Master of Advanced Practice (Community and Urgent Care)
PostgraduateTAS-CUC-MAS2025
Course information for 2025 intake
Pursue leadership in urgent care
Expand on patient-clinician communication, health literacy and social determinants in the area of community and urgent care. Explore evidence-based approaches for prevention and mitigation. Develop your own management plans so that you can lead.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Applications close
- 9 Feb 2025,
- 6 July 2025
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 3 years part time
- Total subjects
- 11
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
- CSP available
- Yes
Master of Advanced Practice (Community and Urgent Care)
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.
- Investigate a professional issue or research question to advance practice and improve health outcomes using an appropriate methodology.
- Communicate research findings and proposed recommendations to diverse audiences.
- Reflect on the impact of research findings on healthcare practice improvement in your field and in a global context.
- Critically analyse clinical models and advanced diagnostic practices relevant for community health care.
- Appraise the application of public health, primary and urgent care interventions relevant for community health care.
- Justify the application of primary health care frameworks, considering the impact that social determinants of health and health literacy may have on both individual patient presentations and the broader population within a community.
- Integrate the principles and practice of public health into delivery of preventative and supportive community and urgent care.
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 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 Community and Urgent Care specialisation focuses on clinical and public health practice within community and urgent care settings encompassing both primary and secondary health care needs. The core subjects integrate knowledge from subjects in the Graduate Certificate to inform prevention strategies and diagnoses across complex chronic health conditions in those with common, acute or chronic primary health care needs. The subjects explore evidence-based approaches for prevention, mitigation and to develop management plans and pathways of care and in primary, secondary and community health care systems. These subjects expand on patient-clinician communication, health literacy considerations, and the impact of social determinants of health while considering contemporary issues surrounding primary, secondary and community health care. Choice subjects will allow you to develop a bespoke focus area for your current or intended practice.
The Community and Urgent Care specialisation is designed for health professionals working in a range of health and human service settings who provide primary or urgent care services.
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, focussed 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:
Four (4) Core Subjects:
- TAS-CAM539 Leadership in Health and Human Services
- TAS-HPH506 Critical Thinking: Reasoning Skills for Health Professionals
- TAS-CAA500 Advanced Clinical Reasoning in Practice
- TAS-CAA501 Clinical Examination and Diagnostics for Advanced Practice
Four (4) Community and Urgent Care Specialisation subjects
- TAS-CAA606 Integrated Community Care
- TAS-CSA500 Advanced Pharmacology & Medication Management in Paramedicine
Select two (2) subjects from the following:
- TAS-BAA543 Clinical Governance in Healthcare
- TAS-BAA546 Principles and Models for Engagement with Consumers in Healthcare
- TAS-BAA756 Healthcare Systems Safety and Quality
- TAS-CAA603 Haemodynamics Critical Care
- TAS-CAA604 Respiratory Critical Care
- 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-CAM624 Non Communicable Disease Prevention
- TAS-CAM625 Introduction to Biostatistics
- TAS-HGA746 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Wellbeing
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 Community and Urgent Care specialisation focuses on clinical and public health practice within community and urgent care settings encompassing both primary and secondary health care needs. The core subjects integrate knowledge from subjects in the Graduate Certificate to inform prevention strategies and diagnoses across complex chronic health conditions in those with common, acute or chronic primary health care needs. The subjects explore evidence-based approaches for prevention, mitigation and to develop management plans and pathways of care and in primary, secondary and community health care systems. These subjects expand on patient-clinician communication, health literacy considerations, and the impact of social determinants of health while considering contemporary issues surrounding primary, secondary and community health care. Choice subjects will allow you to develop a bespoke focus area for your current or intended practice.
The Community and Urgent Care specialisation is designed for health professionals working in a range of health and human service settings who provide primary or urgent care services.
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
$5,150
Indicative total fee $16,410
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.
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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 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.
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 Master 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.
We prepare you to hit the ground running when you graduate by giving you a study experience directly related to where you may find a career. You will be able to apply advanced methods in a range of disciplines, identify problems, gather evidence, and form and communicate your conclusions based on research and experience. This is why the Master of Advanced Practice (Specialisation) is one of the most sought-after qualifications by employers. When you graduate you will be prepared for the workforce.
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.
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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
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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.
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