Graduate Certificate in Child and Family Health Nursing

Course overview

The Graduate Certificate in Child and Family Health Nursing aims to provide students with a sound understanding of child and family health nursing practice within a legal, moral and ethical framework that reflects current models of care, government policy, and practice initiatives. Nurses working, or intending to work, in the specialty of child and family health require a clear understanding of primary health care, health promotion, parent-infant attachment, and the social determinants of health. Students will explore family dynamics and the importance of connections between the child, family, and community.

The quality of early relationships and the environment in which a child is raised significantly affects their mental health and well-being. Using a strengths-based, family partnership approach, child and family health nurses provide psychosocial and practical support and guidance to new parents while building capacity in their parenting skills.

Health and developmental screening and surveillance of infants and young children are significant components of child and family health nursing practice. The course focuses on feeding and nutrition, safety and well-being, and growth and development in the early years from birth to age 5. The role of the child and family health nurse as a central point of access to multidisciplinary community health services will be discussed, and students will undertake 80 hours of clinical placement to consolidate their theoretical learning and apply it to practice.

Working in child and family health practice requires specialist skills and knowledge to meet the increasingly complex health care needs of children and families in the community. The Graduate Certificate in Child and Family Health Nursing responds to industry requirements by preparing students for practice, developing their educational needs, and fostering the professional skills and attributes they require to optimise health outcomes for the child and family.

Learning Outcomes

This course is designed to develop specific learning outcomes. Students will:

• demonstrate the knowledge, skills and attributes required of the child & family health nurse in their speciality context, benchmarked against current research, policy guidelines and practice standards
• examine the principles of primary health care, health promotion and the social determinants of health to support optimal health outcomes for young children and their families
• apply a strengths-based, family partnership model of care to support mental health and well-being parenting capacity and infant-parent attachment
• evaluate the impact of social, cultural, community and environmental factors on health and well-being of the child and family in the early years
• analyse the evidence-based assessment and screening tools that support and monitor family & children’s health, safety, nutrition, growth and development
• appraise the role of the child and family health nurse as a central point of access to multidisciplinary and multicultural community health services, non-government organisations, resources and networks

Career outcomes

A Graduate Certificate in Child and Family Health Nursing is an investment in your future and will provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to ensure better outcomes for your patients and progress your career, leading to opportunities in clinical education, management and specialist nursing roles.

Course Structure

The Graduate Certificate in Child and Family Health Nursing is a one year course, consisting of four 10-week terms.Students will need to complete 4 core units. One unit is studied per term. Approximate hours of study are 12 – 15 hours per week.