Graduate Certificate in Forensic Mental Health

This degree provides a broad knowledge base in forensic mental health. It's delivered in collaboration with Queensland Health's Forensic Mental Health Service and offers professionals an introduction to working in this field. You will leave the program with research-based knowledge in forensic mental health and how it is applied in practice.

A core part of this degree is the relationship between mental disorder and criminal offending. You'll gain a critical appreciation of the issues involved in defining mental disorder and criminal behaviour, how they are classified and the major models for understanding both, including free will versus determinism, nature versus nurture, and person versus situation.

Risk assessment in forensic mental health will be another key aspect of your study. You'll gain a deeper understanding of the utility and applicability of different risk assessment tools that attempt to predict an individual's likelihood of harming other or being harmed by others.

Throughout this graduate certificate you will learn alongside other professionals and graduates who work in, or wish to work in, mental health and criminal justice. The collaborative learning that's part of this program means you have plenty of opportunity to make personal connections, with your fellow students and with our academics staff.

With a more thorough understanding of mental health issues and the way they intersect with criminal offending, you'll have a more thorough knowledge of forensic mental health with a specialty in different constructions of mental illness that take into account various cultural, normative, philosophical and social aspects and how these intersect with ideas of criminal offending and justice. You may find work in corrections, rehabilitation counselling, charities working in the criminal justice sector, and in government departments and organisations.

Study anytime, anywhere - This degree is available online through our Digital campus, giving you more room to fit university with your work and social life.

The courses in this graduate certificate may be credited towards a related graduate diploma or masters degree. Griffith's innovative Credit Precedent Database allows you to find out what credit decisions have been made in the past, which will give you an idea of what you can expect.

You will be equipped for work in health departments specifically catering to forensic patients, and in related areas such as corrections, families departments and disability services.

• Health Care and Social Assistance
• Education and Training
• Public Administration and Safety
• Other Services

• Welfare manager
• Health manager
• Public health officer
• Counsellor
• Welfare worker
• Community worker
• Probation and parole officer
• Disability services officer

*Source: Australian Government Job Outlook.

Griffith University grants credit and recognition of prior learning which may relate to prior formal learning or prior informal and non-formal learning. For more information, please visit the following website:

• Credit transfer

Griffith's innovative Credit Precedent Database allows you to find out what credit decisions have been made in the past. These precedents will give you an idea of what you can expect.

• View credit precedents for this program

To apply, add this program to your shortlist at the top of this page or apply for this program now (a maximum of three preferences is allowed).

Griffith will assess your first preference and will only assess subsequent preferences if you are not successful.

Once you have submitted your application, you will be sent an email about how to track your application.

For a full list of your incomplete or submitted applications, please view your application list.