Graduate Certificate in Chronic Condition Management

The Graduate Certificate in Chronic Condition Management is an 18-unit program offered by the Faculty of Health Sciences.  The program must be completed in one semester full-time or up to four consecutive semesters part-time.

The Graduate Certificate in Chronic Condition Management articulates with the Graduate Diploma in Chronic Condition Management.  Students who complete the Graduate Certificate normally receive credit for a maximum of 18 units should they proceed to the Graduate Diploma in Chronic Condition Management. Sequentially developed topics allow progression through the awards.

• Admission requirements
• Course aims
• Learning outcomes
• Program of study  

Admission requirements

Applicants for the Graduate Certificate in Chronic Condition Management must normally hold an approved degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant field such as Nursing, or Medicine, from an approved tertiary institution.  The Faculty Board may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.  All applicants must also attach a resume of 300-500 words detailing the reasons for seeking the qualification, the relevant experience they would bring to this course, and the value of the qualification to their field of work with people with chronic conditions.

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 of vulnerable or at risk populations
• demonstrate a general understanding of core concepts of chronic condition management (CCM) and chronic condition self management (CCSM) and the implications of these concepts for health service consumers, service providers, professional practice, and health systems within Australia and internationally
• incorporate and apply the concepts of CCM and CCSM and their relationship with and implications for population health, public health and primary health care approaches to their practice with health service consumers
• understand and apply the rationale for the &##39;chronic care&##39; and &##39;patient-centred care&##39; perspectives and other views of CCM and the importance of promoting self management for the person and the wider health care 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.
  

Program of study

To qualify for the Graduate Certificate in Chronic Condition Management, a student must complete 18 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic according to the program of study below. 

Except with the permission of the Faculty Board, no topic may be attempted more than twice.

The award of a grade of Fail (F) in the same topic on more than one occasion or in 13.5 units or more, or failure to complete the course within four consecutive semesters may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purposes of the University&##39;s Policy on Student Progress.

Core - Year 1 topics

13.5 units comprising:

MHSC8111  Managing Chronic Conditions - Self-Management Support Approaches  (4.5 units)
MHSC8112  Perspectives on Chronic Diseases Management  (4.5 units)
MHSC8114  The Persons Experiences of Self Management  (4.5 units)

plus 4.5 units selected from:

Option - Year 1 topics

MHSC8113  Education and Training for Chronic Conditions Self Management  (4.5 units)
MHSC8115A  Chronic Condition Management for Specific Conditions, Contexts or Populations A  (4.5 units) 

By negotiation with the Course Coordinator students may undertake an alternative option topic chosen from other existing programs (Primary Health, Health Promotion, Disability Studies etc.)