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This program is offered on a part time basis from Semester 2, 2014

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Professional accreditation

The Graduate Certificate of Health (Scheduled Medicines) is undergoing application for endorsement with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) to enable graduates to achieve 'scheduled medicines endorsement'.

Program aims

The aim of the Graduate Certificate of Health is to enable health professionals to extend their professional knowledge, expertise and capacity within one of the following specialised areas of health care:

• Rural and remote health

• Scheduled Medicines (for nurses)

• Community health

• Aged Care

• Rural clinical education

• Mental health

Program objectives

Graduates of the Graduate Certificate of Health will be able to:

1. critically reflect on their own clinical and educational practices

2. engage in effective, supportive, collaborative practice within a specialised context

3. practice in a professional, legal and ethically justifiable manner according to professional requirements and standards, within a specialised context

4. advocate and protect the rights of individuals or groups regardless of their cultural background, age and/or geographical situation

5. critically analyse relevant (i.e. clinical data, government policy, research findings), and apply this knowledge to their selected specialised area

6. develop a professional identity including independence, interdependence, authority and partnership

Admission requirements

Application for Admission

Applicants must be health professionals or working in a health related area, holding a minimum three-year undergraduate degree in a health discipline from an Australian or internationally recognised University or equivalent, and hold current registration as a health professional in Australia or a recognised international registration qualification as a health professional (where relevant).

Admission Criteria

To be eligible for admission to the Graduate Certificate of Health (Rural & Remote) specialisation, applicants must:

• hold current nursing registration with the Australian Health Professional Registration Authority (AHPRA); and

• must have and produce certified copies of current basic life support competency and annual medication competency certification.

To be eligible for admission to the Graduate Certificate of Health (Scheduled Medicines) specialisation, applicants must (Subject to ANMAC approval):

• be registered as a nurse in Division One of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) and must be able to demonstrate at least one years' full-time clinical experience. Applicants must provide a detailed CV including education, clinical experience, professional development, and full time equivalent for each employer.

• USQ requires written confirmation that the applicant is currently practicing as a RN and can complete required hours of clinical mentorship in their workplace.

Domestic and International Applicants from a non-English speaking background are required to satisfy .

If you do not meet the English language requirements you may apply to study a University-approved . On successful completion of the English language program, Applicants may be admitted to an Award Program.

Program fees

Domestic full fee paying place

Domestic full fee paying places are funded entirely through the full fees paid by the student. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken. You are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the
Domestic full fee paying students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called provided they meet the residency and citizenship requirements.
Australian citizens, Permanent Humanitarian Visa holders, Permanent Resident visa holders and New Zealand citizens who will be resident outside Australia for the duration of their program pay full tuition fees and are not eligible for .

International full fee paying place

International students pay full fees. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken and whether they are studied on-campus, via distance education/online. You are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the .

Program structure

The program consists of four courses each worth one unit. There is one core course ( ) common to all GCHH programs and three courses specific to the chosen specialisation. HEA8001 Contexts of Practice is required for successful completion of the program.

Program completion requirements

Students are required to successfully complete and three courses specified for the chosen specialty. Students who select to study GCHH (no specialisation) are required to successfully complete HEA8001 (core course) and three courses from the GCHH approved by the Program Coordinator to meet the learning outcomes of the award.

Required time limits

This program is offered on a part-time basis only. Minimum time to complete is one (1) year. Maximum time to complete is two (2) years.

Major studies objectives

Graduate Certificate of Health (Aged Care) - is designed to enhance the knowledge and expertise of health professionals working with the older person in a variety of health settings. The program emphasises healthy ageing and uses a wellness model to promote the notion of older people living as well as they can, even in the face of illness.

Graduate Certificate of Health (Community Health) - enables experienced health and social well-being practitioners to develop the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical application skills to analyse and address human health and social well-being issues within a community health framework.

Graduate Certificate of Health (Rural and Remote Health) - has been developed for registered nurses wishing to further their knowledge and advance their nursing skills in the area of rural and isolated practice. Options for other health professionals who wish to extend their expertise in this area are currently at planning stage.

Graduate Certificate of Health (Rural Clinical Education) - enables health professionals to develop their knowledge and expertise to work effectively as clinical mentors, facilitators and preceptors in supporting the clinical education of students, peers and other health professionals with a particular, but not exclusive, focus on rural and non-urban settings.

Graduate Certificate of Health (Mental Health) - prepares nurses to develop expertise in mental health care and enables them to work as clinically skilled members of mental health teams in developing and established services. This program is also open for other health professionals who wish to extend their expertise in mental health.

Graduate Certificate of Health (Scheduled Medicines) (From 2015 subject to ANMAC accreditation) - has been developed for registered nurses wishing to further their advanced knowledge and skills in the area of scheduled medicines, under protocol or permit.

Graduate Certificate of Health (no specialisation) - enables health professionals to complete the core course () and three courses of their choice approved by the Program Coordinator to meet their professional learning objectives as well as overall program objectives.

Practical experience

All students are normally required to have current employment as a professional in health practice to be able to complete the Graduate Certificate of Health.

Clinical requirements

There is a compulsory clinical requirement for GCHH (Rural & Remote) only. This placement is coordinated through the USQ Professional Placements Office.

IT requirements

Students should refer to USQ (information about the minimum IT-related requirements necessary for the successful completion of the program).

Residential schools

Residential Schools are scheduled in the Mental Health specialisation (), and intensive teaching schools are scheduled at Fraser Coast for the on-campus offering of the Aged Care specialisation at that campus.

Articulation

A student successfully completing all courses in the Graduate Certificate of Health program may apply to articulate into the proposed Graduate Diploma of Health/Master of Health, provided the student has not graduated from the Graduate Certificate. A student articulating into a higher degree will only receive the award of the higher degree that they complete. Such students will be given full credit for all courses completed whilst studying the Graduate Certificate. Students must advise the Faculty in writing of their intention to articulate and this must occur prior to completion of the Graduate Certificate of Health.

Related programs

The Graduate Certificate of Health is nested in the proposed Graduate Diploma of Health/Master of Health.

Credit

Credit will only be considered where students have completed, within the last five years, a course which has at least 80% equivalency with courses in the GCHH (maximum two courses).

Enrolment

Part-Time Enrolment

This program is only offered as a part-time enrolment pattern of up to two (2) courses in each semester.

Mid-Year intake

Students may commence the program in Semester 2 as per the recommended enrolment pattern however in some instances may not be able to complete within 2 semesters. Refer to recommended enrolment pattern.

Recommended Enrolment Pattern

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, distance education or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.