#14 in the world for nursing
Commonwealth supported places available
Flexible online courses for practising nurses
Why choose intraoperative nursing at Deakin
The Graduate Diploma of Intraoperative Nursing at Deakin extends your clinical expertise and prepares you for advanced practice within surgical environments. Designed for registered nurses, the course deepens your understanding of perioperative care, patient safety and complex decision-making in the operating theatre.
Building on foundational intraoperative knowledge, you’ll develop advanced capability in areas such as surgical risk management, patient monitoring, infection prevention and interdisciplinary team coordination. You’ll also strengthen your ability to evaluate evidence, lead safe practice and respond to increasingly complex clinical scenarios.
As the only dedicated intraoperative nursing course in Australia, Deakin offers a unique pathway to specialise and progress in perioperative nursing. With flexible study options, you can continue working while advancing your skills, positioning yourself for senior clinical roles and leadership opportunities in surgical care.
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Unique in Australia
Gain a unique specialisation in intraoperative nursing not offered at other Australian universities.
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#14 in the world for nursing
Learn at a university globally ranked for nursing, recognised for quality and outcomes.
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Flexible study options
Combine flexible study with clinical practice to develop confidence and consolidate perioperative nursing expertise while you work.
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Practice-focused learning
Build skills in intraoperative nursing care and patient safety with elective options available from your second year.
Connected to industry
Deakin’s strong industry connections help shape your learning. Build practical experience in real workplace contexts through work-integrated learning, mentoring and networking opportunities. Industry advisory boards also help shape our degrees, which means what you study is current, relevant and aligned to what your future employers need.
Deakin puts employability first
Career outcomes
Extend your intraoperative nursing expertise and develop the leadership and education skills to support safe, efficient care during surgery.
Nurse manager
Lead nursing teams within operating theatres. Coordinate workflows, people and resources while supporting sterile practice, patient safety and effective multidisciplinary teamwork.
- 13.6%
Projected job growth in 5 years
- $145k
Typical annual salary in Australia
Nurse educator
Prepare nurses for the demands of the operating theatre. Deliver education that strengthens sterile technique, procedural knowledge, communication and patient safety.
- 5,000
Nurse educators employed
- $138k
Typical annual salary in Australia
Other jobs
- Clinical nurse specialist
- Clinical nurse consultant
- Advanced practice nurse
- Nurse researcher
- Quality and safety coordinator
- Healthcare leader
Key dates
Direct applications
Semester 1 2027 applications close 29 January 2027
FAQs
A Deakin postgraduate degree can help you advance your career, deepen your expertise in a specialist field, pivot into a new industry and stand out in a competitive job market. Every course is built with industry input and taught by academics who are active practitioners, so the skills you gain are immediately applicable. Postgraduate study at Deakin is also your chance to connect with leaders in your field and build a network of industry contacts who become valuable professional connections, giving you an advantage that goes well beyond the qualification itself.
Most Deakin postgraduate courses are fee-paying, but there are practical ways to manage the cost of study. You can defer fees with a FEE-HELP loan, repaid through the ATO once you earn above the income threshold. A number of courses have Commonwealth Supported Places where the government covers part of your tuition. Deakin scholarships recognise academic achievement, professional experience and financial need. If you've studied at Deakin before, you may be eligible for a 10% alumni discount. Recognition of prior learning can also reduce costs by crediting past study so you finish sooner.
Yes to all three. Most Deakin postgraduate degrees can be studied online, on campus or a blend of both, and you may be able to switch between full and part time at the start of each trimester to suit your life. If you want to move faster, select courses offer a one-year masters degree designed for working professionals. With three start dates each year for most courses – March, July and November – you don't have to wait long to begin.
The main differences are depth, duration and career outcomes. A graduate certificate is a short, focused qualification, typically six months full time, ideal for upskilling quickly in a specific area. A graduate diploma offers broader knowledge or supports a career change, usually one-year full time. A masters degree delivers advanced expertise and professional recognition, typically one to two years full time. You can also stack qualifications – complete a graduate certificate and use the credit towards a masters.
Each Deakin postgraduate course has a unique structure, check the course stucture section of the course page to see compulsory units, electives and any specialisation streams available. All courses are shaped by industry, so content reflects real challenges in your field. Many courses let you tailor your studies through elective units or specialisations, and some include a capstone project where you apply your learning to a genuine workplace problem.
Entry requirements vary by course, so check this tab on the course page for specific criteria. Most Deakin postgraduate courses require a relevant bachelor degree, though some may accept significant demonstrable work experience as an alternative. You may also be able to build eligibility through a graduate certificate or graduate diploma, which in many cases could count towards a masters degree.
Deakin postgraduate courses are built with industry input, so you're learning skills employers are actively looking for. Depending on your course, you may access work-integrated learning through placements, internships or industry projects with partners including Microsoft, KPMG, National Australia Bank and the Geelong Cats Football Club. DeakinTALENT, Deakin's career service, supports you throughout your studies and for life, helping you grow your network and connect with opportunities in your field.
Yes. Recognition of prior learning (RPL) may turn your previous study or work experience into course credit, reducing both your study time and tuition costs. For some masters degrees, you may be able to receive credit for up to two-thirds of the course, if eligible. Use the RPL calculator to get an indication of what you might receive, and note that prior learning must generally be within the last 10 years, although some courses have a shorter time limit. You can apply for RPL as part of your course application.
*Deakin references data from a range of government, higher education and reputable media sources. Learn more about our achievements on our University rankings page, or explore our sources page for supporting references.
What will I study in the Graduate Diploma of Intraoperative Nursing?
Build advanced knowledge and clinical capability in intraoperative nursing, progressing from foundational practice to complex surgical care. You’ll develop expertise in patient safety, decision-making and evidence-based practice.
Foundations of intraoperative practice
Perioperative foundations
Build understanding of surgical safety and theatre protocols.
Patient safety and infection control
Apply aseptic technique and infection prevention in operating environments.
Clinical communication
Develop teamwork and communication skills for coordinated surgical care.
Advanced intraoperative practice
Advanced clinical practice
Manage complex intraoperative scenarios with greater autonomy and clinical judgement.
Evidence-based practice
Critically evaluate research to inform safe, effective perioperative care.
Elective study
Tailor your learning through electives to support career progression in specialised perioperative environments.
Course structure
To complete the Graduate Diploma of Intraoperative Nursing, you must pass 8 credit points. The number of credit points required may vary, depending on your entry point or how much credit you receive as recognition of prior learning (RPL) based on your professional experience and previous qualifications.
Most units are equal to one credit point. This course is available part-time only, with students typically studying one to two credit points each study period.
Are you a current student? For course information that applies to the year you started your degree, visit the handbook.
All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements
Units
Year 1 - Semester 1
Plus 1 credit point course elective or specialisation unit
Semester 2
Plus 1 credit point course elective or specialisation unit
Year 2 - Trimester 1
Plus 1 credit point course elective or specialisation unit
Trimester 2
Plus 1 credit point from any level 7 electives from anywhere in the university or two Deakin stackable short courses (0.5cp microcredentials).
* Please see further information re HNN755
Mix and match Deakin stackable short courses (0.5 cp microcredentials) to earn up to 1 credit point of open electives, subject to eligibility. Any stacking must add up to a whole number to be used for credit. See more information on Deakin stackable short course options.
Professional recognition
Nurses employed under the Victorian public hospital award receive a higher duties allowance for postgraduate qualifications relevant to their practice.
What to expect while studying
To undertake this course you must independently secure employment of at least 24 hours per week in an intraoperative care setting within a collaborating hospital in Australia.
Clinical requirement
Clinical practice with intraoperative nursing roles (instrument/circulating nurse) per semester.
Enrolment in a clinical perianaesthesia unit HNN755 as an elective (semester 1 only) requires additional clinical practice in anaesthesia and post anaesthesia care unit and evidence of support from employing health service.
Core clinical certificate units in this course are semester based. Students are expected to attend synchronous seminars on Wednesdays throughout the semester.
You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.
As an online student in the Faculty of Health you will be expected to spend 11-13 hours every week studying, interacting online and completing assessment tasks for each unit in your course. Refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information.
At Deakin, we're committed to ensuring an inclusive environment that supports all students to belong, thrive and succeed. We work closely with students, where needed, to identify potential barriers to participation and where possible, provide tailored support so students can engage with learning and assessment activities.
If you are neurodivergent, have a disability, health condition or mental health condition that may impact your study or participation in university life, and want to know how Deakin could support you, contact our Domestic students (opens in a new window) or International students (opens in a new window) or Disability Resource Centre (opens email client) teams for a collaborative and confidential discussion. This discussion is to support you to make plans for your studies and future career and will not have any bearing on your application to the course.
When can I start?
When you study depends on your course, location and available intakes. Check the table to see when you can start and how study is offered throughout the year.
Your course learning outcomes describe the knowledge, skills and capabilities you’ll develop and be able to demonstrate by the time you graduate. Built into your course through your units and assessments, they provide a clear picture of what you’ll be equipped to know, understand and do – preparing you to apply your learning with confidence beyond university.
| Course Learning Outcomes |
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| Demonstrate advanced clinical practice commensurate with intraoperative nursing theoretical knowledge, evidence-based practice and person-centred care. |
| Demonstrate advanced communication skills to ensure the delivery of high quality, safe nursing care to patients in the intraoperative care setting. |
| Evaluate information using digital technologies to effectively disseminate relevant intraoperative care information to patients and/or the multidisciplinary team. |
| Identify, analyse and evaluate complex data from multiple sources to inform clinical decision making in the intraoperative care setting. |
| Apply advanced nursing knowledge to complex problems in the intraoperative care setting to optimise patient outcomes. |
| Demonstrate professionalism, accountability, reflection and personal autonomy as an intraoperative care nurse. |
| Establish and maintain inclusive, collaborative professional relationships with all members of the multidisciplinary team. |
| Demonstrate accountability for, and sound professional judgement in behaviours that uphold ethical principles of practice within diverse social, cultural and environmental contexts. |
- Award granted
- Graduate Diploma of Intraoperative Nursing
- Year
2027 course information
- Deakin code
- H668
- Level
- Postgraduate (Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma)
- Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition
The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8
Fees
Estimated tuition fee
$2,454
- Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
The estimated tuition (student contribution) fee above is based on a typical first-year full-time enrolment of 4 credit points and is provided as a guide only. Your student contribution is determined by the units you enrol in and will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the course duration, and any approved recognition of prior learning. You may also be eligible for a HECS-HELP loan to defer payment of all or part of your student contribution.
Check your eligibility or learn more about CSP or HECS-HELP.
Scholarships
We want to help you excel at Deakin. Our scholarships recognise your dedication and achievements, providing financial support that can ease the cost of living and studying. With less pressure, you'll have more freedom to focus on what matters most – your education and future success.
Applications for 2027 are open
Ready to take the next step? Apply now to start your journey at Deakin and get ready for what’s next.
Key dates
Direct applications
Semester 1 2027 applications close 29 January 2027
Apply now
Apply direct
Simply create an account in the Deakin Application Portal, enter your personal and educational details, upload your supporting documents and submit your application.
Applicant declaration
Applicants must complete the Applicant declaration as part of their application.
Recognition of prior learning
We value your previous study and experience. Recognition of prior learning enables you to get credit for what you've already achieved. When you apply, we'll consider your previous study and experience for recognition of prior learning.
Pathways
Upon successful completion of the Graduate Diploma of Intraoperative Nursing, students have the option to further their studies by articulating into the below course: