Prior to 31 December 2015

To be read in conjunction with the requirements for the course in which you are enrolled:

The Child and Family Health Nursing specialisation is offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences and is either completed as a 31.5-unit program or an 18-unit program depending on the course being undertaken (see course requirements above). This program of study involves a Professional Experience Placement (PEP). Please check additional requirements on the School of Nursing and Midwifery web page as follows http://www.flinders.edu.au/nursing/professional-experience-placements/postgraduate-programs.cfm

Specialisation aims

The specialisation aims to provide the opportunity for individuals from any professional background who are working in health related areas to deepen the knowledge base on which their practice is grounded. 

Learning outcomes

Graduates of the specialisation are expected to be able to:

  • identify the key concepts related to working with children and their families. These include keeping children safe, growth and development, attachment theories and engaging with infants, children and families;
  • contextualise working with children and their families in a broad primary health care framework;
  • develop the knowledge required to be able to support infants, children and their families to manage a range of parenting and child health issues;
  • identify and critique information required to be able to promote the health and wellbeing of infants and children being raised in circumstances that render them vulnerable;
  • demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and skills on how to affect social and behavioural change to improve the health of infants, children and families within communities; and
  • demonstrate clinical competency at an advanced level in the special area of child and family health nursing in community settings.

Program of study

To qualify for the Child and Family Health Nursing specialisation, a student must either complete 31.5 units or 18 units as specified below (depending on the course) 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 two consecutive years may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purposes of the University''s Policy on Student Progress.

A student who fails the clinical component of any topic will receive a fail grade for the entire topic.

Except with permission of the Faculty Board:

  • no topic may be attempted more than twice
  • the program must be completed in four consecutive semesters
  • a student may not include a topic which repeats work previously undertaken.

Core topics

31.5 units comprising*

 NURS8821  Health Maintenance for Infants, Children and Young People  (4.5 units)
 NURS8822  Primary Health Care for Child and Family Health Nursing  (4.5 units)
 NURS8823  Clinical Practice for Child and Family Health Nursing  (4.5 units)
 NURS8824  Introduction to Working with Infants, Children and Families  (4.5 units)
 NURS8825  Working with Vulnerable Families  (4.5 units)
 NURS8826  Advanced Clinical Practice for Child and Family Health Nursing  (4.5 units)
 NURS8827  Working in Communities for Children and Families  (4.5 units)

*Students enrolled in the Master of Nursing (Clinical), Master of Nursing (Clinical and Research) and Master of Mental Health Nursing (Clinical) need to complete 18 units comprising the following core topics

 NURS8821  Health Maintenance for Infants, Children and Young People  (4.5 units)
 NURS8822  Primary Health Care for Child and Family Health Nursing  (4.5 units)
 NURS8823  Clinical Practice for Child and Family Health Nursing  (4.5 units)
 NURS8824  Introduction to Working with Infants, Children and Families  (4.5 units)