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Diploma of Applied Health and Community Support
UndergraduateTAS-AHC-DIP2024
Course information for 2024 intake View information for 2025 course intake
Learn how to support people's health and wellbeing
Prepare for work or study in health, disability, mental health, aged care, and social services. You’ll become an asset with your approach to quality, person-centred support. Get to know today’s health services and think about where you might fit.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 1 year full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 8
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
- CSP available
- Yes
Diploma of Applied Health and Community Support
About this degree
Upon successful completion of this program, the student will be able to:
- Engage in strength-based collaborations with individuals, families, service providers and communities to promote positive health and wellbeing outcomes.
- Explain and apply health, wellbeing and cultural awareness principles and practices when working with diverse groups, organisations and contexts.
- Communicate evidence and data to inform service planning, delivery and improvement.
- Use reflection, communication, leadership and problem-solving skills to guide planning and decision-making.
- Explain service structures, standards, innovations and technologies and their application to continuous quality improvement.
The Diploma of Applied Health and Community Support has been developed in consultation with the health, disability, mental health, aged care, social and community service sectors to address significant changes in service models and consumer expectation. The course has also been developed to meet the projected increases in role complexity and workforce demands in these sectors.
This course is suited to school leavers pursuing a career in the health, social or community service sectors or those seeking an alternative career choice in health, disability, mental health, aged care or community services. Individuals with vocational qualifications or relevant experience may undertake the course to upskill into roles with additional functional requirements and higher levels of responsibility, and/or to acquire a formal University qualification.
The Diploma of Applied Health and Community Support has a focus on applied learning opportunities including working with sector leaders, service consumers, organisations, individuals and communities.
Delivered through on-line learning, flexible tutorials, workshops, authentic case studies, individual and community projects, the program is available for full-time and part-time students. Sector experts and service consumers will be actively involved in the development and delivery of the program to ensure that it remains relevant and up-to-date.
On successful completion of a Diploma of Applied Health and Community Support, graduates are provided with:
- an entry point to a career in the health, social and community service sectors;
- an opportunity to accelerate progression within a current job;
- an opportunity for promotion to a new role;
- an opportunity to open up a new career path; or
- articulation into further study.
Recommended study pattern
For students studying full-time, the following study pattern is recommended.
Completion of 8 subjects, including
- 4 Core Subjects
TAS-ZAC101 Supporting People and Diversity
TAS-ZAC102 Foundations of Health and Wellbeing
TAS-ZAC103 Contemporary Support in Health and Community Services
TAS-ZAC104 Promoting Health and Wellbeing
- 4 UTAS Electives
Award requirements
Satisfactory completion of 8 subjects, as required in the schedule, within 1-3 years from commencement.
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative first year fee
$9,680
Indicative total fee $9,680
The amounts shown here are indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.
Fees may vary depending on:
- the subjects you choose
- credit from previous work experience
- your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.
To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.
Wherever you are, the University of Tasmania brings its island campus to you through a growing range of online programs across art and design, business, education, health, science, sustainability, technology, and more. It’s never too late to switch things up. Kickstart that career you’ve been dreaming about, or upskill for the one you’re in. You’ll also become a part of the world's leading university on climate action.
Learn more about UTAS.
Explore UTAS courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 20
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 19
Entry requirements
- Partially completed an undergraduate course at Diploma level or higher (or equivalent). You must have completed at least one subject of study (equivalent to 12.5 UTAS credit points), at 100 level or higher and which may include 100 level subjects completed in the UTAS Diploma of University Studies. If you have failed any subjects, your application may be subject to further review before an offer is made; OR
- Completed the UTAS University Preparation Program (or an equivalent qualification offered by an Australian University).
Successful completion of one OUA open access subject of study (equivalent to 12.5 UTAS credit points) at the equivalent AQF level, unless otherwise specified.
Completed the Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE) or an equivalent qualification
Completed a Certificate III or higher (or equivalent) in any discipline.
Applicants without senior secondary, tertiary or VET / TAFE study can complete a personal competency statement.
Applicants may be eligible for an offer if they have relevant work and / or life experiences which demonstrate a capacity to succeed in this program
You may be eligible for advanced standing (ie. credit) of up to 50 credit points if you have completed a cognate Undergraduate Certificate or similar course at this university or other approved tertiary institution. Cognate undergraduate certificate courses for Z1H Diploma of Applied Health and Community Support are: Z0C Undergraduate Certificate in Community Support and Z0M Undergraduate Certificate in Small Business.
Career opportunities
Graduation from the Diploma of Applied Health and Community Support can provide an entry opportunity for those who are interested in a career in the health, social and community service sectors with or without prior experience. It will also provide an opportunity to accelerate progression and/or promotion within a graduate’s current organisation, or open up new career paths and opportunities.
Potential career opportunities exist in the voluntary, private, not-for-profit, non-government and/or government sectors in health, disability, mental health, aged care, social and community services. Roles include team leaders, coordinators, supervisors, service managers, coaches, service navigators and community development/engagement officers.
Opportunities also exist for graduates to work in direct service roles such as physical health workers, rural health workers and mental health workers or to become service brokers, service planners, project managers, project officers, consultants and administrators, or to pursue roles in occupational, corporate or community health and wellbeing.
Electives offered within this degree provide opportunities for further knowledge expansion and skills development in health, business and/or community development.
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
Role | Earnings | Employment change |
|---|---|---|
Community Workers | N/A^ | N/A^ |
Disabilities Services Officers | N/A^ | N/A^ |
Health and Welfare Services Managers | Over $120K | Up 56.6% |
Welfare Centre Managers | N/A^ | N/A^ |
Welfare, Recreation and Community Arts Workers | $75K to $93K | Up 29.8% |
Youth Workers | N/A^ | N/A^ |
^ There is no data available
Degree FAQs
How long does it take to finish an online degree?
That's up to you! Because we let you choose when to study online, you can actually pick up and pause study when it suits you. Many universities have a set time you need to complete your degree within. For some this is up to 10 years, and for others there is no limit.
There are some degrees that are stricter about when you can take breaks, and about how many years you can take to complete your degree. Please always check with your uni what the limits are.
As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.
If you're studying with Macquarie University, with the exception of certain degrees, there's no limit to how long you can take. But, please check with Macquarie Student Administration to be sure.
If you're studying with the University of Adelaide, you have up to 9 years to complete your undergraduate degree and graduate.
If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.
Through OUA, you can study all year round, so it's possible to fast-track and finish up sooner than studying at a traditional uni would allow. That said, you need to spend around 12 hours a week on each undergraduate subject you do, so taking on extra work to finish ahead of time can be challenging.
How can I pay for my studies?
You may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government, depending on your citizenship status and where you'll be living during your studies. You can also pay upfront with your credit card.
Payment options are explained in Fees, and you can contact a student advisor for more information.
How does studying through Open Universities Australia work?
You might find learning through OUA a little different to how you've studied in the past. It can take time to develop the skills you need for independent online study.
We connect you with subjects and degrees that are taught by leading Australian universities. You can complete single subjects, or follow a degree structure to work towards a specific qualification. Subjects are offered in several study terms throughout the year, so you can choose to study part-time or full-time, continuously or with breaks.
We help you find the subjects or degree that's right for you, and we handle your enrolment in uni and some administration. Your uni sends you your study materials and deals with all academic matters. They're also in charge of your assessment and graduation. If you go on to complete a degree, you'll graduate from the uni offering your degree, for example, RMIT University or Griffith University.
How do I know if I‘m eligible to apply for a course?
Before starting an enrolment, it's important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you're eligible to apply. If you don't quite meet the requirements, we can help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study. Contact us to find out more.
When is my cut-off date for enrolment?
Our close of enrolment times vary. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting Key dates.
Why should I study online through Open Universities Australia?
There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.
You can enrol without entry requirements
We have a unique open-door policy that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don't meet the entry requirements for a degree, we'll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there.
You have total control over how you study
Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We'll introduce you to flexible study options you didn't even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.You'll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
Once you enrol through us, you'll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you'll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.We'll help you navigate the university world
Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.
How do I enrol?
Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.
When you've made your choice, click 'Apply now' on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We'll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to a student advisor and we'll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.