The Graduate Certificate in Acute Care Nursing (Paediatrics) is an 18-unit program offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.

Admission requirements

Applicants must normally hold an approved degree or equivalent qualification and must be registered nurses in Australia.

However, the Board may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature

In addition, applicants must have a minimum of one year post-registration experience and must provide a supporting statement from their employer stating their willingness to facilitate the extended clinical practice components of the course within their workplace and/or provide evidence that an affiliated health agency will facilitate the clinical practice in a supernumerary capacity.

Course aims

The Graduate Certificate in Acute Care Nursing (Paediatrics) aims to:

  • facilitate development of specialised knowledge, skills attributes for application in paediatric nursing environments

Learning outcomes 

On completion of this course students will be able to:

  • critically analyse the concepts and theory around recognition, response and management of the acute, complex and/or critically-ill deteriorating paediatric patient in an acute care setting
  • identify key concepts related to working with children and their families such as keeping
    children safe, growth and development, attachment theories and engaging with infants,
    children and families
  • critique the socioeconomic, physiological and psychosocial issues facing the health and wellbeing of children, young people and their families in contemporary society
  • apply the knowledge, skills and attributes required to practice at a beginning level in the
    specialist area of paediatric nursing in a variety of clinical settings.

Program of study

To qualify for the Graduate Certificate in Acute Care Nursing (Paediatrics) a student must complete 18 units as specified below with a grade of Pass or NGP or better in each topic.

The award of a grade of Fail (F) in the same topic on more than one occasion or in 9 units or more, or failure to complete the course within four consecutive semesters may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purposes of the University's Policy on Student Progress.

Except with permission of the Faculty Board:

  • no topic may be attempted more than twice
  • a student may not include a topic which repeats work previously undertaken.

Core - Year 1 topics

18 units comprising:

NURS8740  Foundations for Responding to Clinical Deterioration Across the Lifespan (4.5 units)
NURS8824  Introduction to Working with Infants, Children and Families (4.5 units)
NURS8829  Paediatric Nursing Practice (PEP) (4.5 units)
NURS8828  Contemporary Issues in Paediatric Nursing (4.5 units)

Not all topics will be available in any given year or semester