Entry requirements and pathways

Academic entry requirement

Prerequisites

Successful completion of an Australian bachelor degree (or equivalent).

Students must have secured access to placement in Maternal and Child Health service/s for the duration of their course, with written confirmation from that service provider. To secure your placement, you must complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) form.

Specialisation - compulsory: Both nursing and midwifery.

Applicants must hold current registration with AHPRA as both a Registered Nurse and a Midwife.

Applicants must also have at least 12 months recent experience in both Nursing and Midwifery (a total of two years).

Note: Meeting minimum prerequisites does not guarantee an offer of a place. Entry into all La Trobe courses is based on competitive selection and there may be limited places available.

Special Entry Access Schemes (SEAS)

For information on adjustment factors that may be applicable, such as those through Special Entry and Access Schemes (SEAS) and other La Trobe special access schemes see: Special Entry Access Schemes (SEAS)

Core participation requirements

Core Participation Requirements are abilities, attributes and behaviours that are required to undertake learning activities and professional experience in your course. These requirements are provided for your information and are not entry requirements. Core Participation Requirements are also referred to as Inherent Requirements by other institutions.

La Trobe University wants you to understand the Core Participation Requirements of your course so you can:

  • determine if you may need support during your studies; and
  • make an informed decision about whether the course is suitable for you.

If there are any Core Participation Requirements listed below that you do not feel capable of demonstrating, we may be able to make adjustments that may support your studies. Please contact the AccessAbility Hub or your Course Coordinator to discuss any adjustments you may need.

As a La Trobe student, you will also need to abide by the Student Charter and meet any professional accreditation requirements of your course.

Core requirement

Students must be able to manage their own responses and behaviour to work effectively in a range of learning environments with diverse people and tasks. This includes the capacity to be receptive and respond appropriately to constructive feedback. Students should also be able to work with others in a team or group environment and make and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of individuals in order to complete tasks or for professional practice.

See also: Student Behaviours Policy

Course-Specific requirement

Child, Family and Community nursing students must demonstrate knowledge and engage in ethical behaviour in practice (academically and clinically) to facilitate safe, competent interactions and relationships with people to ensure their own and others' physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual wellbeing is not placed at risk.

Child, Family and Community nursing students must be able to demonstrate behavioural stability by functioning and adapting effectively and sensitively in a diverse and changing academic and clinical environment.

Child, Family and Community students must demonstrate knowledge and compliance with Australian law, professional regulations and scope of practice to enable the safe delivery of care. Nursing and midwifery students must be responsible and accountable for their practice to reduce the risk of harm to themselves and others.

Child, Family and Community nursing practice requires effective verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills for the safe delivery of care. Nursing and midwifery students are required to have effective and efficient verbal communication in English. Nursing and midwifery students also need to be respectful, clear, attentive, empathetic, honest and non-judgmental; and have effective written communication skills – a fundamental nursing and midwifery responsibility with professional and legal ramifications.

Core requirement

Students must be able to locate, acquire, retain and apply knowledge as part of their learning and for assessment. They must have the ability to sustain their attention over a designated period, maintain their focus in a variety of learning environments and remember information long enough to complete tasks in a reasonable and safe timeframe.

Course-Specific requirement

Child, Family and Community nursing students must be able to use retained knowledge to determine safe and appropriate care decisions. They must be able to notice, focus their attention and process information in order to respond effectively to critical changes in instructions, measurements or observable behaviour. For example, they must be able to focus on and respond to changing visual information in answering questions about appropriate courses of action in distracting environments.

Child, Family and Community nursing practice require comprehensive theoretical knowledge. Nursing and midwifery students must demonstrate consistent and effective knowledge and cognitive skills to provide safe and competent Child, Family and Community nursing care.

Competent literacy skills are essential for safe and effective delivery of nursing and midwifery care. Child, Family and Community nursing students must have the ability to accurately acquire information and accurately convey appropriate effective messages; to read and comprehend a range of literature and information; and the capacity to understand and implement academic conventions to construct written text in a scholarly manner.

Competent and accurate numeracy skills are essential for safe and effective Child, Family and Community nursing care. Child, Family and Community nursing students must demonstrate the ability to interpret and correctly apply data, measurements and numerical criteria.

Core requirement

Students should possess the ability to interact with visual, auditory or tactile inputs sufficiently to manage their learning environment and to meet professional performance needs.

Course-Specific requirement

Child, Family and Community nursing students must be able to observe visual inputs, including patient symptoms, which will allow them to manage patient care and continually develop their nursing practice during placements and throughout their career.

Adequate visual, auditory, tactile acuity is required to provide safe and effective nursing and midwifery care. Child, Family and Community nursing students must demonstrate the following:

  • adequate visual acuity to perform the required range of skills, tasks and assessments to maintain consistent, accurate and safe care to self and others
  • adequate auditory ability to monitor, assess and manage individuals' health needs consistently and accurately
  • adequate tactile ability to monitor, assess and detect patients' physical characteristics and act on any abnormalities detected to provide thorough Child, Family and Community nursing care.

Core requirement

Gross motor skills

Students should possess the strength, range of motion, coordination and mobility sufficient to manage their learning environment and ultimately professional performance needs.

Fine motor skills

Students should possess the manual dexterity and fine motor skills sufficient to manage their learning environment and ultimately professional performance needs.

Course-Specific requirement

Child, Family and Community nursing practice involve physical demands and requires gross motor function and manual dexterity and fine motor skills. Child, Family and Community students must demonstrate sufficient gross motor function, manual dexterity and fine motor skills necessary to perform, coordinate, prioritise care and undertake tasks that involve:

  • gross motor skills include lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, standing, twisting and bending; and
  • fine motor skills include being able to grasp, press, push, turn, squeeze and manipulate various objects and individuals. Students must be able to demonstrate and perform these tasks consistently and safely to reduce the risk of harm to self and others.

Child, Family and Community nursing practice require both physical and mental performance at a consistent and sustained level to meet individual needs over time. Child, Family and Community students need sufficient physical and mental endurance to perform multiple tasks in an assigned period to provide safe and effective care. Students require the capacity to maintain consistency and quality of performance throughout the designated period of duty; and the ability to perform repetitive activities with a level of concentration to ensure focus on the activity until it is completed appropriately.

Credit for previous study (advanced standing)

Credit for previous study (advanced standing) is the recognition of prior study or learning that can be counted towards a qualification. This can reduce the number of subjects required to complete your course. The amount of credit received depends on the level and relevance of your previous study and the number of subjects completed.

The University will designate courses where there is only admission into Year 1 of the course. In these cases, there is limited credit. See list of limited entry courses.

To check if this course is available for credit, please visit the Advanced standing webpage.

Pathways

There are currently no alternative Pathway courses for this course.

Use the Pathways Tool to discover other courses with pathway options available.

Questions about the course?

Check when course applications close and find out how to apply directly.

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What you'll study

Work-Based Learning

Compulsory placements (Work Based Learning)
During this course, you will participate in one or more supervised Work Based Learning (WBL) placements designed to allow you to practice newly acquired skills, behaviours and knowledge while integrating theory with practice. The placements will immerse you in professional work culture, enabling you to develop and further enhance your skills. WBL provides you with the opportunity to gain valuable industry experience at one or more of our local, interstate or international industry partners or agencies. WBL placements will generally be arranged by the Office of the Provost Placements and WBL Team at La Trobe University. The number of hours undertaken can vary considerably, depending on the requirements of the course. Students may incur additional costs and it may be necessary to travel or relocate to complete a specific placement. Please refer to the individual subject entries for more information.

See La Trobe University Handbook for more details

The Handbook contains detailed course information designed for enrolled students, including course structures, electives and options. The delivery of this course can vary between campuses.

View course information for Melbourne (Bundoora)

Questions about the course?

Check when course applications close and find out how to apply directly.

Apply now

 Call  1300 135 045

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Graduate Diploma in Child, Family and Community Nursing course and career outcomes

However you choose to structure your study, La Trobe recognises your hard work. Here are the pathways you could follow as you move through your course.

Course intended learning outcomes

  • Critically examine the principles of child and family health nursing according to relevant legislation, professional standards, and program guidelines.
  • Plan, implement and evaluate child, family and community nursing, using an evidence-based approach to address complex family concerns.
  • Critically apply culturally inclusive, family-centred practices to achieve optimal health and development outcomes for children and families.
  • Develop knowledge and skills in teleheath and artificial intelligence to support primary health care and community-based nursing practice.
  • Communicate effectively as a member of a multidisciplinary team.

Graduate Diploma in Child, Family and Community Nursing career opportunities

As a graduate of this course, you will be well placed to find work within the specialised area of child, family, and community nursing, as a Maternal and Child Health nurse.

Questions about the course?

Check when course applications close and find out how to apply directly.

Apply now

 Call  1300 135 045

Book a one-on-one

Book a consultation with us to get advice on your study options.

Book a 1:1 consultation

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Fees and scholarships

Estimated course fees for domestic postgraduate students

Estimated fees per year (2026): Indicative based on 2025 fees
$29,000 per 120 credit points.
Note: 120 credit points represents full-time study for one year.
Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) may be available.
Indicative CSP price $4,746 per 120 credit points.

Commonwealth supported places (CSP): Available for this course

Please note that additional costs are incurred from Essential requirements and additional costs.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available for both current and future students. Find out what La Trobe scholarship opportunities might be available to you. View all available scholarships

Note: You must first have an offer to study at La Trobe before you are eligible to apply for a La Trobe scholarship.

Scholarships that may be available for this course

La Trobe Excellence Scholarships - Domestic Students

Albury-Wodonga Campus, Bendigo Campus, City Campus, Melbourne Campus, Mildura Campus, Shepparton Campus – Future postgraduate coursework, Australian Citizen

Closed
Up to 25% reduction on course fees Duration of Course

Tertiary Access Payment (TAP) Program

Albury-Wodonga Campus, Bendigo Campus, Melbourne Campus, City Campus, Mildura Campus, Shepparton Campus – Future undergraduates, 1st year undergraduates, Australian Citizen, Humanitarian Visa, New Zealand Citizen, Permanent Resident

Closed
$5000 Full time enrolment and proof of relocation will be confirmed before payment is made into the recipient's bank account.

Questions about fees and scholarships?

Check when course applications close and find out how to apply directly.

Apply now

 Call  1300 135 045

Book a one-on-one

Book a consultation with us to get advice on your study options.

Book a 1:1 consultation

Live chat

Chat is available from 9am to 5pm AEST Monday to Friday during business days.

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How to apply

The application process can vary depending on the course.

Most postgraduate courses generally take 15 to 20 minutes.

You can apply for up to eight postgraduate courses. Please list these in order of your preference. If you’re eligible, you’ll receive an offer for your highest preference. If you change your mind, you can change your preferences through the application portal.

Check when course applications close

If you’ve undertaken study in the past, you may be able to get credit toward your new postgraduate degree. This is called ‘advanced standing’.

Once you’ve enrolled in your course, you can apply for advanced standing by lodging an advanced standing application form.

Ready to apply?

Check when course applications close and find out how to apply directly.

Apply now

 Call  1300 135 045

Book a one-on-one

Book a consultation with us to get advice on your study options.

Book a 1:1 consultation

Live chat

Chat is available from 9am to 5pm AEST Monday to Friday during business days.

Live chat

Ask a question

Submit a question online. We'll get back to you within the next business day.

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Overview

Key facts

Award Graduate Diploma in Child, Family and Community Nursing
Start dates

Indicative based on 2025 start dates

Semester 1 (March 2026), Semester 2 (July 2026)
Duration 1 year full-time or part-time equivalent
Available locations Melbourne (Bundoora)
Scholarships View fees and scholarships
Fees

Indicative based on 2025 fees

$29,000 per 120 credit points.
Note: 120 credit points represents full-time study for one year.
Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) may be available.
Indicative CSP price $4,746 per 120 credit points.
Learn more about Fees and scholarships.

About the Graduate Diploma in Child, Family and Community Nursing

La Trobe's Graduate Diploma in Child, Family and Community Nursing prepares you for a broad community approach to nursing children and families, particularly those in the prenatal to school-entry stage of their life cycle.

Study community child health, including the nurturing care of mothers, children and families throughout the childbearing years. Explore the practice of nursing, midwifery research, Indigenous health, perinatal health and the care of families facing adversity. Graduate ready to apply an evidence-based approach to practice, communicate effectively, critically analyse and apply principles for optimal health outcomes.

As part of the course, you'll undertake 324 hours of clinical practice in community-based maternal, child health and early childhood education settings.

The qualification awarded on graduation is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) as Level 8 - Graduate Diploma.

Have questions?

Check when course applications close and find out how to apply directly.

Apply now

 Call  1300 135 045

Book a one-on-one

Book a consultation with us to get advice on your study options.

Book a 1:1 consultation

Live chat

Chat is available from 9am to 5pm AEST Monday to Friday during business days.

Live chat

Ask a question

Submit a question online. We'll get back to you within the next business day.

Ask a question

Other courses you may like

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1.5 years full-time or part-time equivalent

Online

More info

COURSE

Master of Nurse Practitioner

2 years part-time

Online

More info

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Master of Nursing

2 years full-time or part-time equivalent2 years full-time

Melbourne (Bundoora), Online

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Bachelor of Nursing

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