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Graduate Certificate of Nursing (GCNG) - GCNursing

 External#Online
Start:Semester 1 (February)
Semester 2 (July)		Semester 1 (February)
Semester 2 (July)
Fees:Commonwealth supported place
Domestic full fee paying place
International full fee paying place
Commonwealth supported place
Domestic full fee paying place
International full fee paying place
Standard duration: 1 Year part-time 
Program articulation:

To: ; Graduate Diploma of Nursing

Footnotes
#The Mental Health specialisation contains two courses with mandatory residential schools. Residential Schools will be held at either the Toowoomba or Ipswich campus.

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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 

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Program aims

This program aims to advance a nurse’s knowledge and skills in the areas of rural and remote, gerontology, mental health, leadership and management in health or clinical education.

  • The Clinical Education specialty aims to prepare students to augment their knowledge and skills to deliver education programs and, mentor and facilitate students and peers within healthcare contexts.

  • The Gerontology specialisation aims to enhance students’ knowledge and skills in caring for ageing clients in multiple settings.

  • The Leadership and Management in Health specialisation aims to develop the knowledge and skills necessary for leaders in healthcare.

  • The Mental Health specialisation aims to develop the knowledge and skills of students to enable them to care for mental health clients in multiple settings

  • The Rural and Remote specialisation has been developed for registered nurses wishing to further their knowledge and advance their nursing skills in the area of rural and isolated practice. After completion of the Graduate Diploma or Masters, students will meet the legislative requirements to support the extended practice authority (EPA). Utilising Health Management Protocols and Clinical Care Guidelines outlined in the Primary Clinical Care Manual, clinicians in QLD and Victoria will have the ability to administer and supply medicines according to local policy.

  • The General specialisation enables students to personalise the courses studied to suit their specific needs.


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Program objectives

On successful completion of this program a graduate should be able to:

  • Apply specialised knowledge, skills and technical competencies within specific health contexts.

  • Effectively communicate using high-level written and oral language skills with people of diverse ages, backgrounds and needs.

  • Collaborate with a range of healthcare professionals to achieve the best possible healthcare outcomes for individuals and communities.

  • Reflect on practice to facilitate awareness and knowledge of one’s own cognition and abilities.

  • Critically analyse, synthesise and evaluate a range of data and evidence to provide solutions to complex nursing problems


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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 .

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Admission requirements

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

  • Completion of an Australian university or equivalent three-year bachelor degree in the area of Nursing.

  • Current Professional Registration as a Division 1 Nurse or equivalent with either Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency () or relevant regulatory body in applicant's home country.

  • English Language Proficiency requirements for Category 4.


All students are required to satisfy the applicable .

If students do not meet the English language requirements they may apply to study a ¾«¶«´«Ã½app-approved . On successful completion of the English language program, students may be admitted to an award program.

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Requirements for professional experience placements

There are no clinical requirements in this program unless candidates select an approved course that contains a clinical requirement. Courses with a clinical requirement are not available to International students.

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Program fees

Commonwealth supported place

A Commonwealth supported place is where the Australian Government makes a contribution towards the cost of a students' higher education and students pay a , which varies depending on the courses undertaken. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the .

Commonwealth Supported students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called .

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 .

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Program structure

The program consists of four units comprising of:

  • Two core courses (HEA8001 Contexts of Practice and NUR8060 Health Policy Analysis and Review); plus

  • Two units from the specialisation or approved courses.


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Required time limits

Students have a maximum of 3 years to complete this program.

Specific specialisations

In this section:

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Clinical Education specialisation

Specialisation Courses  Semester(s) Offer  Mode 
  1  ONL 
  2  ONL 

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Gerontology specialisation

Specialisation Courses  Semester(s) Offer  Mode 
  1  ONL 
  2  ONL 

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Leadership and Management in Health

Specialisation Courses  Semester(s) Offer  Mode 
  1  ONL 
  1  ONL 

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Mental Health

Specialisation Courses  Semester(s) Offer  Mode 
  1  ONL 
Choose one of the following three courses:
#
#
# 		 2
1
2 		 EXT
EXT
EXT 

Footnotes
#This course has a mandatory residential school

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Rural and Remote Specialisation

Specialisation Courses  Semester(s) Offer  Mode 
  1  ONL 
  2  ONL 

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General Specialisation

Specialisation Courses  Semester(s) Offer  Mode 
Selection two from the following approved courses:     
  1  ONL 
  2  ONL 
HEA8104 Alzheimer's and Dementia: Contemporary Perspectives  1  ONL 
HEA8105 Perspectives on `End-of-Life'  2  ONL 
  1,2  ONL 
  1  ONL 
  2  ONL 
  1  ONL 
  2  ONL 
  1,2  ONL 
+*  1,2  EXT 
#  2  EXT 
#  1  EXT 
#  2  EXT 

Footnotes
+ANP5002 is only available to students who hold current Division 1 nursing registration with the Australian Health Professional Registration Authority (AHPRA) and are located in Australia.
*Clinical component
#This course has a mandatory residential school

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Residential schools

The attendance requirement of residential schools within this degree is indicated by the following letters: R = Recommended; HR = Highly Recommended; M = Mandatory. To find out more about , visit the to view specific dates for your degree, or visit the .

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. To find out more about residential schools, visit the Residential School Schedule to view specific dates for your degree, or visit the Policy and Procedure Library. The Mental Health specialisation has mandatory residential schools. The mandatory residential schools will be held at Ipswich, or Toowoomba campus.


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Articulation

Students completing the Graduate Certificate of Nursing have the ability to articulate into the Graduate Diploma of Nursing.

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Related programs

The Graduate Certificate of Nursing is nested in the Graduate Diploma of Nursing and Master of Nursing.

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Course transfers

Exemptions/credit will be assessed based on the .

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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 patterns

In this section:

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Clinical Education specialisation (clinical) recommended enrolment pattern – Semester 1 entry part time

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.


CourseYear of program and semester in which course is normally studiedEnrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)		External
(EXT)		Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Clinical Education specialisation (clinical) recommended enrolment pattern – Semester 1 entry part time

11,2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or MNRS or MNSG or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or DOHH or GDNG or GCNM or GCHE or GCNG
11Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or MNSG or GCNG or GDNG or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or GCHE and be employed as a practising health professional
11,2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or MNRS or PDEV or MNSG or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or GCCO or MCCO or GDCN or GDNG or GCNG or GCHE
12Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or MNSG or GCNG or GDNG or PDEV or GCHH or MNRS or GDHH or MOHH or GCHE Co-requisite:

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Clinical Education specialisation (clinical) recommended enrolment pattern – Semester 2 entry part time

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.


CourseYear of program and semester in which course is normally studiedEnrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)		External
(EXT)		Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Clinical Education specialisation (clinical) recommended enrolment pattern – Semester 2 entry part time

11,2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or MNRS or MNSG or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or DOHH or GDNG or GCNM or GCHE or GCNG
12Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or MNSG or GCNG or GDNG or PDEV or GCHH or MNRS or GDHH or MOHH or GCHE Co-requisite:
11Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or MNSG or GCNG or GDNG or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or GCHE and be employed as a practising health professional
11,2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or MNRS or PDEV or MNSG or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or GCCO or MCCO or GDCN or GDNG or GCNG or GCHE

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Gerontology specialisation (clinical) recommended enrolment pattern – Semester 1 entry part time

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.


CourseYear of program and semester in which course is normally studiedEnrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)		External
(EXT)		Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Gerontology specialisation (clinical) recommended enrolment pattern – Semester 1 entry part time

11,2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or MNRS or MNSG or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or DOHH or GDNG or GCNM or GCHE or GCNG
11
11,2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or MNRS or PDEV or MNSG or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or GCCO or MCCO or GDCN or GDNG or GCNG or GCHE
12Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or MNRS or MNSG or GDNG or GCNG or PDEV

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Gerontology specialisation (clinical) recommended enrolment pattern – Semester 2 entry part time

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.


CourseYear of program and semester in which course is normally studiedEnrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)		External
(EXT)		Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Gerontology specialisation (clinical) recommended enrolment pattern – Semester 2 entry part time

11,2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or MNRS or MNSG or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or DOHH or GDNG or GCNM or GCHE or GCNG
12Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or MNRS or MNSG or GDNG or GCNG or PDEV
11,2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or MNRS or PDEV or MNSG or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or GCCO or MCCO or GDCN or GDNG or GCNG or GCHE
11

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Leadership and Management in Health specialisation (clinical) recommended enrolment pattern – Semester 1 entry part time

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.


CourseYear of program and semester in which course is normally studiedEnrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)		External
(EXT)		Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Leadership and Management in Health specialisation (clinical) recommended enrolment pattern – Semester 1 entry part time

11,2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or MNRS or MNSG or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or DOHH or GDNG or GCNM or GCHE or GCNG
11Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following programs: BHEH or MNRS or PDEV or MNSG or GDHH or MOHH or GCCO or MCCO or GDCN or GCHH or GCNG
11,2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or MNRS or PDEV or MNSG or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or GCCO or MCCO or GDCN or GDNG or GCNG or GCHE
12Pre-requisites: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or MNRS or PDEV or MNSG or GDHH or MOHH or GCCO or MCCO or GDCN or GCHH or GDNG or GCNG

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Leadership and Management in Health specialisation (clinical) recommended enrolment pattern – Semester 2 entry part time

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.


CourseYear of program and semester in which course is normally studiedEnrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)		External
(EXT)		Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Leadership and Management in Health specialisation (clinical) recommended enrolment pattern – Semester 2 entry part time

11,2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or MNRS or MNSG or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or DOHH or GDNG or GCNM or GCHE or GCNG
12Pre-requisites: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or MNRS or PDEV or MNSG or GDHH or MOHH or GCCO or MCCO or GDCN or GCHH or GDNG or GCNG
11Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following programs: BHEH or MNRS or PDEV or MNSG or GDHH or MOHH or GCCO or MCCO or GDCN or GCHH or GCNG
11,2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or MNRS or PDEV or MNSG or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or GCCO or MCCO or GDCN or GDNG or GCNG or GCHE

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Mental Health specialisation (clinical) recommended enrolment pattern – Semester 1 entry part time

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.


CourseYear of program and semester in which course is normally studiedEnrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)		External
(EXT)		Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Leadership and Management in Health specialisation (clinical) recommended enrolment pattern – Semester 1 entry part time

11,2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or MNRS or MNSG or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or DOHH or GDNG or GCNM or GCHE or GCNG
12Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or MOHH or GDHH or MNSG
11,2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or MNRS or PDEV or MNSG or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or GCCO or MCCO or GDCN or GDNG or GCNG or GCHE

Choose one of the following three courses:

     #2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or MNSG or GDNG or GCNG
     #1Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or MNSG or GDNG or GCNG
     #2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or MNSG or GDNG or GCNG

Footnotes
#This course has a mandatory residential school

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Mental Health specialisation (clinical) recommended enrolment pattern – Semester 2 entry part time

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.


CourseYear of program and semester in which course is normally studiedEnrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)		External
(EXT)		Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Mental Health specialisation (clinical) recommended enrolment pattern – Semester 2 entry part time

11,2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or MNRS or MNSG or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or DOHH or GDNG or GCNM or GCHE or GCNG
11,2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or MNRS or PDEV or MNSG or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or GCCO or MCCO or GDCN or GDNG or GCNG or GCHE
12Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or MOHH or GDHH or MNSG

Choose one of the following three courses:

     #2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or MNSG or GDNG or GCNG
     #1Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or MNSG or GDNG or GCNG
     #2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or MNSG or GDNG or GCNG

Footnotes
#This course has a mandatory residential school

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Rural and Remote specialisation (clinical) recommended enrolment pattern – Semester 1 entry part time

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.


CourseYear of program and semester in which course is normally studiedEnrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)		External
(EXT)		Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Rural and Remote specialisation (clinical) recommended enrolment pattern – Semester 1 entry part time

11,2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or MNRS or MNSG or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or DOHH or GDNG or GCNM or GCHE or GCNG
11Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: PDEV or MNSG or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or GDNG or GCNG
11,2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or MNRS or PDEV or MNSG or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or GCCO or MCCO or GDCN or GDNG or GCNG or GCHE
12Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or MNSG or PDEV or GDNG or GCNG

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Rural and Remote specialisation (clinical) recommended enrolment pattern – Semester 2 entry part time

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.


CourseYear of program and semester in which course is normally studiedEnrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)		External
(EXT)		Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Rural and Remote specialisation (clinical) recommended enrolment pattern – Semester 2 entry part time

11,2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or MNRS or MNSG or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or DOHH or GDNG or GCNM or GCHE or GCNG
12Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or MNSG or PDEV or GDNG or GCNG
11Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: PDEV or MNSG or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or GDNG or GCNG
11,2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or MNRS or PDEV or MNSG or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or GCCO or MCCO or GDCN or GDNG or GCNG or GCHE

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General specialisation (Clinical) 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.


CourseYear of program and semester in which course is normally studiedEnrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)		External
(EXT)		Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

General specialisation (Clinical) recommended enrolment pattern – Semester 1 & 2 entry part time

11,2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or MNRS or MNSG or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or DOHH or GDNG or GCNM or GCHE or GCNG
11,2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or MNRS or PDEV or MNSG or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or GCCO or MCCO or GDCN or GDNG or GCNG or GCHE

Approved Elective

Approved Elective

List of Approved Elective courses:

     2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or MNRS or MNSG or GDNG or GCNG or PDEV
     1
     HEA8105 Perspectives on `End-of-Life'2
     HEA8104 Alzheimer's and Dementia: Contemporary Perspectives1
     1,2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or GCNG or GDNG or MNSG or PDEV or GDPH or MPUH
     1Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following programs: BHEH or MNRS or PDEV or MNSG or GDHH or MOHH or GCCO or MCCO or GDCN or GCHH or GCNG
     2Pre-requisites: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or MNRS or PDEV or MNSG or GDHH or MOHH or GCCO or MCCO or GDCN or GCHH or GDNG or GCNG
     2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or MNSG or GCNG or GDNG or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or GCHE and be employed as a practising health professional
     2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: BHEH or MNSG or GCNG or GDNG or PDEV or GCHH or MNRS or GDHH or MOHH or GCHE Co-requisite:
     1
     +*1,2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MNRS or MNSG or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or DOHH or GCNG or GDNG
     #2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or MNSG or GDNG or GCNG
     #1Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or MNSG or GDNG or GCNG
     #2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCCO or GDCN or MCCO or PDEV or GCHH or GDHH or MOHH or MNSG or GDNG or GCNG

Footnotes
+ANP5002 is only available to students who hold current Division 1 nursing registration with the Australian Health Professional Registration Authority (AHPRA) and are located in Australia.
*Clinical component
#This course has a mandatory residential school