This degree is no longer offered. You may be interested in other courses in Health management
Graduate Certificate in Health Administration
Postgraduate
ACU-HAD-GCE 2022Course information for 2022 intake
Become a leader in health workplaces
Dissect the inner-workings of this industry – considering culture across health organisations, management, governance and how to improve quality of care. Consider ethics, morals and social justice.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Credit available
- Yes
- Total subjects
- 4
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
Graduate Certificate in Health Administration
About this degree
On successful completion of the Graduate Certificate in Health Administration, graduates should be able to:
- Describe the key areas of specialised health administration knowledge required of practitioners in contemporary health care contexts
- Explain the significance of planning, implementing and evaluating strategies and tools necessary for effective and culturally safe administration of health services in a variety of health care settings and among diverse communities, including Indigenous peoples
- Apply advanced evidence-based knowledge and skills in health administration to analyse, generate, communicate and evaluate solutions to complex problems within the health care environment.
The Graduate Certificate in Health Administration equips students with skills to examine organisational culture, management concepts, governance and quality improvement within the health care workplace. Students will explore concepts relating to change management and outcomes, leadership strategies and skills, along with ethical, moral and social justice dimensions within the health care sector.
This course provides a foundation for students who wish to pursue a management or leadership role within their health care workplace.
Recommended study pattern
Students are required to follow the pattern of subject enrolment set out in the relevant Course Enrolment Guide, unless otherwise approved by the Course Coordinator. In all aspects of progress through the course, students will be advised by the Course Coordinator
For this course students are allowed to enrol in up to 4 subjects per study term. To enrol in more than 3 subjects please contact us.
To qualify for the degree, a student must complete 4 subjects from the Schedule of Unit Offerings, consisting of:
- 2 subjects from Specified Health Administration Units;
- 2 subjects from Additional Health Administration Units.
Specified Health Administration Units:
- Organisational Culture and Management
- Quality and Safety in Health Care
Additional Health Administration Units:
- Leadership in Health Care
- Workforce Management
- Policy and Planning in Health Care
- Interpreting Health Research
Award requirements
To qualify for the degree, a student must complete 4 subjects from the Schedule of Unit Offerings, consisting of:
- 2 subjects from Specified Health Administration Units;
- 2 subjects from Additional Health Administration Units.
Specified Health Administration Units
- Organisational Culture and Management
- Quality and Safety in Health Care
Additional Health Administration Units
- Leadership in Health Care
- Workforce Management
- Policy and Planning in Health Care
- Interpreting Health Research
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.
Submission of Application to Course Complete form to ACU
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative total fee $10,500
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.
Established in 1991 after amalgamating four eastern Australian Catholic tertiary institutes, Australian Catholic University now has seven campuses, from Brisbane to Melbourne and welcomes students of all beliefs. Specialising in arts, business, education, health sciences, law, theology and philosophy, ACU encourages its students to think critically and ethically and bring change to their communities and offer this online through Open Universities Australia.
Learn more about ACU.
Explore ACU courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 34
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 29
Entry requirements
This is a restricted degree. Subject enrolment is only available to students admitted into this degree.
To be eligible for admission to the Graduate Certificate in Health Administration, an applicant must have::
- A Bachelor degree (or higher) or equivalent
OR
- Submit a resume alongside their formal application, demonstrating suitability for study and evidence of relevant industry experience and / or prior learning over a sustained period.
Students must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
Students must meet English Language requirements as follows:
- IELTS: Overall score 6.5, Individual score of 6.0 in all test
- PTE: 61 with a minimum of 50 in all four communicative skills
- TOEFL: Internet based total of 79: minimum 21 in writing, 18 in speaking, 13 in reading and 12 in listening
- ACU English Language Test: B (65-74%)
- CAE: Overall CAE of 176, Minimum individual score of 169 in all tests
ACU will consider requests for advanced standing based on prior studies to a maximum equivalence of 2 subjects (20cp).
For further information see https://www.acu.edu.au/study-at-acu/credit-and-prior-learning
Career opportunities
Our graduates have pursued careers in:
- health leadership/management
- health research
- local, national or international health-related organisations,
- health practitioner regulation,
- health management consultancy,
- academia
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
Role | Earnings | Employment change |
---|---|---|
Health and Welfare Services Managers | Over $120K | Up 56.6% |
Medical Administrators | Over $120K | Up 0.01% |
Nurse Managers | Over $120K | Up 19.9% |
Policy and Planning Managers | Over $120K | Up 53.8% |
Practice Managers | $75K to $93K | Up 18.7% |
Primary Health Organisation Managers | N/A^ | N/A^ |
Tribunal Members | 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.