Graduate Diploma in Chronic Condition Management

Admission requirements

Applicants who do not hold the Graduate Certificate in Chronic Condition Management must normally hold an approved degree from an approved tertiary institution or equivalent qualification in a health-related field such as allied health, medicine or nursing.

The Dean (Education) may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.

Course aims

The overall aims of the program are to:

meet the extended professional development needs of graduates involved in the development, provision and evaluation of policy, planning or delivery of services to people with chronic physical or mental health conditions or risk factors for these conditions
offer students an advanced understanding of the principles and skills involved in the development and implementation of self-management-enhancing programs in diverse practice settings for health professionals and service consumers/patients.

Learning outcomes

At the completion of the course, students are expected to be able to:

understand the context for the development, management, and impact of chronic conditions as these relate to health promotion, prevention, early intervention and the social determinants of health, particularly for vulnerable or at risk populations
demonstrate a significant understanding of core concepts of chronic conditions management (CCM) and chronic conditions self-management (CCSM) and the implications of these concepts for health service consumers, service providers, professional practice, and health systems within Australia and internationally
demonstrate a significant understanding of the concepts of CCM and CCSM and their relationship with and implications for population health, public health and primary health care approaches
understand the rationale for the 'chronic care' and 'patient-centred care' perspectives and other views of CCM and the importance of promoting self-management for the person and the health care wider community
effectively assess and critique a range of CCM and CCSM research, including a critical awareness of international models of CCM and CCSM and their relationship to the Australian experience
understand the dynamic processes associated with service delivery for CCM and CCSM, in particular, the systemic, cultural and organisational barriers and enablers to implementing these approaches within the health sector
have knowledge and skill to evaluate services pertaining to CCM and CCSM and to prepare proposals to undertake such evaluation activities
understand specific multicultural and indigenous issues in relation to CCM and CCSM in particular
possess leadership-level capacity in undertaking, reflecting upon and evaluating core professional CCM and CCSM tasks such as CCSM assessment, educating others about CCM and CCSM, planning for and managing the implementation of CCM and CCSM in health organisations and in community settings.

Program of study

To qualify for the Graduate Diploma in Chronic Condition Management, a student must complete 36 units with a grade of P, NGP or better in each topic, according to the following program of study:

Core topics

27 units comprising:

MHSC8111  Managing Chronic Conditions - Self-Management Support Approaches (4.5 units)
MHSC8112  Implementing Change in Healthcare Systems Supporting Chronic Condition Management (4.5 units)
MHSC8114  The Persons Experience of Self-Management (4.5 units)
MHSC8115A  Chronic Conditions Management for Specific Conditions, Contexts or Populations A (4.5 units)
MHSC8116 Client-Centred Health Behaviour Change (4.5 units)
PHCA9501  Social Determinants of Health and Wellbeing  (4.5 units)

Option topics

Select 9 units from the following:

MHSC8113 Education and Training for Chronic Conditions Self-Management (4.5 units)
MHSC8115B Chronic Conditions Management for Specific Conditions, Contexts or Populations B (4.5 units)

Or by negotiation with the Course Coordinator, a student may select relevant option topic/s from other existing postgraduate programs, including: Primary Health, Health Promotion, Disability Studies, Point of Care Testing, General Practice Nursing, Clinical Rehabilitation, Health Administration, Remote Health.

Examples are listed below:

DSRS9057 Disability: Individual, Family and Society (4.5 units)
DSRS9069 Mental Health, Disability and Rehabilitation (4.5 units)
DSRS9065 Perspectives on Ageing and Disability (4.5 units)

Except with permission of the Dean (Education):

the program must be completed within six consecutive semesters
no topic may be attempted more than twice.

The award of a grade Fail (F) in 9 or more units may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purposes of the University's Policy on Review of Student Progress.