Graduate Nurses

Tips for Applying for Graduate Mental Health Nurse Programs

Below are some tips for applying for Graduate Mental Health Nurse Programs in Victoria. The information below is also available on a printable pdf.

Mental health nursing is a wonderfully rewarding career and graduate mental health nurse programs often provide significant learning opportunities and support to new graduates. Mental health graduate nurse programs will often provide you with credit towards postgraduate study, clinical supervision and preceptorship; sometimes they support conference attendance. Look around, approach nurses at the Expo, talk to current/recent mental health graduates and read the various graduate program descriptions on services’ websites.

Be sure to attend information nights. Services will often take attendance and check this against your application. Get your face known!

Don't be put off by the smaller number of graduate places in mental health nursing.

The number of applications received is often in proportion to the number of positions available.

Your Written Application

Make sure you provide everything the service you are applying to requests, eg. a cover letter, resume/CV, referees, photo, appraisals, etc. If you are applying online submit scanned supporting documents, not photos of documents taken with your phone.
Your CV / Resume

Your resume should be no longer than three pages, and include your education history, employment history, volunteer work history and referees. Double check that your resume/CV includes everything that the service you are applying to has asked you to provide.
Your Cover Letter

Your cover letter should not be more than one page in length. Don't get caught out when applying to multiple services: double-check that the letter you're sending refers to the correct service...
Preparing for Interviews

Mental health graduate nurse applicants are usually interviewed individually by a panel of two or three people. The panel usually includes the graduate nurse coordinator, as well as other nurse educators, unit managers and carer or consumer consultants. Arrive early and dress professionally. Dress better than you would expect to in your day-to-day nursing work...