The Graduate Diploma in Health Administration is a 36-unit program offered by the Faculty of Health Sciences.

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

If the core and elective requirements of the Graduate Diploma in Health Administration have been satisfied, it is available as an exit award from the Master of Health Administration and the Master of Science (Health Administration).

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

Admission requirements

Applicants must:

  • normally hold an approved degree or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution and have not less than two years professional experience in the health sector following completion of the degree or equivalent qualification
OR
  • hold the Graduate Certificate in Health Administration or equivalent from Flinders University. However, the Faculty Board may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.

Course aims

The course is designed to enhance the competencies of health service managers by building on their current workplace experience and promoting the application of management theories to existing problems. This is 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 within their work roles, and enhance their careers.

Credit

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

Program of study

To qualify for the Graduate Diploma in Health Administration, a student must complete 36 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the following program of study.

AUSTRALIAN PROGRAM

Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.

Core - Year 1 topics

27 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)

 

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

Elective - Year 1 topics

Plus 9 units of elective topics from the following (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)
 HACM9105  Project in Rural Health Management  (4.5 units)
 HACM9203  Health and Aged Care Policy  (4.5 units)
 HACM9204  Health Economics  (4.5 units)
 HACM9205  Health Ethics  (4.5 units)
 HACM9206  Health Informatics  (4.5 units)
 HACM9300  Strategic Management  (4.5 units)

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 in two consecutive semesters or part-time within eight consecutive semesters.

SINGAPORE PROGRAM

The Graduate Diploma in Health Administration 36-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 18 months.

 

Flinders University delivers the following 8 topics which are taught by a combination of visiting staff from Australia and the UK and local Singapore teaching staff:

Core - Year 1 topics

36 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)

Further information on the Singapore program can be obtained from:

Ms Adelene Kok
Program Administrator
Parkway College
Block 168 Jalan Bukit Merah
Surbana One #04-01
Singapore  150168

Tel: 65 6508 6914
Email: adelene.kok@parkway.sg


Dr Arthur van Deth
Director International Programs
Health Care Management
Flinders University
GPO Box 2100
Adelaide South Australia 5001

Tel: 61 8 8201 7759
Email: arthur.vandeth@flinders.edu.au