Master of Health (Child and Family Health Nursing)
Develop advanced skills in community child and family health nursing with the ability to critically analyse and apply principles of primary healthcare.
Course essentials
Entry requirements
Credit
A full-time study load is 120 credits a year (usually four 15-credit units each semester). 120 credits equal one equivalent full-time student load (EFTSL). Each credit point equals about 10 hours of learning, so a 15-credit unit means roughly 150 hours.
Study mode
Study modes tell you how teaching and learning will be delivered for your course and include where and when classes can be scheduled, what you'll do and the tech you'll use.
Duration
Start dates
01 March 2027
26 July 2027
Locations
Course overview
This course prepares individuals who are both registered nurses and midwives to practice as a Maternal and Child Health (MCH) nurse in community-based settings with advanced nursing skills to work in partnership with families from birth to school age.
Coursework from the Graduate Diploma of Health (Child and Family Health Nursing) is delivered throughout the course, focusing on theoretical and professional practice skills. As part of the course, you will undertake a minimum of 300 hours in community-based professional practice placements. Many local government areas across Victoria support your learning, including speciality placements such as early parenting and childcare centres. Applicants need to submit an expression of interest (EOI) to a local government council to secure placement for the duration of the course via the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) website.
This course is open to students who are successful graduates of a Bachelor of Nursing and Graduate Diploma of Midwifery or Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Midwifery. It is also available as a graduate diploma option.
The Child and Family Health (CFH) nursing scholarships are designed to attract high quality nurse-midwives to increase the capacity of Victoria’s already world-class Maternal and Child Health (MCH) nursing workforce. The Department of Health (DH) supports this scholarship as an initiative of the Victorian Government’s Early Childhood Reform Plan.
The MCH Nursing scholarship provides funding of up to $2,800 for full-time students and part-time students. The number and value of scholarships offered will be determined based on the number of eligible applicants that have accepted either a full fee paying, or commonwealth supported place (CSP) in a Graduate Diploma or Master of Health (Child and Family Health) course. Priority scholarships of up to $5,500 are also available for eligible students. To be eligible for this scholarship you must: be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or a permanent humanitarian visa holder, and have accepted a place as a new student at Federation University.
Current registration as a Midwife and a Registered Nurse (Division 1) with a minimum of 12 months experience in both general nursing and midwifery without restrictions with AHPRA are set qualification requirements for eligibility into the Graduate Diploma or Master of Health (Child and Family Health) course. Students that have previously received a CFH Nursing Scholarship from the Department of Education and Training (DET) or Department of Health (DH) will be ineligible for scholarship funding.
Extra Requirements for Enrolment
Completed and signed immunisation status form [https://federation.edu.au/future-students/study-at-federation/apply/domestic/how-to-apply/vtac-requirements]
Working with Child Check (WWCC
Essential Requirement
Proof of my current AHPRA nursing and midwifery registration.
IT requirements
To do this course you’ll need a fast and reliable computer and access to high-speed internet. Expect to use about 5GB of data per month for every unit you’re doing. Find out more about the minimum IT requirements for studying with us.
Got questions?
Call us on 1800 333 864, start a live chat or submit an enquiry.
Student support
The support we offer is second to none. Need academic help? No problem. Extra access or financial assistance? Let’s see what we can do. View our student services.
The fine print
The commencement of all courses is subject to available funding and enrolment quotas.
Everything in this course overview is correct at the time of being published. However, the University reserves the right to alter any course, procedure or fee. Please check for changes before you apply or enrol.
Federation University uses Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding (for eligible students) to deliver training.
School department
Nursing
Course co-ordinator
Leola Moore-Coulson
Career paths
Successful completion of the Master of Health will enhance your professional standing and provide you with advanced level skills and knowledge for application as a leader in the nursing practice and knowledge community.
Professional recognition
While this course does not lead to registration as a health professional, you will enhance your professional standing within your discipline area providing you with advanced level skills and knowledge for application in the nursing practice and knowledge community.
Fees and scholarships
Tuition fee information
Commonwealth Supported Places are subsidised by the Australian Government. The tuition fee is called the student contribution amount. The indicative fee above is based on a typical first-year enrolment for this course and should be used as a guide only. For 0.5 EFTSL (60 credit point) courses the certificate fee is displayed. Your fee will depend on the units you chose, your study load, the time it takes to complete your course and any approved credit you receive.
How it's calculated
The government sets the fee each year. The amount depends on the discipline area and band of each unit. 2026 annual student contribution amounts for 1 EFTSL (equivalent full-time student load) range from $4,738 (Band 1) to $17,399 (Band 4). The sample course structure below link to the EFTSL, Band and fee for each unit or you can use our unit search to find these details.
Other fees
You will also need to pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).
Fee assistance
If you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan, you can defer the payment of all or part of your student contribution fee. If you’re also eligible for a SA-HELP loan, you can defer your SSAF payment too. You won’t have to start paying either loan back until your income reaches the compulsory repayment threshold.
Scholarships
There’s a range of scholarships and grants available. Find out what you can apply for.
Course details
Start dates
Semester 2, 2026
20 July 2026
Locations
Berwick (flexible)
Semester 1, 2027
1 March 2027
Locations
Berwick (flexible)
Semester 2, 2027
26 July 2027
Locations
Berwick (flexible)
Information
- Flexible delivery means your course will have online and on-campus options. Some on-campus sessions may be compulsory. Testing
Contact hours
You’d be looking at about 25-30 hours per week (if you’re full time), but this includes on-campus classes and self-directed study (i.e. homework).
Work integrated learning
Placement (Compulsory)
Students must have secured access to placement with Maternal and Child Health in a local government council for the duration of their course, with written confirmation from that service provider submitted to Federation University.
To apply for placement, applicants need to access the MAV website and complete the 'MCH Applicant Information Pack and EOI 2022-23’. Applicants can begin the admission process to Federation University whilst awaiting EOI outcome. Once placement is secured, a letter confirming placement is uploaded to Federation University Admissions which will progress your application to enrolment.
Sample course structure
Here’s what the course structure could look like. It’s just an example (so don’t use it for enrolment). Interested in the details? You can find current course structure or select a single unit name below to find out what it’s about and how much it costs.
- Foundations in Child and Family HealthHEALM5001
- Family and Community Studies15 credit pointsHEALM6302
- Perinatal and Infant Mental Health 215 credit pointsHEALP6202
- Advanced Clinical Practice in Child and Family HealthHEALM5002
- Infant and Child Nutrition15 credit pointsHEALM6306
- Applied Health Research and Evidence Based PracticeHEALT5000
Elective
Elective
Elective
Elective
Meet us at Open Day
Open Day is your chance to explore all that Federation has to offer. Meet current lecturers and students, ask course questions, learn about our support services and explore campus spaces.
We’ve got heaps of activities, tours and presentations planned. Basically, we want you to get a real feel for Federation. The atmosphere. The opportunities. The community.
Oh – and there’s no need to pack a sandwich. Lunch is on us.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements (non year 12)
Applicants for this stream of the course must:
• Hold current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) as both a Registered Nurse and a Midwife, with no conditions on their registration.
• Meet recency of practice requirements as per the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, which includes:
o A minimum of 12 months full-time experience in both Nursing and Midwifery,
OR
o A minimum of 5 years full-time experience in either Nursing or Midwifery.
To demonstrate work experience, you should provide a CV/Resume listing previous positions and education max 2 pages.
Students who have completed a Graduate Diploma of Midwifery may be eligible for advanced standing depending on equivalency.
Extra requirements
Extra requirements to be supplied with application:
All applicants must complete and submit:
1. Copy/ies of my nursing and midwifery bachelor degree or equivalent
2. Proof of my current AHPRA nursing and midwifery registration
3. CV with evidence of at least 12 months post grad experience in Nursing and 12 months post grad experience Midwifery.
4. Complete supplementary application form
5. Confirmation of placement with local council
Extra Requirements for Enrolment
1. Completed and signed immunisation status form [https://federation.edu.au/future-students/study-at-federation/apply/domestic/how-to-apply/vtac-requirements]
2. Working with Child Check (WWCC
3. Proof of my current AHPRA nursing and midwifery registration.
If you’re only applying for this course, do it via direct application.
Ready to fill out your application?
You'll need this code:
Direct application
Federation University code
- Direct application
- Yes
- Federation University code
- HN9
Applicants may enter the second year of the course and may have up to 8 courses credit (120 credit points) for:
Graduate Diploma of Child and Family Health (or equivalent qualification)
Registered Nurse and Midwife with current AHPRA registration
Evidence of recent practice as a maternal and child health nurse, e.g, CV with referees (minimum 450 hrs practice i
Please find available the last 5 years).e Scholarships under Additional Information.
Hear from our students
So as I love serving people and helping them, I take Bachelor of Nursing and I'm pursuing nursing as my career. That only provides us with so many opportunities. They have contact with such good hospitals and agencies if you want to work for your placements and stuff. And they provide us with so much material and support to improve our skills through our nursing. Even in the uni, in the building, we have rooms are like literally hospital rooms where we have beds and all the equipments with dolls which do make sounds and they have pulse and everything. So it is so creative and so alive that we get to improve our skills so much. Ballarat is like the most happy, friendly little town in all of the Victoria I've been in Melbourne. But people over here are genuinely really sweet and nice to you. They're really friendly and they're just walking in the morning and someone is passing by and they'll just say, they'll smile and they say good morning to you, which is so sweet. Like it never feels that you're somewhere different. You're just you feel homely. I've heard a lot about Federation University. So back when I was applying for multiple universities, I was suggested Fed Uni by my agent and they suggested Fed Uni because it has so many campus. They support, support us so much and it is so multicultural. They're like so many people coming from so many different countries. So last year they hosted the Bollywood night for the Indian students. Being an Indian, I was so happy that they're hosting such an event. They keep on hosting events which are like for every culture and everyone gets to enjoy and feel at home, which is the best part. So the Bollywood night was the one for me. I'll be pursuing nursing as my career and I want to become a registered nurse, work here for the people and serve them and just enjoy life for some time.