Study load
Approx. 15+ hours per week* (see course structure)
Duration
9 months (60 credit points)
Intakes
Jan, Apr, Jul, Oct
Evolve your perioperative career with tailored expertise.
Evolve your perioperative nursing career with Federation University’s Graduate Certificate in Health (Perioperative Nursing) – delivered online. This flexible, career-focused course is designed for registered nurses working in perioperative settings who want to deepen their clinical expertise and advance their professional standing.
Whether you’re caring for patients pre-, intra- or post-operatively, this certificate will equip you with the advanced skills and confidence to thrive in surgical environments.
Why choose this course?
- 100% online study – Designed for busy nurses, this course is 100% online so you can fit it around your work schedule.
- Tailored for perioperative nurses – Designed specifically for nurses working in surgical settings, this course builds on your existing experience to help you specialise and grow.
- Advanced clinical skills – Develop high-level assessment and care capabilities for perioperative patients, guided by expert academics and health professionals.
- Safety and standards focus – Learn to apply global, national and local safety standards in perioperative care environments.
- Career advancement – Boost your employability and open doors to leadership roles in perioperative nursing.
Professional recognition
This course supports career progression for registered nurses and aligns with AHPRA standards for perioperative practice.
Your future in perioperative nursing
By completing this fully online certificate, you’ll graduate with the confidence and capability to deliver expert care in surgical settings. Whether you’re looking to specialise, lead, or continue into further postgraduate study, Federation University Online will support your journey every step of the way.
Applications now open. Take the first step toward advancing your perioperative nursing career. Apply today or book your free consultation today with our course advisors.
Federation University Online’s postgraduate courses have been ranked #1 in multiple categories
Federation University Online offered the course I was after, within a time frame that suited me. The online platform provided by Federation University Online was easy to navigate, with a wide range of online resources, with links to up-to-date articles and journals. The industry experience of the teaching staff was also quite helpful.
– Uwa Imhagwe, Graduate Certificate in Health (Perioperative Nursing) Student
Discover Your Path in Nursing with Federation University Online!
Take the next step in your nursing career with our free, downloadable Nursing Career Road Map. This essential guide helps you explore which courses align with your current qualifications and outlines potential career outcomes. Uncover the best path to advance your career today.
Industry insights
With a Graduate Certificate in Health (Perioperative Nursing), you will be expertly equipped to provide care in pre-, intra- and post-operative phases in surgical environments such as:
- Specialist surgical environments
- Day-procedure environments
- Surgical environments
Clinical nurses – particularly those who have advanced practice knowledge – are in high demand, with roles expected to grow by 13.9% over the next 5 years alone.
The most common annual salary for a Clinical Nurse in Australia is $110,000.
The Health Care and Social Assistance sector is Australia’s largest employer, and is expected to add the most jobs—301,000—by November 2026.
Fees
2026 Indicative Fees
$2,369 student contribution amount (Commonwealth Supported Place) per certificate.
If you’re offered a Commonwealth Supported Place, your fees are subsidised by the Australian Government.
Your fees (student contribution) are set on an annual basis by the government and are determined by the discipline area and band of your individual enrolled units, not the overall course. Each unit falls into a band which determines the student contribution amount.
*Fees are adjusted on an annual basis and the indicative amount should be used as a guide only. Total cost will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the time it takes to complete your course and any approved credit you receive.
Fee assistance
As a Commonwealth Supported Place student, you may be eligible to defer payment of your student contribution through the HECS-HELP loan scheme. Please visit our HECS-HELP webpage for further information.
Other fees
You may need to pay some other fees such as the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).
Why study Nursing at Federation University Online?
A Federation University Online Nursing degree equips you with the skills to confidently deliver care to our health system’s most urgent and critical patients.
Meet the people behind your course
Dr Blake Peck
Senior Lecturer
Blake Peck is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Health. Blake’s main research interests relate to pediatric injury, the health workforce, childhood long-term illness and qualitative research theory. Blake has been widely published in journal articles relating to nursing and health, and his main teaching areas include research methods, pathophysiology of disease and pharmacology.
Dr Kerry Hood
Senior Lecturer
Kerry Hood is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Health. Kerry has been published across numerous nursing journals and her research interests include interprofessional learning and teaching and learning pedagogy. Kerry’s main teaching areas include education, leadership and social determinants of health.
A Day in the Life of a Perioperative Nursing Student
We caught up with Uwa Imhagwe, a Federation University Online student who is close to completing a Graduate Certificate in Health (Perioperative Nursing). In this interview, Uwa described her passion for nursing, her motivations for going back to university, and her experience of studying online.
Why study online with Federation University?
Unparalleled flexibility
Online study is the freedom to fit further study in your life, and to do it on your terms.
Personalised support
You will have full access to support services, with tailored support available across extended hours.
Make it happen online
You will make an impact in whatever you choose to do with practical- and industry-focused courses.