Master of Disability Policy and Practice

Admission requirements

Applicants must normally hold a minimum of an approved Bachelor degree of 3 or more years duration in an area related to Disability

Advanced Entry (1.5 years) applicants who have completed a qualification listed below may be eligible to complete a program of 54 units:

An approved Bachelor degree in Disability from an approved tertiary institution; or
An approved Bachelor degree of four or more years duration in an area closely related to Disability and two years of relevant professional experience
An Honours degree (or equivalent) in Disability or a closely related discipline from an approved tertiary institution; or
An approved Bachelor degree of three or more years duration and a postgraduate qualification in an area closely related to Disability

Students will receive a maximum of 18 units of credit for topics already undertaken in the Flinders University Graduate Certificate in Disability Studies.

No additional credit will be considered for students enrolled in the Advanced Entry pathway.

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

Course aims

This course is intended to develop skills for students interested in becoming professional leaders in disability. The degree prepares students with advanced skills and specialised knowledge that can be applied to support the participation and contribution of people with diverse needs with the local community. Students will develop expertise required of disabilty and allied health professions enabling them to work in a variety of Government and non-government organisations in health, education and human service settings.

The course aims to:

provide advanced insights into theoretical and practical matters in disability in such a way as to improve the making of professional decisions
broaden the professional opportunities for graduates within an evolving policy and practice context and to assist them in becoming NDIS aware knowledgeable, effective and respected professionals in their chosen field
prepare graduates with advanced skills and specialised knowledge that can be applied to support the participation and contribution of people with diverse needs within their local communities
provide an effective pathway for students who wish to specialise in a specific area of disability
prepare graduates who will be able to provide the leadership necessary to positively influence the delivery of quality services for people with diverse needs across a broad range of community settings.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course, graduates will be able to:

critically discuss and evaluate current theory and research in selected areas of disability policy and practice
demonstrate professional knowledge around a range of conceptual disability perspectives
promote the physical and emotional well-being of people living with disability
apply positive disability perspectives to professional practice in an area of specialised knowledge
use specialised knowledge to facilitate community participation of people living with disability
apply research, problem solving and/or evaluation skills to professional practice
develop a detailed understanding of the professional practice of disability studies as it relates to diagnosis, behavioural intervention, social and community education and employment
develop an understanding of, and competency in, research as it applies to the disability field
develop skills in the evaluation of disability and allied rehabilitation programs
contribute to the informed construction of disability policy, whether local, national or global.