The Graduate Certificate in Education (Wellbeing and Positive Mental Health) is an 18-unit program offered by the Faculty of Education, Humanities and Law and is available in internal and distance modes. The course is only available part-time.

Admission requirements

Applicants must normally hold an approved degree or equivalent qualification. However, the Faculty Board may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.

Course aims

The Graduate Certificate in Education (Wellbeing and Positive Mental Health) provides candidates with opportunities to critically examine recent literature, engage in debate and reflection, and expand and apply in–depth knowledge of:

  • policies and practices related to the promotion of wellbeing and positive mental health;
  • methods for fostering interdisciplinary and intercultural partnerships and working collaboratively;
  • theoretical and practical matters in education in such a way as to improve professional decision making;
  • curriculum, pedagogy and assessment policies and practices designed to improve learning outcomes and student/client well-being;
  • theoretical and practical matters related to their area of interest.

Learning outcomes 

It is expected that graduates will be able to:

  • further enhance dispositions, cognitive skills, reflective awareness and creativity to facilitate the application of evidence-based knowledge, skills and capacities to the promotion of wellbeing and positive mental health in educational contexts
  • apply high-level technical and communication skills to design, evaluate, implement, analyse and theorise about developments that contribute to professional practice or scholarship
  • critically reflect on, evaluate and synthesise knowledge gained from reading, discussion and writing to demonstrate an advanced understanding of educational research, policies and practices
  • demonstrate contemporary evidence-based knowledge when operating in educational contexts.

Credit

Credit may be granted, on application, for topics completed or being undertaken towards another relevant Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Masters degree, or for accredited professional development.

Program of study

To qualify for the Graduate Certificate in Education (Wellbeing and Positive Mental Health) specialisation, a student must complete 18 units with a grade of P or NGP, or better, in topics listed below.

Core - Year 1 topics

13.5 units comprising

EDUC9552 Collaborative Consultation (4.5 units)
EDUC9606 Planning Change in Organisations (4.5 units)
EDUC9702 Teaching and learning to promote wellbeing and positive mental health in schools and early childhood services (4.5 units)

Option - Year 1 topics

Select 4.5 units from

EDUC8731 Motivation, Cognition and Metacognition in Learning (4.5 units)
EDUC8601 Strategic Thinking and Planning (4.5 units)
EDUC8602 Leaders and Leadership (4.5 units)
EDUC9709 Mindfulness and the Inner World of Teaching and Learning (4.5 units)

Or, with approval from the Course Coordinator, students may count topics from one of the following programs towards the Option component:

  • Master of Applied Positive Psychology - University of Melbourne
  • Professional Certificate in Education (Positive Education) - University of Melbourne. (NB Students must complete both subjects in the Professional Certificate to receive credit towards the Option component).
  • other Positive Psychology programs offered at an approved institution, such as the programs in Positive Psychology offered by Pennsylvania State University or a university associated with the European Network for Social and Emotional Competencies (e.g. the University of Malta).