Older Persons Mental Health

Person-centred and recovery-oriented practice

The older person specialisation draws on person-centred and recovery-oriented [link to recovery] practice for working with people who are moving into old age and very old age. Students will explore the reality of challenges and developmental changes that occur with age, along with an acknowledgement of the ongoing contribution of older people to society and identifying factors that support positive ageing.

Common causes of mental illness and distress during this life stage will be explored, along with grief, impact of severely impaired health, ethico-legal issues, the psychotic spectrum, dementia and behavioural and psychological changes that may occur in the presence of dementia.

A practical approach will be taken to improving clinical outcomes, as students are assisted to adapt assessment, care planning and interventions to meet the diverse need of older people.

The Graduate Certificate is now offered in short 50 hour units. This includes KNOWLEDGE units (units with a ‘K’ in the code) that are self-directed, independent learning units. These units can be completed at your own pace over any period of time across two teaching periods. FOUNDATION units are available only in one teaching period and those Foundation units that are specialised are only available this semester. The short 50 hour units are offered in each semester over three teaching periods of five weeks each. This allows you to better manage your study load by selecting the teaching periods and study load you prefer. NEW STUDENTS and CONTINUING STUDENTS can download the suggested sequence of study for the upcoming semester through the download buttons below.

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