or Postgraduate qualification in a health-related discipline and
- Registration with AHPRA or discipline related professional body and
- At least 12 months post-graduate experience in clinical practice (evidenced via CV)
- A confirmation of placement letter from Gidget Foundation Australia.
If you’re only applying for this course, do it via direct application.
Ready to fill out your application?
You'll need this code:
Direct application
Federation University code
- Direct application
- Yes
- Federation University code
- HM4
As Gidget trainees already hold both qualifications and experience in mental healthcare, they have the
requisite knowledge to be provided with credit for the graduate certificate component of the degree. All
admitted students will be given block credit as proposed for the following Units
- HEALP6201 Perinatal and Infant Mental Health 1 15cp
- HEALP6202 Perinatal and Infant Mental Health 2 15cp
- HEMTL6004 Advanced Therapeutic Skills 30cp
Total Credit 60 Credit Points
Hear from our students
So as I love serving people and helping them, I take Bachelor of Nursing and I'm pursuing nursing as my career. That only provides us with so many opportunities. They have contact with such good hospitals and agencies if you want to work for your placements and stuff. And they provide us with so much material and support to improve our skills through our nursing. Even in the uni, in the building, we have rooms are like literally hospital rooms where we have beds and all the equipments with dolls which do make sounds and they have pulse and everything. So it is so creative and so alive that we get to improve our skills so much. Ballarat is like the most happy, friendly little town in all of the Victoria I've been in Melbourne. But people over here are genuinely really sweet and nice to you. They're really friendly and they're just walking in the morning and someone is passing by and they'll just say, they'll smile and they say good morning to you, which is so sweet. Like it never feels that you're somewhere different. You're just you feel homely. I've heard a lot about Federation University. So back when I was applying for multiple universities, I was suggested Fed Uni by my agent and they suggested Fed Uni because it has so many campus. They support, support us so much and it is so multicultural. They're like so many people coming from so many different countries. So last year they hosted the Bollywood night for the Indian students. Being an Indian, I was so happy that they're hosting such an event. They keep on hosting events which are like for every culture and everyone gets to enjoy and feel at home, which is the best part. So the Bollywood night was the one for me. I'll be pursuing nursing as my career and I want to become a registered nurse, work here for the people and serve them and just enjoy life for some time.