Graduate Diploma in Youth Mental Health (Online)
Course code: GD-YMHMO
March, April, June, August, October
AUD $18,000 (2026 indicative first year fee). Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) are not available
March, April, June, August, October
AUD $18,744 (2026 indicative first year fee)
IELTS 6.5: with no band less than 6.0
Course structure
Overview
100% online flexible learning
Our online Graduate Diploma in Youth Mental Health is designed to fit your life. You’ll study one subject at a time, giving you more breaks throughout the year and helping you achieve deeper focus.
Study where and when it suits you, so you’re in control.
Structure:
- 8 subjects (100 credit points)
- Graduate in as soon as 16 months.
Become a sought-after youth mental health expert. You will develop a deep understanding of the factors influencing youth mental health and learn how to apply evidence-based strategies to effectively engage young people across diverse communities.
Profile
Paul Badcock
Associate Professor Paul Badcock is the Course Director of this course. He is the Associate Director of the Graduate Education team at the University of Melbourne’s Centre for Youth Mental Health, and at Orygen, a youth mental health research and knowledge translation organisation. As an educator, he oversees and teaches into a suite of online graduate programs that equip teachers and health professionals with the latest theory, research and evidence-based approaches in youth mental health care.
As a researcher, he has a longstanding interest in evolutionary psychology, theoretical neuroscience, the affective disorders and youth mental health, and has published with some of the world’s leading experts in these areas. For over ten years now, he has channelled his expertise in knowledge translation, online education and youth mental health into graduate programs that aim to make a genuine difference to the lives and wellbeing of young people experiencing mental ill-health by improving the skills and knowledge of those who work with them.
Explore this course
Explore the subjects you could choose as part of this degree.
The course runs over six online terms per year, and you’ll typically take one subject each term.
Compulsory subjects
Complete all of the following.
| Accordion | |
|---|---|
| Development in Young People · 12.5 pts |
Please note: this subject is delivered wholly online and only open to students enrolled in the wholly online Master of Youth Mental Health (MC-YMHMO), Graduate Diploma in Youth Mental Health (GD-YMHMO) or Graduate Certificate in Youth Mental Health (GC-YMHMO). Subjects in this course are delivered in an online accelerated learning model and therefore, students typically enrol in one 12.5 credit point subject per online teaching term. This subject provides a comprehensive overview of development in young people, focusing on the various factors that influence both healthy development and mental ill-health in childhood, adolescence and emerging adulthood. Subject content includes:
|
| Mental Ill-health in Young People 1 · 12.5 pts |
Please note: this subject is delivered wholly online and only open to students enrolled in the wholly online Master of Youth Mental Health (MC-YMHMO), Graduate Diploma in Youth Mental Health (GD-YMHMO) or Graduate Certificate in Youth Mental Health (GC-YMHMO). Subjects in this course are delivered in an online accelerated learning model and therefore, students typically enrol in one 12.5 credit point subject per online teaching term. This subject provides a comprehensive overview of the major non-psychotic disorders, including mood, anxiety, substance use and eating disorders. Each lecture will focus on the epidemiology, aetiology and typical features of the disorder, its impact on health and functioning, and evidenced-based interventions. Subject content includes:
|
| Foundations of Youth Mental Health · 12.5 pts |
Please note: this subject is delivered wholly online and only open to students enrolled in the wholly online Master of Youth Mental Health (MC-YMHMO), Graduate Diploma in Youth Mental Health (GD-YMHMO) or Graduate Certificate in Youth Mental Health (GC-YMHMO). Subjects in this course are delivered in an online accelerated learning model and therefore, students typically enrol in one 12.5 credit point subject per online teaching term. This subject introduces some of the key principles and approaches of working with young people in relation to mental health. The subject will also introduce the key theories and research that underlie contemporary understandings of young people and mental health. Content includes:
|
| Engaging and Assessing Young People · 12.5 pts |
Please note: this subject is delivered wholly online and only open to students enrolled in the wholly online Master of Youth Mental Health (MC-YMHMO), Graduate Diploma in Youth Mental Health (GD-YMHMO) or Graduate Certificate in Youth Mental Health (GC-YMHMO). Subjects in this course are delivered in an online accelerated learning model and therefore, students typically enrol in one 12.5 credit point subject per online teaching term. This subject examines some of the key foundations of youth mental health clinical practice, including assessment, engagement and case formulation. It explores a variety of frameworks and provides an overview of the concept of youth friendliness, which is pervasive throughout all youth mental health clinical practice and service level delivery. The content includes:
|
| Mental Ill-health in Young People 2 · 12.5 pts |
Please note: this subject is delivered wholly online and only open to students enrolled in the wholly online Master of Youth Mental Health (MC-YMHMO) or Graduate Diploma in Youth Mental Health (GD-YMHMO). Subjects in this course are delivered in an online accelerated learning model and therefore, students typically enrol in one 12.5 credit point subject per online teaching term. This unit will provide a comprehensive overview of psychotic, personality, behavioural and neurodevelopmental disorders in young people. Lectures will focus on the epidemiology, aetiology and typical features of these disorders in young people, their impact on health and functioning, and evidenced-based interventions. Course content includes:
|
| Early Intervention in Mental Health · 12.5 pts |
Please note: this subject is delivered wholly online and only open to students enrolled in the wholly online Master of Youth Mental Health (MC-YMHMO) or Graduate Diploma in Youth Mental Health (GD-YMHMO). Subjects in this course are delivered in an online accelerated learning model and therefore, students typically enrol in one 12.5 credit point subject per online teaching term. This subject provides an overview of the framework for prevention and early intervention in public health, including how this framework can be applied in youth mental health. The content includes:
|
| Psychosocial Interventions with Youth · 12.5 pts |
Please note: this subject is delivered wholly online and only open to students enrolled in the wholly online Master of Youth Mental Health (MC-YMHMO or Graduate Diploma in Youth Mental Health (GC-YMHMO). Subjects in this course are delivered in an online accelerated learning model and therefore, students typically enrol in one 12.5 credit point subject per online teaching term. This subject will provide a comprehensive overview of the major psychosocial interventions that have demonstrated evidence of effectiveness in young people. Subject content includes:
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| Inclusive Youth Mental Health Practice · 12.5 pts |
Please note: this subject is delivered wholly online and only open to students enrolled in the wholly online Master of Youth Mental Health (MC-YMHMO) or Graduate Diploma in Youth Mental Health (GD-YMHMO). Subjects in this course are delivered in an online accelerated learning model and therefore, students typically enrol in one 12.5 credit point subject per online teaching term. This subject focuses on inclusive youth mental health practices that promote equitable access and engagement for all young people experiencing mental ill-health. It provides a comprehensive overview of mental ill-health among diverse populations of young people, ranging from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, those from rural and remote regions, through to young people who identify as LGBTQIA+. Evidence-based interventions or models of care for responding to the needs of these groups are also considered. |