Graduate Certificate of Health (GCHH)

Health and Community
GCHealth

Graduate Certificate of Health (GCHH) - GCHealth

	External#
Semester intake:	Semester 1 (February) Semester 2 (July)
Fees:	Domestic full fee paying place International full fee paying place
Residential school:	Toowoomba campus (compulsory for Mental Health specialisation only)
Standard duration:	1 year part-time
Program articulation:	To: Graduate Diploma of Health; ; Master of Health

Footnotes
#	The Graduate Certificate of Health (Rural and Remote) and (Scheduled Medicines) is only available to students who hold current nursing registration with the Australian Health Professional Registration Authority (AHPRA) and are located in Australia.

Contact us

Future Australian and New Zealand students	Future International students	Current students
Freecall (within Australia): 1800 269 500 Phone (from outside Australia): +61 7 4631 5315 Email: study@usq.edu.au	Phone: +61 7 4631 5543 Email: international@usq.edu.au	Freecall (within Australia): 1800 007 252 Phone (from outside Australia): +61 7 4631 2285 Email: usq.support@usq.edu.au

Professional accreditation

The Graduate Certificate of Health (Scheduled Medicines) is accredited with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) to enable graduates to apply for ‘scheduled medicines endorsement’ through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

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
Gerontology
Clinical education
Clinical Practice
Mental health

Program objectives

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

critically reflect on their own clinical and educational practices
engage in effective, supportive, collaborative practice within a specialised context
practice in a professional, legal and ethically justifiable manner according to professional requirements and standards, within a specialised context
advocate and protect the rights of individuals or groups regardless of their cultural background, age and/or geographical situation
critically analyse relevant (i.e. clinical data, government policy, research findings), and apply this knowledge to their selected specialised area
develop a professional identity including independence, interdependence, authority and partnership
demonstrate competence in and appropriate use of language and literacy including spelling, grammar, punctuation and bibliographic referencing

Australian Qualifications Framework

The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is a single national, comprehensive system of qualifications offered by higher education institutions (including universities), vocational education and training institutions and secondary schools. Each AQF qualification has a set of descriptors which define the type and complexity of knowledge, skills and application of knowledge and skills that a graduate who has been awarded that qualification has attained, and the typical volume of learning associated with that qualification type.

This program is at AQF Qualification Level 08. Graduates at this level will have advanced knowledge and skills for professional or highly skilled work and/or further learning.

The full set of levels criteria and qualification type descriptors can be found by visiting .

Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission, applicants must satisfy the following requirements:

Completion of an Australian university three year Bachelor degree in a health related field, or equivalent.

or

A minimum of one (1) years' professional work experience equivalent to a qualification at AQF Level 8.
English Language Proficiency requirements for Category 3.

Admission Criteria

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

hold current Division 1 Nursing registration with the Australian Health Professional Registration Authority (AHPRA).

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

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.

All students are required to satisfy the applicable .

If students do not meet the English language requirements they may apply to study a ��ýapp-approved . On successful completion of the English language program, students may be admitted to an award program.

Requirements for professional experience placements

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

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. Students 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. Students 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 Graduate Certificate of Health specialisations 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. Students who select to study Graduate Certificate of Health (no specialisation) are required to successfully complete HEA8001 (core course) and three courses from the Graduate Certificate of Health 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.

Specific specialisations

Graduate Certificate of Health (Gerontology) - 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 (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 (Clinical Practice) - enables health professionals to complete the core course () and three of the clinical practice electives to develop their expertise in areas of chronic illness or community related health. It also offers the opportunity to develop expertise to promote resilience related to disaster experiences.

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) - 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.

IT requirements

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

Residential schools

The attendance requirement of residential schools within this degree is indicated by the following letters: V = Voluntary; O = Optional; C = Compulsory; R = Recommended; HR = Highly Recommended; M = Mandatory. Further information is available and in the

Residential Schools are scheduled in the Mental Health specialisation ().

Articulation

A student successfully completing all courses in the Graduate Certificate of Health program may apply to articulate into the 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 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

Recommended Enrolment Pattern

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

Course	Year of program and semester in which course is normally studied						Residential school	Enrolment requirements
	On-campus (ONC)		External (EXT)		Online (ONL)
	Year	Sem	Year	Sem	Year	Sem
Rural and Remote – Semester 1 intake
					1	1		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MNRS or MNSG or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or DOHH
					1	1		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: PDEV or MNSG or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH
^{^}^**			1	2
			1	2				Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or MNSG
Rural and Remote – Semester 2 intake
					1	1		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MNRS or MNSG or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or DOHH
					2	1		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: PDEV or MNSG or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH
^{^}^**			2	2
			2	2				Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or MNSG
Scheduled Medicines - Semester 1 intake
					1	1		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MNRS or MNSG or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or DOHH
					1	1		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MNSG or MNRS or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH Co-requisite:
					1	2		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MNSG or MNRS or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH Co-requisite:
					1	2		Pre-requisite: and students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or MNSG or PDEV Co-requisite:
Scheduled Medicines - Semester 2 intake
					1	2		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MNRS or MNSG or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or DOHH
					1	2		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MNSG or MNRS or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH Co-requisite:
					2	1		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MNSG or MNRS or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH Co-requisite:
					2	2		Pre-requisite: and students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or MNSG or PDEV Co-requisite:
Community Health - Semester 1 intake
					1	1		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MNRS or MNSG or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or DOHH
					1	1,2		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or MNRS or MNSG or PDEV
HEA8301 Foundations of Community Health⁺					1	2
					1	2		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MNRS or PDEV or MNSG or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or GCCO or MCCO or GDCN
Community Health - Semester 2 intake
					1	2		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MNRS or MNSG or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or DOHH
HEA8301 Foundations of Community Health⁺					1	2
					2	1,2		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or MNRS or MNSG or PDEV
					2	1		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MNRS or PDEV or MNSG or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or GCCO or MCCO or GDCN
Gerontology - Semester 1 intake
					1	1		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following programs: MNRS or PDEV or MNSG or GDHH or MOHH or GCCO or MCCO or GDCN
					1	1
			1	1,2				Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MNRS or MNSG or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or DOHH
					1	2		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or MNRS or MNSG or PDEV
Gerontology - Semester 2 intake
			1	2				Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MNRS or MNSG or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or DOHH
					1	2		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or MNRS or MNSG or PDEV
			2	2				Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following programs: MNRS or PDEV or MNSG or GDHH or MOHH or GCCO or MCCO or GDCN
					2	1
Clinical Education - Semester 1 intake
					1	1		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MNRS or MNSG or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or DOHH
			1	1				Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MNSG or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH and be employed as a practising health professional
HEA8202 Relationships for Professional Development and Learning ⁺					1	2
					1	2
Clinical Education - Semester 2 intake
					1	2		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MNRS or MNSG or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or DOHH
					1	2
			2	1				Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MNSG or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH and be employed as a practising health professional
HEA8202 Relationships for Professional Development and Learning ⁺					2	2
Mental Health - Semester 1 intake
					1	1		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MNRS or MNSG or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or DOHH
					1	1		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MOHH or GDHH
					1	1,2		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or MNRS or MNSG or PDEV
			1	2			C	Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MOHH or GDHH
Mental Health - Semester 2 intake
					1	2		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MNRS or MNSG or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or DOHH
					1	1,2		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or MNRS or MNSG or PDEV
					2	1		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MOHH or GDHH
			2	2			C	Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MOHH or GDHH
Clinical Practice - Semester 1 and 2 intake
					1	2		Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MNRS or MNSG or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or DOHH
One approved course from GDHH specialisation			1	1,2
One approved course from GDHH specialisation			1	1,2
One approved course from GDHH specialisation			1	1,2

Footnotes
^	is only available to students who hold current nursing registration with the Australian Health Professional Registration Authority (AHPRA) and are located in Australia.
**	Clinical component
+	This course will not be available in 2017.

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