About

Overview

Specifically designed for Registered Nurses or Registered Midwives working in special care nurseries (SCN), the Specialist Certificate in Neonatal Care will introduce you to the latest evidence for high-quality care of sick or preterm neonates and their families.

As a student, you will develop a sound understanding of the evidence base that underpins neonatal specialty practice. You will explore family-centred and neonatal developmental care and extend your knowledge in the assessment of the sick or preterm neonate and management of common neonatal conditions. You will learn from expert clinicians as you begin to confidently put your new specialty knowledge into practice.

Who is this course for?

Tailored to the needs of currently practising Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives, the course offers flexible online delivery, enabling you to fit part-time study into your busy schedule. This certificate is ideal for professionals entering the neonatal workforce as well as experienced SCN staff who require updating of knowledge and skills to confidently and competently care for increasingly complex neonates.

International students are welcome to study this course. However, please note that this course is not available to international students who require a student visa to study in Australia as it does not meet the onshore study requirements and it is not registered with CRICOS.

Course aims

Every year in Australia more than 27,000 babies are born preterm, before 37 weeks’ gestation. The vast majority will not require neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission after birth but will require admission to a Special Care Nursery (SCN). This course acts as a pathway into the more advanced Graduate Certificate in Neonatal Intensive Care.

Related course

You may also be interested in the Graduate Certificate in Neonatal Intensive Care.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Admission criteria

To be considered for entry into this course, you must have:

A bachelor degree in nursing or midwifery, AND
At least one year of documented clinical experience as a registered nurse or midwife working in an acute or sub-acute healthcare service within the preceding five years from the time of application, AND
Current unrestricted registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, AND
Current employment in a relevant practice area.

Practice areas relevant to this course include registered nurses or registered midwives working in special care nurseries.

Meeting the published entry requirements for this course does not guarantee selection.

English language requirements

All applicants to the University of Melbourne must satisfy the English language requirements. This may be achieved in a number of ways, including recognised previous study taught and assessed entirely in English or an approved English language test. If you are from a non-English speaking background, the required standard of English for this degree is one of the following English proficiency test scores:

English language test score requirements
If you need to undertake an English language test, you must meet one of the scores* below:

IELTS

6.5

with no band less than 6.0
TOEFL

79+

with writing 21; speaking 18; reading 13; listening 13
PEARSON

64+

with no communicative skill below 60
CAMBRIDGE

176+

with no skill less than 169
*Accepted tests: IELTS (Academic English Only); TOEFL Internet-based test; Pearson Test of English Academic; Cambridge English: Advanced/Certificate of Advanced English (CAE). If a test displays N/A, it means it is not accepted for this course.

About selection

When assessing applications, the Selection Committee will consider your previous studies and academic performance.

The Selection Committee may request additional information to clarify any aspect of an application, according to the University’s Academic Board rules regarding selection instruments.

Meeting the published entry requirements for this course does not guarantee selection.

The Selection Committee will also consider your clinical experience.

English Program Requirements

All applicants to the University of Melbourne must satisfy the English language requirements. This may be achieved in a number of ways, including recognised previous study taught and assessed entirely in English or an approved English language test. If you are from a non-English speaking background, the required standard of English for this degree is one of the following English proficiency test scores:

English language test score requirements

If you need to undertake an English language test, you must meet one of the scores* below:

IELTS

6.5

with no band less than 6.0

TOEFL

79+

with writing 21; speaking 18; reading 13; listening 13

PEARSON

64+

with no communicative skill below 60

CAMBRIDGE

176+

with no skill less than 169

*Accepted tests: IELTS (Academic English Only); TOEFL Internet-based test; Pearson Test of English Academic; Cambridge English: Advanced/Certificate of Advanced English (CAE). If a test displays N/A, it means it is not accepted for this course.

Career

Who is the course for

This course is ideal for those entering the neonatal workforce and for experienced special care nursery (SCN) nursing and midwifery staff who require updating of knowledge and skills to enable them to confidently and competently care for complex neonates.

Career outcomes

This course will provide you with the specialty knowledge needed to advance your career in neonatal nursing. You will gain lifelong learning skills that facilitate knowledge and skill development as a specialty neonatal clinician and the ability to undertake ongoing professional development in preparation for more advanced levels of specialty practice.

Further study

On completion of the course, graduates who are Registered Nurses may be eligible to receive 25 credit points of advanced standing toward the Graduate Certificate in Neonatal Intensive Care.

Dentist

Fee Information

Application Fee 154