Course information for - 2027 entry
Please note: Please note: Closing date for applications to study in 2027 is 18 January 2027 for Term 1 (commencing 1 Feb 2027); 5 July 2027 for Term 3 (commencing 19 July 2027); 27 September 2027 for Term 4 (commencing 11 October 2027)
- Duration
- 1 year full-time or equivalent part-time
- ATAR
- N/A
- Fees (first year)*
- Start dates
- ACU Term 1, ACU Term 3, ACU Term 4
- Commonwealth Supported Places are available for this course. See the course costs section below, under Fees.
- This course is available to international students not seeking to study on a Student Visa.
Overview
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The Graduate Diploma of Advanced Clinical Nursing will prepare you, as a registered nurse, to be an expert clinician and leader in contemporary healthcare environments. This program will equip you with advanced theoretical and technical knowledge to support evidence-informed clinical decision-making and deliver high-quality, people-centred care across diverse settings. You will critically analyse and synthesise complex clinical information to respond effectively to the evolving demands of healthcare practice. Through the integration of specialist knowledge, reflective practice, and critical reasoning, you will demonstrate the ability to lead change, promote culturally safe care, and improve health outcomes within interdisciplinary teams.
Graduates of the Graduate Diploma of Advanced Clinical Nursing will be equipped to emerge as autonomous practitioners with advanced knowledge, expertise, adaptability and leadership.
As part of this course, you will develop your holistic care skills in advanced nursing practice, including people and family-centred health promotion. Specific knowledge in the areas of bioscience, evidence-based practice, contemporary healthcare concepts and the role of the advanced practice nurse will be explored and applied to your advanced clinical practice.
You will also build on your understanding of quality and safety, ethics and interpreting health research. You will also have the choice of two pathways to suit professional goals. The Project Stream focuses on concepts of leadership in healthcare, and the Research Stream focuses on expanding knowledge of research and biostatics.
ACU offers the option to take your innovation and leadership skills to the next level by continuing your study and enrolling in the Master of Advanced Clinical Nursing.
This course is ideal for healthcare professionals looking to become advanced practice nurses, clinical leaders, educational leaders. It supports transition into research or academic roles and the option of further postgraduate studies. Delivered as an asynchronous online course (from 1 full-time or equivalent part-time), the program accommodates busy healthcare professionals' schedules.
At the Graduate Certificate level, students can choose from nine nursing specialisations:
- Cardiac Care
- Advanced Practice
- Gerontological Nursing
- Intensive Care
- Medical
- Neuroscience
- Perioperative
- Renal
- Surgical
Visit ACU Postgraduate Programs for Nurses, for more information.
Commonwealth Supported Places are available for this course. See the courses costs section below, under Fees.
Careers
Graduates may seek employment in clinical nursing in government and private health care facilities depending on your choice of specialisation.
Opportunities include:
- Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Nursing Educator
- Community nursing opportunities/primary health care setting opportunities
- Leadership and management roles within the specialty area
- Leadership and management roles within diverse healthcare services
- Pathways to further study and research (e.g. Master of Advanced Clinical Nursing and other postgraduate programs)
Course details
Course structure
To complete the Graduate Diploma in Advanced Clinical Nursing, a student must complete 80 credit points (cp).
The course includes a Concepts in Advanced Clinical Nursing unit (10 cp), a core prerequisite for the specialisation units, which provides essential bioscience knowledge, enhances advanced communication skills, and develops your confidence in locating, appraising, and applying evidence to clinical practice. This unit provides a strong foundation for success in your chosen specialisation. You will also complete the Contemporary Nursing Practice unit (10 cp), which explores the evolving landscape of nursing in Australia, with a strong emphasis on equity, innovation, and cultural safety. This unit supports your ability to deliver responsive, ethical, and inclusive care across diverse healthcare settings.
You have opportunity to select to study two units from nine specialisations (20 cp). These units focus on Advanced Clinical Practice and strengthening your clinical decision-making through the integration of contemporary evidence, advanced assessment skills, and critical thinking. A strong emphasis is placed on delivering evidence-based, people-centred care to effectively manage complex clinical situations within your specialty context. You will also explore Advanced Professional Practice, with a focus on key concepts such as ethical practice, shared decision-making, and leadership in complex healthcare environments, supporting the development of professional influence and leadership capability, enabling you to lead change, advocate for best practice, and contribute to high-quality, safe, and culturally responsive care in your nursing practice.
You will also explore Quality and Safety in Health Care (10cp), exploring the emergence of quality and safety standards and accreditation. You will engage in Interpreting Health Research (10cp), with opportunity for you to ask, acquire, interpret, analyse, synthesis and integrate evidence to improve healthcare practice and will also undertake Healthcare Ethics: Principles of Practice (10cp), where you explore key theoretical frameworks and principles of healthcare ethics.
You can choose if you want to undertake the Project Pathway, with a focus on concepts of Leadership in Healthcare (10cp), or the Research Pathway, with a focus on expanding knowledge of Qualitative Research Methods or Biostatics for Health Sciences (10cp).
ACU offers the option to take your innovation and leadership skills to the next level by continuing your study and enrolling in the Master of Advanced Clinical Nursing.
Course map
Graduate statement
AQF framework
Exit points
To be eligible to exit with a Graduate Certificate in Advanced Clinical Nursing (with a named specialisation), students must complete the relevant clinical units within their chosen specialisation.
Additional course information
40 credit points of this course consist of the units in the Graduate Certificate in Advanced Clinical Nursing (specialisation) and 40 credit points of this course are derived from the Graduate Diploma in Advanced Clinical Nursing. There is the option to progress and undertake a further 40 credit points after enrolling in the Master of Advanced Clinical Nursing.
Entry requirements
To be eligible for admission to the Graduate Diploma in Advanced Clinical Nursing, an applicant must:
a. have completed a Bachelor of Nursing degree (or equivalent) or higher;
AND
b. hold current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra);
An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
NOTE: Applicants having completed ACU’s Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing or Graduate Certificate in Advanced Clinical Nursing will be eligible for recognition of prior learning of up to 40 credit points.
Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2027 Admission.
Applicants with higher education study
You will need to meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites for your chosen course.
If you have completed at least two units of AQF-recognised study at bachelor level or above, we’ll assign you with a new selection rank that reflects your study level, duration, and grade point average.
If your prior study or relevant work experience has provided you with knowledge, skills or experience aligned with the learning outcomes of units in your new course, you may be eligible to gain credit for study or have your prior learning recognised. This means you may be able to complete your ACU course in a shorter timeframe.
You can use our credit search tool to see what you might be eligible for. For more information about credit and recognition of prior learning at ACU, follow the link below.
Applicants with work and life experience
You’ll need to meet the minimum entry requirements for your chosen course.
Inherent requirement
There are essential components of a course or unit that demonstrate the capabilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of that course or unit. You will need to be able to meet these inherent requirements to complete your course.
Learn more about inherent requirements for your course and how they affect you
Pathways
Further study
Graduates can progress to a Master of Advanced Clinical Nursing and continue with their chosen project stream or research stream.
Fees
Course costs
*This is an indicative first-year fee based on the tuition fee rates for a full-time student, using unit enrolment data from domestic students who studied the course in the previous year.
A student’s annual fee will vary depending on factors including:
- Number of units studied per year
- Choice of major or specialisation
- Elective units
The University reviews fees annually.
You can view current course costs and domestic tuition fee rates by unit.
Payment options
You should be able to concentrate on getting good marks instead of worrying about how you’ll pay your fees. We have a number of options that can help you ease the financial burden, including government assistance, scholarships and income support.
Scholarships
You could be eligible for the Scholarship for Online Learning – Study Your Way created to help ACU online students with the costs associated with studying. We also have university wide scholarships you may be eligible for. Some of our scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit, but these aren’t just for the academically gifted; ACU also recognises excellence in community engagement and leadership. We also offer a range of scholarships for those who may be struggling financially or who have faced other barriers to accessing education.
Apply for this course
ACU Online Applicants
Deferment
Deferment is available for one year. If you wish to defer, please speak to your course consultant.
Staff Profile
Dr Nancy Ming Zhang
Lecturer, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine
Dr Nancy Ming Zhang is an experienced nursing academic with years of experiences in intensive care nursing across New Zealand and Australia. With a strong commitment to student-centred collaborative approach, she has taught both undergraduate and postgraduate nursing students, fostering a learning environment that encourages critical thinking and practical application of knowledge.
Nancy holds a Graduate Certificate in Intensive Care Nursing, a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education, a Master of Clinical Education and a PhD, with a focus on her research interests in knowledge translation, simulation education, cardiovascular disease, complementary medicine, and patient-centred value-based healthcare. Her work aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice by translating evidence and innovation into teaching methods and clinical practice, enhancing the learning experience for students and ultimately improving patient outcomes.
With a passion for fostering a student-centred approach and a dedication to advancing nursing education, Nancy continues to inspire the next generation of nurses through her extensive knowledge, experience and active collaboration with industry partners, ensuring education remains relevant to clinical practice.