Graduate Certificate in
Stomal Therapy Nursing
Graduate Certificate in Stomal Therapy Nursing
On this page: Overview | Course rationale | Learning outcomes | Course structure | Entry requirements | Clinical placements | Fees and scholarships | Apply
Upgrade your nursing career in Stomal Therapy Nursing
The stomal therapy role is highly specialised and multifaceted encompassing the acute care environment, outpatient setting and the community. The Graduate Certificate in Stomal Therapy Nursing provides the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and attributes of a specialist nurse in wound, ostomy and continence management. The course aims to provide students with the theoretical foundation for application to practice, enabling the delivery of contemporary, evidence-based care. There is a strong clinical focus, and the compulsory professional experience placement will permit exposure to this role and allow the students to reflect and benchmark against professional practice standards.
The course also focuses on clinical leadership, fostering the development of critical thinking and clinical decision-making skills.
Course rationale
ACN is proud to be the only online provider of the Graduate Certificate in Stomal Therapy Nursing. Guided by the Australian Association of Stomal Therapy Nurses (AASTN) philosophy, this course equips nurses who want to specialise in this field with the knowledge and clinical skills to excel.
Studying with ACN will provide you with the knowledge and skills for the provision and coordination of evidenced-based care for people who are referred to a stomal therapy nurse. The aim is to encourage professional and ethical understanding of clinical practice development for the improvement of person-centred outcomes. Our core units allow students to further explore wound and continence management as well as the principles of stomal therapy.
Learning outcomes
This course is designed to develop specific learning outcomes. Students will:
- Demonstrate the knowledge, skills and attitudes required of the stomal therapy nurse within their speciality context, and benchmark against appropriate professional standards
- Develop critical thinking and clinical decision-making skills using multiple modes of inquiry and a collaborative approach
- Analyse the communication skills used to establish effective interpersonal relationships with clients, their families/carers and the interdisciplinary healthcare team
- Critically evaluate nursing practice against research and current literature to support the provision of contemporary evidence-based nursing care
- Reflect on the social, ethical and cultural issues affecting patients and their families, thereby providing safe, holistic and person-centred healthcare
- Examine leadership, mentoring and educational skills that contribute to a high standard of nursing care and practice development in the healthcare setting
Course structure
The Graduate Certificate in Stomal Therapy Nursing is a one year course, consisting of four 10-week terms.
Students will need to complete 4 core units. One unit is studied per term.
Approximate hours of study are 12 – 15 hours per week.
| Unit type | Unit name & pricing | Course codes |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 - Core | Advancing Professional Practice (340), Tier 2 | |
| Term 2 - Core | Principles of Stoma Care (044)*, Tier 4 | |
| Term 3 - Core | Continence Management (045), Tier 2 | |
| Term 4 - Core | Wound Management (050), Tier 2 | |
| *Principles of Stoma Care (044) requires 40 hours clinical placement. | ||
ACN offers two intakes per year in January and July. Important dates including start and census dates can be found here.
Flexible intakes in April and October may be available, please contact our Customer Services team for further details.
Entry requirements
Admission to graduate certificate courses is based on academic merit and selection. In addition, applicants must satisfy any prerequisites or additional requirements specified for particular courses, including ACN’s general eligibility criteria.
All applicants seeking admission are required to:
- hold a Bachelor of Nursing or registered nurse* equivalent qualification
- hold current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA); or the equivalent registering authority in your country of origin
- meet the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia English language skills registration standard (nursing and midwifery) – please refer to the AHPRA website to download the standard
- have a minimum of one year of postgraduate experience; and
- be currently employed in the clinical area of specialisation*
*For some graduate certificate units of study, consideration may be given for applicants who are not registered nurses on an individual basis.
*The course contain a compulsory clinical placement component and do not require applicants to be employed in the clinical area of specialisation.
Clinical placements
Anyone applying for an ACN course that includes a clinical placement must provide evidence of compliance documents at the time of application.
Applications for enrolment will not be progressed until all relevant documentation has been received by Customer Services.
Each Australian state and territory has its own clinical placement documentation requirements. Further details are available on our Clinical Placement Information page, click on the tab for your particular state or territory for information on specific requirements.
Individual placement providers may need additional documentation. If you are required to provide this then you will be contacted by the Clinical Placement Officer following enrolment.
ACN negotiates with health care facilities to secure clinical placements. ACN will make every effort to secure clinical placements within the timeframe indicated in the course outline, however applicants are advised that provision and location of clinical placements is dependent on the availability of placements within the health facility.
As placements are difficult to secure, once confirmed these cannot be negotiated unless there is unforeseen extenuating circumstances. Applicants are not to arrange their own clinical placements with a clinical facility under any circumstances. ACN reserves the right to change clinical placements if necessary. If you are an offshore overseas student, you are expected to organise your own clinical placement in liaison with the Course Coordinator and the Clinical Placement Officer at ACN.
Fees and scholarships
| Tiers | 2025 Member price (10% discount) | 2025 Non-member price |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | $2,403.00 | $2,670.00 |
| Tier 2 | $2,740.50 | $3,045.00 |
| Tier 3 | $3,539.00 | $3,932.00 |
| Tier 4 | $4,166.00 | $4,628.50 |
Fees are subject to change without notice.
ACN offers a flexible payment option allowing students to pay their fees on a term-by-term basis. Each term’s fees are due upfront, prior to term commencement.
FEE-HELP is also available for eligible students. Further information can be found here.
Want to save on course fees?
Being a part of the ACN community allows nurses to be the best they can be and strengthen the voice of nursing through a range of invaluable benefits, including 10% off graduate certificates and other education offerings, exclusive networking events, access to support and advice on ACN’s online engagement platform The Buzz, free online CPD courses and opportunities to be involved in shaping health care policy. Find out more and join our tribe today!
Find a scholarship to suit you
Discover our range of scholarships to support you to succeed in your studies regardless of your circumstances. Find ACN scholarships or ACN Foundation Grants and Awards.
Meet your Nurse Educator
Elizabeth Moran, Nurse Education – Higher Education
RN, MEd, Cert IV TAE, MACN
e: elizabeth.moran@acn.edu.au
» About me
Liz Moran is a nurse educator at the Australian College of Nursing and coordinates the Graduate Certificate in Stomal Therapy Nursing. Liz also contributes to educational delivery across all ACN’s divisions.
Liz has a Master’s degree in Education (health science) obtained in 2011 from the University of Sydney. She is a member of the Australian Nurse Teachers Society and the Diagnostics and Interventional Cardiology Nurses Group. Liz undertook her nurse training in the United Kingdom where she worked in critical care areas. Liz has over 30 years of extensive clinical experience in both public and private health settings as well as remote area nursing in the Kimberly’s, WA. She has also worked in the field of research at St Vincent’s Centre for Applied Medical Research.
Currently she combines her two loves of nursing and education in the role of nurse educator with particular interests in evidence based practice, reflective practice and creating exceptional educational experiences. She believes that education is foundational in advancing nursing leadership.
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Apply now
Please ensure you read all course information and make sure you meet entry requirements prior to commencing the application form.
Applications for enrolment will not be progressed until all relevant documentation has been received by Customer Services.
We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health care professionals to study this course. If you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person we encourage you to let us know in your application. If you require assistance with completing your application or support during the course, please don’t hesitate to let us know.
Course codes:
10 013 2535 (January 2025 intake)
10 013 2536 (July 2025 intake)
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Graduate Certificate attributes
Get valuable industry skills with a competitive edge. ACN supports our students to graduate with the following attributes:
1
Demonstrate enhanced professional, social and ethical understanding in a specialist area of practice.
2
Apply complex problem solving and information literacy skills to the development of evidence-based practice, research and policy reform.
3
Engage in behaviour that is culturally appropriate, safe and sensitive to the needs of people in their care.
4
Demonstrate an understanding of, and respect for, Australian Aboriginal values, culture and knowledge to build trust and improve health outcomes.
5
Combine advanced communication skills with an awareness of global health determinants to independently and collaboratively lead and educate others.
6
Reflect and think critically to be better able to care for self, improve health outcomes, and influence safe and effective professional practice.
Virtual Open Day
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Whether you are a nurse ready to upskill with a specialty graduate certificate or immunisation course, seeking an entry pathway to Masters or want to explore continuing professional development opportunities, this interactive event will answer all your questions.
Connect directly with experienced nurse educators and academics and discuss your career goals. Learn about how postgraduate study can shape your career, gain tips and tricks on preparing for online study and student life, all from the comfort of your own home.
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We’re here to help you every step of the way
For general information please contact:
Customer Services
t: (02) 9745 7500
e: customerservices@acn.edu.au
More information
General information
Important dates
Clinical placements
Postnominals
Frequently asked questions
- A Graduate Certificate typically requires the completion of 4 units (equivalent to 6 months of full-time study) or 24 credit points.
- A Graduate Diploma generally involves 8 units (equivalent to 1 year of full-time study) or 48 credit points.
- A Graduate Certificate is an entry-level postgraduate qualification, offering foundational knowledge in a specific area. It's often used for career advancement, upskilling, or transitioning to a new field. It is ideal for those seeking to enhance specific skills or qualifications without committing to a longer program. While a Graduate Diploma builds on the foundational knowledge of a Graduate Certificate, providing a deeper understanding and more advanced skills in the subject area.
- A Graduate Diploma is more expensive than a Graduate Certificate because it involves completing twice the number of units.
Each unit is worth 6 credit points, with a total of 24 credit points for the course.
You need to complete four units to obtain a Graduate Certificate.
A Graduate Certificate includes four units. The total cost depends on the Tier levels of the units. For example, a course with three Tier 1 units and one Tier 2 unit in 2025 will cost $10,680. Members receive a 10% discount on course fees.
Learn more about membership, its benefits and how to join.
Each unit has a different cost, indicated by its Tier level. You can find the specific fee amounts for each Tier level in the fee schedule.
Once you have receive the offer letter and accepted the place, you will receive the invoice for the unit fees. You can pay via bank transfer (details provided in the invoice) or by calling (02) 9745 7500 during business hours (8:30 am – 5:00 pm) to pay over the phone.
No, Commonwealth Supported Places are not offered for Graduate Certificate courses. However, FEE-HELP is available for eligible applicants. To see if you are eligible for FEE-HELP, please go the Australian government Study Assist website.
No, Graduate Certificate courses and single units of study have fixed start dates. There are four terms per year: January, April, July, and October. Check the Important Dates section on the website for details.
The course is typically completed in one year (one unit per term. If you would like to take leave during your study, you can take up to three consecutive terms of leave if you have enrolled in at least one unit. However, you must finish the course within two years.
No, there are no exams. The course and assessments are delivered online. Please note some courses may require mandatory in-class attendance or (off-site) clinical placements. For more details, please see individual course pages.
No, once you are enrolled in the course, you can access the online learning platform anytime to access the course material, offering flexibility for students balancing work and family commitments. However, assessments are only available during specific periods and must be completed within the allocated timeframe. The online course is supported by course coordinators, unit coordinators, tutors, and library staff, who offer access to resources such as books, journals, and databases.
Note: The Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Re-entry) is an exception and has both mandatory on-campus classes as well as clinical placements.
