The Master of Health Administration is a 54-unit program offered by the Faculty of Health Sciences.

The course articulates with the Graduate Certificate in Health Administration, the Graduate Diploma in Health Administration and The Master of Science (Health Administration) and the sequentially developed topics allow progression through the awards.

Note: Students who commenced The Master of Health Service Management award prior to 2008 and who complete the award after the award name change can choose to take their award as either The Master of Health Service Management or The Master of Health Administration.

The course is also offered in Singapore as The Master of Health Administration and in Nankai, China where it is offered as the Master of Hospital Administration.

Admission requirements

Applicants must:

  • normally hold an approved degree or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution and have not less than four years' professional experience in the health sector following completion of the degree or equivalent qualification; or
  • hold either the Graduate Certificate in Health Administration or equivalent, or the Graduate Diploma in Health Administration or equivalent from Flinders University and have not less than four years' professional experience in the health sector. However, the Faculty Board may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.
All applicants will be asked to provide a 300-500 word statement detailing their relevant work experience.

Course aims

The course aims to enhance the competencies of middle level Health Service managers, equipping them to move to more senior management positions. It is designed to allow students to investigate advanced issues in management through a combination of classroom/online learning with peers and supervised industry-based project/research work. These aims are accomplished by utilising the expertise of our teaching staff (who are also experienced managers) and of health and aged care leaders in both the public and private sectors who lecture in the program.

The course prepares graduates for entry to the Australasian College of Health Service Management and assists medical practitioners to enter the Royal Australian College of Medical Administrators.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, students are expected to be able to:

  • apply knowledge of management methods to their practice in managing people and resources
  • use critical analysis and available evidence to address problems and opportunities in health and aged care policy and practice
  • negotiate ethical and practice dilemmas and apply their skills and knowledge to achieving better outcomes for communities, clients and staff
  • provide leadership at a more senior level, and enhance their careers.

Credit

Credit will be granted for studies completed in the Graduate Certificate in Health Administration or equivalent, or the Graduate Diploma in Health Administration or equivalent. Credit may be granted for other comparable prior studies.

Program of study

To qualify for The Master of Health Administration, a student must complete 54 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study below.

The award of a grade of Fail (F) in 9 or more units, or the award of a grade of Fail (F) in the same topic on more than one occasion, may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purposes of the University's Policy on Student Progress.

Except with permission of the Faculty Board, the program must be completed full-time within four consecutive semesters or part-time within twelve consecutive semesters. A lesser period may be set where credit has been granted for previous studies.

AUSTRALIAN PROGRAM

Core components are determined by College requirements.

Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.

Core - Year 1 & 2 topics

40.5 units comprising:

 HACM9100  Managing People  (4.5 units)
 HACM9101  Managing Organisations  (4.5 units)
 HACM9102  Financial Management in Health Care  (4.5 units)
 HACM9200  Health and Aged Care Systems  (4.5 units)
 HACM9201  Health Law  (4.5 units)
 HACM9202  Safety and Quality in Health Care  (4.5 units)
 HACM9300  Strategic Management  (4.5 units)
 HACM9301  Management Project# (9 units)

Note: The introductory core topics HACM9100, HACM9101 and HACM9102 should normally be completed prior to other core and elective topics.

 

#Masters candidates are obliged to take at least 9 units of Management Project to fulfil the project/research component of their award. With the approval of the Course Coordinator, candidates may undertake HACM9302 Management Project (18 units). In some circumstances, the Course Coordinator may approve completion of HACM9303 Management Project (4.5 units) in lieu of HACM9301, provided that the student successfully completes an approved research methods elective(s) of up to 9 units prior to enrolling in the project topic.

HACM9301 and HACM9302 can be taken in one semester or over a number of semesters. See the topic homepages for the possible enrolment configurations.

Elective - Year 1 & 2 topics

Select 13.5 units from the following electives (or, with the approval of the course coordinator, other appropriate graduate-level topics). 

 HACM9001   Lean Thinking and Process Redesign  (4.5 units)
 HACM9002  Clinical Practice Improvement  (4.5 units)
 HACM9104  Corporate Communications  (4.5 units)
 HACM9203  Health and Aged Care Policy  (4.5 units)
 HACM9204  Health Economics  (4.5 units)
 HACM9205  Health Ethics  (4.5 units)

 

SINGAPORE PROGRAM

The Master of Health Administration 54-unit program is also offered in Singapore and is taught in conjunction with Parkway College, Singapore. The course can be completed on a part-time basis over 2 years.

Students must complete 45 units of core topics and a 9 unit (9,000 word) Management Project.

Flinders University delivers the following topics which are taught by a combination of visiting staff from Australia and the UK and local Singaporean teaching staff:

Core - Year 1 & 2 topics

54 units comprising:

 HACM9100  Managing People  (4.5 units)
 HACM9101  Managing Organisations  (4.5 units)
 HACM9102  Financial Management in Health Care  (4.5 units)
 HACM9104  Corporate Communications  (4.5 units)
 HACM9200  Health and Aged Care Systems  (4.5 units)
 HACM9201  Health Law  (4.5 units)
 HACM9202  Safety and Quality in Health Care  (4.5 units)
 HACM9203  Health and Aged Care Policy  (4.5 units)
 HACM9205  Health Ethics  (4.5 units)
 HACM9300  Strategic Management  (4.5 units)
 HACM9301  Management Project (9 units)