Graduate Certificate in Paediatric Intensive Care Nursing
Course code: GC-PAEICN
January, June
AUD $14,000 (2026 indicative first year fee). Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) are not available
January, June
AUD $22,000 (2026 indicative first year fee)
IELTS 6.5: with no band less than 6.0
Course structure
Overview
As a student of this course, you will:
Examine core pathophysiological concepts
Explore the underlying pathophysiology of paediatric disease processes and develop knowledge and skills required to prioritise care of the child in the paediatric intensive care environment.
Expand critical care skills and ability to assess and manage patients
Broaden your knowledge and theory of paediatric intensive care and learn how to assess critically ill infants, children and adolescents. Develop specialist knowledge in the management of critically ill children, including those with congenital heart disease.
Be guided to confidently put knowledge into practice
You will receive supervised training in your employing hospital, undertake accurate assessment of paediatric patients, and provide age and developmentally appropriate nursing interventions, demonstrating you can integrate your acquired knowledge with your technical skills.
Course structure
The Graduate Certificate of Paediatric Intensive Care Nursing is a 50-point program, designed to be undertaken part time over 12 months. You must complete:
- One core clinical practice subjects undertaken at your employing hospital, worth 12.5 points.
- Three core online subject, each worth 12.5 points.
Please note: if you commence study in the winter intake you will have a 6 month break after completing the first subject Applied Pathophysiology and recommence the year after. Consequently, starting this course in the winter intake will take 1.5 years to complete.
Explore this course
Explore the subjects you could choose as part of this degree.
Students must successfully complete the following four core subjects
| Accordion | |
|---|---|
| Applied Pathophysiology · 12.5 pts |
This subject provides a foundation for understanding the pathologic basis of disease across the lifespan. It equips learners with the knowledge and skills required to explain assessment data and prioritise patient care in a specialty area of practice based on scientific principles. Core pathophysiological concepts covered will include: cellular responses to stress; adaptation, injury and death; acute and chronic inflammation; tissue renewal and repair; infection; neoplasia; haemodynamic, genetic and immune system disorders and genetic predisposition to disease. Using a case study based approach, learners will be provided with opportunities to apply their knowledge
|
| Paediatric Intensive Care Practice · 12.5 pts |
This subject examines theoretical principles of paediatric intensive care practice and integrates these with knowledge gained from Applied Pathophysiology, Foundations in Paediatric Critical Care and Paediatric Intensive Care Nursing. Students engage in work integrated learning in their individual clinical settings to build knowledge and skills to support comprehensive patient assessment across the lifespan from neonate to adolescence, and the management of technologically complex monitoring and patient care interventions. Patient and family perspectives of acute illness and disease will be considered in the development and implementation of nursing interventions as well as inter-disciplinary care planning. Students will gain essential knowledge to plan, monitor and evaluate nursing interventions as well as the knowledge of how to recognise and respond to medical emergencies, including patients who are at risk of clinical deterioration. |
| Foundations in Paediatric Critical Care · 12.5 pts |
This subject provides the theoretical foundation for competent practice in paediatric critical care. Students will extend their knowledge from Applied Physiology to develop an understanding of acute and complex illnesses and diseases commonly seen in the critically ill paediatric patient. The biological basis for and evidence-based principles underpinning treatment and symptom management of common diseases and illnesses will be explored. The application of technology used in paediatric critical care will be examined. Students will gain essential knowledge to assess, plan, manage and evaluate interventions. Students will gain a deeper understanding of and integration of patient and family perspectives of illness and disease to their clinical practice. |
| Paediatric Intensive Care Nursing · 12.5 pts |
This subject extends the theoretical knowledge of paediatric intensive care nursing students have gained by exploring acute and complex illness and injury in the critically ill and/or injured paediatric patient, particularly those requiring high technology care management. Students will apply knowledge and skills in problem solving, critical thinking and reflective practice to explore the evidence underpinning paediatric intensive care nursing to solve patient management problems encountered in specific intensive care environments. Students will extend their knowledge to assess, plan, manage and evaluate interventions, while developing a deeper understanding and appreciation of patient and family perspectives of illness and disease. |