The School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine spans six campuses – Ballarat, Blacktown, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and North Sydney. We have developed thousands of compassionate caregivers who are helping to improve the health of individuals, families, and communities with their expertise and passion.
Along with researchers, lecturers, and clinical supervisors, the school has four joint research appointments with public and private health services.
Research in the school focuses on five major national health priority areas:
Our institutes, centres and faculties boast internationally renowned scholars and produce world-leading research.
In the latest Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) assessment, ACU ranked first or equal first for ten fields of research in Australia including in:
We are recognised globally as a leader in a range of subject specialisations including nursing for which we are ranked 18th in the world and seventh in Australia (Shanghai Ranking, Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2021).
We offer 20 specialisations:
ACU’s Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing – Child and adolescent specialty involves the completion of four units. The child and adolescent specialty course explores common medical, surgical and developmental issues in children whose ages range from birth to 18 years. Students undertaking this specialty will explore integral developmental anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, within the context of child and adolescent care. The child and adolescent specialty modules will cover topics such as common respiratory conditions including asthma, croup, and bronchiolitis and cystic fibrosis; and respiratory and cardiac care requirements of the child and adolescent. Furthermore, the child and adolescent specialty modules cover a broad range of common paediatric health implications such as nutrition, fluid and electrolyte imbalances, renal health, failure to thrive; disability and neurology and neuromuscular assessment; brain and head injury; infections of the brain and nervous system and public health interventions such as developmental assessments and Australia’s childhood vaccination program. Through the lens of a person and family centred focus you will also explore the family and self-implications around living with a medical illness, as well as withdrawal of treatment and palliative care
ACU’s Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing – Correctional health specialty involves the completion of four units. It is now offered on the exciting new platform, CANVAS, via ACU Online.
In the correction health specialisation, the mental health of prisoners is comprehensively and extensively covered. Modules include the importance of physical health, healthcare management, and consequences of accelerated ageing of the prison population. Furthermore, you will be educated in identifying and caring for vulnerable prisoner groups and their health needs as well as caring for prisoners with chronic health conditions such as asthma and diabetes. Communicable diseases, harm minimisation and palliation and pain management will also be addressed.
ACU’s Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing – Gerontological nursing specialty involves the completion of four units. It is now offered on the exciting new platform, CANVAS, via ACU Online.
Through the lens of a person and family centred focus you will explore acute and chronic medical conditions across multiple biological systems. Older persons require a multi-faceted approach to care and the gerontological specialisation will support you to undertake risk assessment, clinical decision-making and to implement risk mitigation strategies to ensure the delivery of quality and safe person-centred care to older persons. Key concepts of health and wellness, aged related health conditions, pain, pharmacotherapy and comprehensive risk assessment, as well as concepts of patient’s rights, governance frameworks, continuous improvement systems, loss and grief, elder abuse and behaviours and perceptions of older persons will be explored to enable you to practice inclusive, respectful, person-centred care in the gerontological setting.
ACU’s Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing – Medical specialty involves the completion of four units. It is now offered on the exciting new platform, CANVAS, via ACU Online.
This specialty explores acute and chronic medical conditions across multiple biological systems. The medical specialty modules cover integral anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and the significance of polypharmacy in our ageing population. There is a focus on common respiratory conditions including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, pneumonia, and bronchitis; as well as the significance of infection control and the implications of hospital acquired infections. Furthermore, the medical specialty modules cover neurological conditions including stroke, movement disorders such as Parkinson’s Disease multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia with discussions centred around common clinical risks such as falls and pressure injury assessment and management. Through the lens of a person and family centred focus you will also explore the family and self-implications around living with a medical illness, as well as withdrawal of treatment and palliative care. ACU is proud to partner with Northern Health, St Vincent’s Melbourne (Public) and the Prince Charles Hospital for the delivery of this speciality.
ACU’s Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing – Renal, involves the completion of four units. It is now offered on the exciting new platform, CANVAS, via ACU Online.
The renal specialty explores acute renal conditions as well as living with renal disease and the role of the nurse in primary health care for people suffering chronic renal disease. During your studies you will cover topics such as: renal pathophysiology, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics; GIT complications including constipation; the effects of renal insufficiency on oral health; and renal pathology. Furthermore, students enrolled in this specialty will engage in module content that discusses the role of vascular access devices in the care of the person with Renal disease and infection control considerations, haemo and peritoneal dialysis. Students will have opportunity to consider diabetic nephropathy with a specific focus on Indigenous Australians diagnosed with the condition. Through the lens of a person and family centred focus you will also explore the family and self-implications around living with a chronic illness, end-stage renal disease, organ transplantation as well as withdrawal of treatment and palliative care.
ACU’s Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing – Surgical specialty involves the completion of four units. It is now offered on the exciting new platform, CANVAS, via ACU Online.
The surgical specialty modules cover integral anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and the significance of polypharmacy in the context of pain assessment, and management and surgical risk models. Pre-operative and post-operative implications to surgical outcomes will be explored along with detection and management of post-operative deterioration, surgical co-morbidities, and rehabilitation. Surgical specialities explored include orthopaedics; neurosurgical; cardiothoracic and vascular; breast and reconstructive surgery; head, neck and ophthalmic surgery; gynaecological and urology; gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary; trauma; and finally, aesthetics surgery for cancer of the face, neck and breast. Through the lens of a person and family centred focus you will also explore the family and self-implications around living with a medical illness, as well as withdrawal of treatment and palliative care.
ACU is proud to partner with Austin Health, Northern Health and the Prince Charles Hospital for the delivery of this speciality.
Master of Health Administration
Graduate Diploma in Health Administration
Graduate Certificate in Health Administration
Master of Health Professional Education
Graduate Diploma in Health Professional Education
Graduate Certificate in Health Professional Education
Master of Mental Health Nursing
Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing
Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing
Master of Leadership and Management in Health Care
Master of Public Health
Master of Public Health (Global Health and Advocacy)
Graduate Diploma in Public Health
Graduate Certificate in Public Health
Graduate Certificate in Global Health
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