Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice (Strategic Communication)
PostgraduateTAS-ASC-GDI2025
Course information for 2025 intake
Specialised communication skills for emerging healthcare leaders
Focus on communication in health and human services. You’ll build on your natural leadership qualities and explore PR, digital media, and more. Grow your confidence. Get ready to work independently at a higher level.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Applications close
- 9 Feb 2025,
- 6 July 2025
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 2 years part time
- Total subjects
- 8
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
- CSP available
- Yes
Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice (Strategic Communication)
About this degree
On successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Identify and resolve complex problems in health contexts
- Critically reflect on interpersonal and interprofessional communication to enhance collaborative healthcare delivery and health outcomes.
- Analyse complex health and social issues to explore opportunities for practice improvement.
- Make decisions and judgements in complex health care situations by employing advanced critical, investigative, and creative skills.
- Demonstrate advanced techniques to communicate strategically, ethically and with influence
- Identify key issues and trends in strategic organisational communication practices
Healthcare delivery is constantly evolving in the face of population growth, our increasingly diverse and aging communities, changing approaches to delivering healthcare and availability of new technology. Health professionals need to be more collaborative, team-focussed and adaptable than ever before. To meet these challenges, the University of Tasmania, in partnership with major health providers, is launching a more flexible and agile approach to providing educational offerings for health professionals throughout their careers.
The Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice (Specialisation) is designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills to expand your contribution to healthcare and meet your continuing professional development requirements with a flexible online approach. The program has been developed with health industry partners and features a strong inter-disciplinary approach, drawing on content from a broad range of disciplines across the University of Tasmania, with an emphasis on providing you with the flexibility to choose content that best progresses your career ambitions.
You will build a strong foundation in leadership skills and critical thinking, helping you to analyse and resolve the complex problems that you face in the health system. You can then choose from a curated selection of subjects expanding your knowledge in fields including epidemiology, public health, biostatistics, health service innovation, health informatics and digital health.
The program is open to anyone with a health-related bachelor degree, or a bachelor degree in an unrelated area with at least two years' experience in the health workforce. If you already have a health-related Graduate Certificate, you may be eligible for advanced standing into the course to enable you to progress directly to the specialisation component of the degree.
Advanced Practice specialisations are designed to develop graduates who can demonstrate leadership and perform independently in the healthcare system. Each specialisation provides the knowledge and skills for students to make evidence informed decisions in their chosen area to meet industry needs and workforce demands.
Become a leading voice for change.
Across government, corporate and community health agencies, there is increasing awareness of the need for skilled communicators. The Strategic Communication specialisation is designed to develop your professional knowledge and practical skills and provide you with a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving digital and media environment.
The Strategic Communication specialisation is taught by leading academic staff in our Media School and practitioners who are active in local industry. You will benefit from their broad range of experience as they train you in using state-of-the-art technologies.
The Strategic Communication specialisation aims to produce independent and entrepreneurial communicators. Designed for those wanting to promote and implement change within their organisation, this specialisation helps you to develop advanced analytical skills and professional-level communication expertise. You will develop knowledge of the strategic and political communication fields and media industries and produce and engage with traditional and emergent media platforms and practices.
The Graduate Certificate in Advanced Practice, and Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice (Specialisation) articulate directly into the Master of Advanced Practice (Specialisation), providing you with a seamless pathway to progress your career in a meaningful new direction and advance practice in your health organisation.
Advanced Practice masterclass series
Experience first-hand what our expert lecturers can offer you with our free, online masterclass series.
Webinar topics cover the breadth of our Advance Practice specialisations, as well as the core topics of leadership, and critical thinking. There are options to explore a new topic, or dive into something you are already familiar with and expand your knowledge.
Recommended study pattern
This program is only available for part-time study.
For students undertaking part-time study, the following study pattern is recommended.
Completion of eight (8) subjects consisting of:
Two (2) Core Subjects:
- TAS-CAM539 Leadership in Health and Human Services
- TAS-HPH506 Critical Thinking: Reasoning Skills for Health Professionals
Four (4) Strategic Communication Specialisation subjects:
- TAS-HEJ509 Strategic Digital Media
- TAS-HEJ510 Public Relations
- TAS-HEJ511 Introduction to Strategic Communication
- TAS-HEJ719 Multiplatform Storytelling
Two (2) Elective Subjects from the following:
- TAS-BAA753 Health Ethics, Law and Governance
- TAS-BAA755 Healthcare Organisational Behaviour
- TAS-BAA756 Healthcare Systems, Safety and Quality
- TAS-BAA757 Managing Complex Adaptive Healthcare Organisations
- TAS-BAA770 Safety in Health Service Management
- TAS-BEA674 Data and Business Decision Making
- TAS-BFA760 Sustainability Related Governance and Assurance
- TAS-BMA701 Leadership and Change Management
- TAS-BMA799 Strategic Management
- TAS-CAA500 Advanced Clinical Reasoning in Practice
- TAS-CAA501 Clinical Examination and Diagnostics for Advanced Practice
- TAS-CAM520 Global Health Systems
- TAS-CAM528 Introduction to Epidemiology
- TAS-CAM529 Introduction to Public Health
- TAS-CAM530 Systems Thinking in Public Health
- TAS-CAM538 Translational Research and Health Service Innovation
- TAS-CAM554 Introduction to Healthcare Redesign
- TAS-CAM617 Environmental Health
- TAS-CAM621 Risk Management and Governance
- TAS-CAM624 Non Communicable Disease Prevention
- TAS-CAM625 Introduction to Biostatistics
- TAS-CAM636 Public Health Surveillance
- TAS-CAM638 Health Policy, Economics and Advocacy
- TAS-CNA424 Evaluating Quality
- TAS-CNA544 Simulation in Health Teaching
- TAS-CNA613 Project Management for Health Professionals
- TAS-CNA632 Learning and Teaching in Healthcare Settings
- TAS-CNA699 Applied Learning and Teaching for Health Professionals
- TAS-CNA729 Violence and Health
- TAS-EDP505 Educational Professionalism
- TAS-EDP726 Reflective Strategies for Professional Learning
- TAS-HGA746 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Wellbeing
- TAS-HSP505 Crisis Management
- TAS-HSP601 Protective Security
- TAS-JNB637 Strategic Procurement Management
- TAS-KIT729 Knowledge and Information Strategic Management
Award requirements
Satisfactory completion of eight (8) subjects, as required in the schedule, within 2-5 years of commencement.
Choose your subjects
Majors
Become a leading voice for change.
Across government, corporate and community health agencies, there is increasing awareness of the need for skilled communicators. The Strategic Communication specialisation is designed to develop your professional knowledge and practical skills and provide you with a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving digital and media environment.
The Strategic Communication specialisation is taught by leading academic staff in our Media School and practitioners who are active in local industry. You will benefit from their broad range of experience as they train you in using state-of-the-art technologies.
The Strategic Communication specialisation aims to produce independent and entrepreneurial communicators. Designed for those wanting to promote and implement change within their organisation, this specialisation helps you to develop advanced analytical skills and professional-level communication expertise. You will develop knowledge of the strategic and political communication fields and media industries and produce and engage with traditional and emergent media platforms and practices.
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
$5,030
Indicative total fee $13,530
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.
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- 20
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 19
Entry requirements
To be eligible for an offer, you must have:
- A completed AQF7 Bachelor Degree or above, or approved equivalent in a health-related discipline; OR
- A completed AQF7 Bachelor Degree or above, or approved equivalent, in an unrelated discipline AND a minimum of two years relevant work experience in the health sector.
Applicants who do not meet the admission requirements for direct entry to the Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice may gain alternate entry through approved relevant work experience in the health industry (minimum of 3 years), or other special circumstances, as approved by the Executive Dean or delegated authority.
Students with a completed Graduate Certificate in a health-related field may receive up to 50 credit points of advanced standing.
Students who have completed the Graduate Certificate in Advanced Practice may receive 50 credit points of advanced standing.
Find out more information about how to apply for a credit transfer/advanced standing at Recognition of Prior Learning.
Career opportunities
Now, more than ever, the healthcare industry needs leaders equipped for an ever-evolving sector. Health care and Social Assistance is the largest employing industry in Australia, with job opportunities estimated to grow up to 15% over the next three years.
The Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice has been co-designed with major health providers for the health workforce, providing knowledge and skills specifically developed to meet the needs of health professionals from all disciplines. No matter your career aspiration, this course will help you achieve your goals.
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.
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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.