Master of Advanced Practice ( Applied Quality and Safety)

On successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

1. Identify and resolve complex problems in health contexts
2. Critically reflect on interpersonal and interprofessional communication to enhance collaborative healthcare delivery and health outcomes.
3. Analyse complex health and social issues to explore opportunities for practice improvement.
4. Make decisions and judgements in complex health care situations by employing advanced critical, investigative, and creative skills.
5. Investigate a professional issue or research question to advance practice and improve health outcomes using an appropriate methodology.
6. Communicate research findings and proposed recommendations to diverse audiences.
7. Reflect on the impact of research findings on healthcare practice improvement in your field and in a global context.
8. Identify, analyse and communicate safety and quality issues related to the delivery of health services.
9. Critically analyse safety and quality performance to identify improvement opportunities.
10. Apply models, tools and frameworks to support implementation of quality improvement initiatives and organisational change.
11. Evaluate quality and safety initiatives using evidence-based approaches.

Healthcare delivery is constantly evolving in the face of population growth, our increasingly diverse and ageing communities, changing approaches to delivering healthcare and availability of new technology. Health professionals need to be more collaborative, team-focused 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 Master 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 course 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.

The program will provide you with 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 Applied Quality and Safety specialisation focuses on the development of capabilities required to lead health service improvement initiatives through the use of quality improvement methods. This specialisation will support you to lead change within your health context to improve the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of patient care. You will learn to design, implement, and evaluate interventions to improve health service delivery using evidence-based quality improvement methodology.

Once you have completed your specialisation you will select a research pathway of your choice.

• The Capstone Pathway will develop your research skills as you design and conduct a quality improvement project relevant to your workplace and/or career aspirations.
• In the Research Pathway, you will complete a substantial piece of original, independent research, focused on the topics that are of particular interest, that provides you with a pathway to a Higher Degree by Research.

The Master of Advanced Practice (Specialisation) has been co-designed with major health providers for the health workforce, with content developed to meet the needs of health professionals from all disciplines. 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 (or higher) you may be eligible for advanced standing into the program.

The Graduate Certificate in Advanced Practice and Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice (Specialisation) also 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 eleven (11) 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) Applied Quality and Safety subjects:

• TAS-BAA543 Clinical Governance in Healthcare
• TAS-CNA419 Monitoring and Measuring Performance
• TAS-CNA420 The Quality Culture and Implementing Quality Improvements
  • Select one (1) subject from the following:
• TAS-BAA546 Principles and Models for Engagement with Consumers in Healthcare
• TAS-CAM638 Health Policy, Economics and Advocacy 
• TAS-CAM722 Leading and Managing Change in Health and Human Services
• TAS-CNA424 Evaluating Quality 

Select 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

Select one (1) pathway from the following:

Research Pathway - completion of 3 subjects:

• TAS-CAM720 Health Research Methods
• TAS-CAM723 Major Project Part A
• TAS-CAM724 Major Project Part B

Capstone Pathway - completion of 3 subjects:

• TAS-CAM720 Health Research Methods
• TAS-CAM725 Capstone Initiative
  • Select one (1) subject from the following:
• TAS-BMA799 Strategic Management
• TAS-CAM520 Global Health Systems
• TAS-CAM528 Introduction to Epidemiology
• TAS-CAM530 Systems Thinking in Public Health
• TAS-CAM538 Translational Research and Health Service Innovation
• TAS-CAM554 Introduction to Healthcare Redesign
• TAS-CAM618 Evaluating Health Interventions
• TAS-CAM625 Introduction to Biostatistics
• TAS-CAM638 Health Policy Economics and Advocacy

Award requirements

Completion of 11 subjects, as required in the schedule, within 3-7 years of commencement.

Choose your subjects

Majors

The Applied Quality and Safety specialisation focuses on the development of capabilities required to lead health service improvement initiatives through the use of quality improvement methods. This specialisation will support you to lead change within your health context to improve the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of patient care. You will learn to design, implement, and evaluate interventions to improve health service delivery using evidence-based quality improvement methodology.

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.

• Core Subjects

• Applied Quality and Safety

• Elective Subjects

• Research Pathway

• Capstone Pathway

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $14,350

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

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 Master of Advanced Practice (Specialisation) 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.

Students who have completed the Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice (Specialisation) may receive 100 credit points of advanced standing.

Find out more information about how to apply for a credit transfer/advanced standing at Recognition of Prior Learning.