Graduate Certificate in Aged Care
Postgraduate
USC-AGE-GCE 2024Practice responsive aged care in a range of settings.
Build on your health qualification with a course in quality care of the older person. Grow your understanding of ageing in Australia. You’ll study leadership in clinical practice and select electives. Get ready for management roles in aged care.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 1 year part time
- Total subjects
- 4
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
- CSP available
- Yes
Graduate Certificate in Aged Care
About this degree
- Advance your knowledge and understanding in an area of aged care
- Prepare yourself for health care management and leadership
- Develop opportunities for advanced practice roles within aged care
Become a skilled, responsive leader in aged care. Australia’s aged care sector is growing rapidly, which means increasing demand for capable and responsive leadership across a range of healthcare settings. This specialised graduate certificate equips you with advanced knowledge and skills in the core areas of leadership, management and quality care of the older person. With a wide choice of elective subjects, you can also develop specialised knowledge in areas like mental health, public health or organisational behaviour.
Recommended study pattern
This program is offered full-time or equivalent part-time. Semester 1 intake 1 year part-time; Semester 2 intake 6 months full-time or equivalent part-time
The recommended study pattern is subject to change based on study period of enrolment. To learn more about the courses you will undertake in this program please refer to program structure.
Program structure
Required courses (2) 24 units
- HLT500 Ageing in Australia
- NUR704 Leadership in Clinical Practice
Elective courses (2) 24 units
Select 2 courses (24 units) from:
- NUR551 Community and Primary Healthcare
- NUR708 Learning and Teaching in the Practice Environment
- NUR713 Independent Study
- NUR721 Research in Health Care
- NUR722 Assessment in Mental Health
- NUR751 Advanced Health Assessment
- HLT600 Indigenous Wellbeing Foundations
- HSM701 Issues in Health Sector Management
- PUB707 Public Health Foundations
- MGT701 Leading and Managing Organisations
- MGT702 Understanding and Managing Organisational Behaviour
- MHN704 Understanding and Preventing Suicide
Program notes
- The total number of units required to complete the program is 48 units.
- The unit value of all courses is 12 units unless otherwise specified
- Program structures are subject to change
Award requirements
To attain the award of Graduate Certificate in Aged Care, students are required to successfully complete 48 units as outlined in the Program Structure
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative total fee $5,190
The amount shown here is 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.
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Explore UniSC courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 37
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 35
How to apply
University of the Sunshine Coast manages enquiries and applications for this degree.
Complete your details and we'll make sure your enquiry is sent to University of the Sunshine Coast who will contact you to discuss this degree.
Don't worry, we're still here to help you - you'll receive a personalised follow-up from an Open Universities Australia student advisor to make sure you have found the right degree for you.
Entry requirements
Applicants are required to have successfully completed a bachelor's qualification (AQF level 7) in a health-related field from a recognised tertiary education provider. Applicants who are registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) who do not have a bachelor's qualification may be considered for admission based on extensive industry experience and will require approval by the Program Coordinator.
UniSC accepts applications for multiple study periods throughout the year. These include Semester 1 applications which usually close in February, Semester 2 applications which usually close in July, as well as session-based and trimester-based study periods. As part of your application, UniSC will share information about the next available study period for this program.
Standard English language requirements apply.
If you've completed prior study or have relevant work experience, you may, under specified conditions, be eligible for credit towards your UniSC degree.
Career opportunities
- Aged care sector leadership
- Clinical education
- Clinical practice roles
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
Role | Earnings | Employment change |
---|---|---|
Aged and Disabled Carers | $60K to $74K | Up 67.4% |
Health and Welfare Services Managers | Over $120K | Up 56.6% |
Welfare, Recreation and Community Arts Workers | $75K to $93K | Up 29.8% |