Mental Health Nurse Transition to Professional Practice Program (MHN-TPPP)

Applications closed

The Mental Health Nurse Transition to Professional Practice Program (MHN-TPPP) is a dynamic 18-month program designed specifically for newly graduated nurses who are passionate about making a difference in mental health care. This program equips graduates with the foundational skills, knowledge and professional attitudes needed to thrive as a competent mental health nursing professional.

Why choose the MHN-TPPP?

Hands-on learning: Gain valuable experience through a combination of acute and specialised mental health clinical rotations, where you will work alongside experienced clinical professionals and dedicated mental health nursing education teams.
Personalised support: Benefit from a supportive and safe learning environment that fosters your professional growth and wellbeing.
Comprehensive education: Access targeted educational opportunities designed to deepen your knowledge and skills, enhancing your transition from graduate to professional nurse.
Clear career pathway: Enjoy a structured, guided pathway into mental health nursing where you can map out your journey from novice to expert.

This new and unique program stands out by offering a combination of practical hands-on experience combined with formal education whilst being supported and mentored by an interdisciplinary team of highly skilled mental health professionals.

It’s your opportunity to build a strong foundation and shape your future in mental health nursing.

Program structure

The MHN-TPPP is structured over 18-months:

First six months: Focus on consolidating general nursing theory into practice, including rotations in acute setting as part of the standard TPPP.
Next 12-months: Specialisation in mental health nursing through dedicated mental health orientation, rotations across various mental health settings, and completion of the Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Mental Health) with UniSA.

Clinical rotations and placement

Participants will complete:

One 6-month rotation in an acute setting, focusing on consolidating general nursing knowledge and skills
Two 6-month rotations across inpatient (e.g. child, adult, older persons) and/or community mental health settings.
Management of a small caseload in a specialised mental health service, supported by training and supervision.

Orientation and training

Corporate orientation
unit/service specific orientation per rotation
systems and mandatory training
5 study days inclusive of learning modules aligned to the standard RN TPPP
mental health orientation program
completion of the Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Mental Health) through the University of South Australia
completion of mental health competencies, skills and capabilities.

Support and supervision

2 days of supernumerary time per rotation
Supernumerary and supervision shifts for exposure to community mental health nursing
Access to mental health specific clinical supervision, support and mentorship
Targeted professional performance and development planning and support, inclusive of regular performance development discussions and career planning

Key dates

Monday 2 June 2025 - Applications open
Friday 20 June 2025 - Applications close at 5:00 pm
July and August 2025 - Application assessment period
Early September 2025 - First round of provisional offers
Mid to late September 2025 - Subsequent round/s of provisional offers if required

Eligibility

To apply for the MHNTPPP, registered nurses must meet the following criteria at the time of application:

complete your nursing studies between January 2025 and February 2026 that will lead to initial registration as a RN with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA)
complete no more than 456 hours (3 months full time equivalent) of paid experience as a RN in any setting within Australia/New Zealand

hours of paid experience completed outside of Australia/New Zealand are not counted if the applicant is required to retrain in Australia to obtain Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) registration

complete no more than 3 months of a graduate nurse program (or equivalent) previously in any setting and in any country

apply outside the ‘employment exclusion period’ after taking a Targeted Voluntary Separation Package (TVSP) from the SA Government

Role description

The Registered Nurse Level 1 (RN1) Role Description (PDF 211KB) provides information about the skills, knowledge and attributes considered essential for success.

The Role Description outlines the selection criteria for the RN1 position and is used in the assessment of TPPP applications.

The Registered Nurse Job Capacity Statement (PDF 260KB) provides information about the likely demands of working as a registered nurse.

Further information

If you have further questions, email healthjobs@sa.gov.au.

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Last updated: 21 Jun 2025