Graduate Diploma in Health Services Management

at University of South Australia - City East Campus Australia

This unique double degree combines a deep understanding of the human body’s physicality with business skills in sports performance, marketing and leadership.

Through theoretical and practical learning, you’ll be ready to make an impact on the nutritional and physical health, fitness and wellbeing of the community, sporting professionals and sporting organisations alike. Further study opportunities may include a Master of Health Services Management.

What you'll learn

Through this four-year double degree, you’ll complete core courses across both human movement and sport and recreation management.

Your first year will give you foundational knowledge in human anatomy, as well as the evolving discipline of human movement, exercise and sport science, health and physical activity, physiology and leisure concepts in modern Australian society. You’ll develop mathematical and statistical skills for business and management, learn about group and team psychology, and gain an understanding of motor development.

From your second year, you’ll get to broaden your knowledge in exercise physiology, marketing and economics principles, and develop a sound understanding of sport and recreation governance, structure, legislation and policy frameworks.

You can choose to study a sub-major (six courses) in Sports Coaching or you can complete four electives across a range of complementary areas including Exercise and Sports Science, Health, Physical and Outdoor Education or Nutrition.

Your third year of study will give you advanced skills in motor control and learning, nutrition, business intelligence and management, the sociology of health, physical activity and sport, sport governance, and entrepreneurship for social and market impact. You can also choose an advanced health elective or study the psychology of health, exercise and sport.

Your final year will develop your professional practice skills through an industry placement in either Human Movement or in Sport and Recreation Management. You’ll further develop your skills in strategic management, leadership in recreation and sport, recreation planning in the urban environment, and international business environments.

Physiotherapists change lives. Start your unstoppable career helping people to reach their full potential, and lead healthy, functional lives. This four-year degree will develop your expertise in the prevention, assessment and management of health conditions across the lifespan.

As a registered physiotherapist you’ll be at the forefront of care, being eligible to work as a first contact professional and sought-after member of allied health care teams in Australia and overseas.

What you'll learn

The Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) will teach you to assess, treat and prevent health conditions across various areas of practice, including sport, musculoskeletal, cardiorespiratory and neurological disciplines.

You’ll start practical courses straight away and will learn foundational medical sciences in courses such as human anatomy and physiology. Social and psychological determinants of human health and function are covered in the inter-professional course Foundations of Health, where you’ll work with students studying podiatry, health sciences, occupational therapy and exercise physiology. You also begin your training in physiotherapy-specific skills from day one, starting with biomechanics and muscle assessment.

You’ll also study important aspects of pharmacology and movement analysis, courses that will challenge your understanding of the mechanisms and management of pain the biomedical model of health, and how to work collaboratively with patients to help them achieve their best outcomes. Experiential teaching is delivered through clinical placements that train you in the prevention and treatment of disease and disability. 

You’ll graduate with qualifications to not only to work as an autonomous practitioner concerned with prevention and management of disability and illness in the workplace or community, but also as a member of a multidisciplinary healthcare team. This holistic view of a patient’s health recovery is critical, especially across the different types of care needed for people of all ages.

This is the only degree of its kind in South Australia, preparing you for a rewarding career in the highly specialised field of medical imaging.

Start your unstoppable career as a professional diagnostic radiographer, responsible for producing high quality medical images using various technologies and types of radiation to monitor and help diagnose injuries and illnesses.

What you'll learn

Medical imaging professionals are responsible for producing high quality medical images using various technologies and types of radiation to monitor and help diagnose injuries and illnesses. Their work includes general radiography such as x-rays, fluoroscopy, theatre or emergency imaging.

Throughout your degree, you’ll learn how to produce optimal images using complex equipment while caring for patients. You’ll also complement your clinical skills with valuable interpersonal skills, such as communication and collaboration.

During your first year, you’ll focus on basic sciences at the core of the study and practice of medical radiation science. You’ll cover a range of topics, including anatomy, physiology, pathology and radiation physics. These core subjects introduce you to the scientific principles surrounding medical radiation.

You’ll apply these concepts to professional practice through clinical placements, which begin in your second year and continue through third and fourth years.

Throughout your degree you’ll take part in regular pre-clinical preparation workshops to further extend your skills as you move into advanced areas of practice.

Enrich your studies and your life – make overseas study part of your qualification. You may have the option to undertake an exchange, short-term program or study tour overseas while you study. We have links with universities worldwide, as well as a range of travel grants available to make going overseas much more accessible.

You can choose short-term or semester-long study from a range of universities and countries depending on your area of study and cultural interests.

Public health practitioners address social and environmental factors which prevent disease and prolong the lifespan of the greater public. You’ll work with individuals, groups, communities and organisations across public and private sectors. You’ll learn diverse approaches including policy development; data analysis and reporting; media and advocacy; public events; community-based education and interventions to create positive change. These methods may be used to tackle global health issues such as COVID-19, heart disease, cancer and mental health.

What you'll learn
Your studies will equip you with an understanding of the social and commercial determinants of health and wellbeing. You will learn how to engage with communities and populations to promote wellbeing through locally-relevant information and activities. You will learn the principles and purpose of evaluation in public health, the importance of lived-experience perspectives, the role of advocacy, and the responsible dissemination of public health information. You’ll also learn epidemiological techniques to identify patterns in population health, such as the prevalence of mental health conditions or cardiovascular disease, novel associations between risk factors and diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and COVID-19.

During your first year you’ll understand core areas of practice and in your second year you’ll get to apply that knowledge. In the final year, there will be an emphasis on becoming a public health practitioner and entering the workforce, and career development. You will also have the opportunity to showcase your industry project and placement experiences at the annual student conference.

Throughout the degree, you’ll focus on equitable access to health programs and services for priority population groups such as, but not limited to, people experiencing homelessness, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse people, veterans, people living in rural and remote locations, young people, and older adults.

Designed for students who have already completed a bachelor’s degree and meet entry requirements, this intensive master’s degree will qualify you to practise as a registered occupational therapist with two extra years of study.

Occupational therapists empower people to live full and rewarding lives. They help people of all ages achieve their goals, optimise their lifestyles and actively participate in society irrespective of limitations.

At UniSA, you’ll learn from registered occupational therapists and accomplished researchers at the top of their field. With a strong focus on practical skills, you’ll complete 1,000 hours of field placements across health, rehabilitation and community agencies, children’s centres, kindergartens, schools and aged care facilities. This prepares you for professional practice and a seamless transition from study to work.

This master's degree will help health or medical professionals looking to develop their leadership, management and business skills.

What you'll learn
This master’s degree will expand your knowledge and skills in management, administration, leadership, project management, strategic management, financial management and more.

Through a unique blend of health and business courses, you'll learn to:

• Provide the overall strategic direction and management for a service, facility, organisation or centre.
• Work in senior levels of management influencing high-level organisation, financial and administrative decisions.
• Prepare for leadership roles in health within Australia and internationally.
• Develop and strengthen project management processes to plan, manage, execute and deliver successful projects.
• Develop competencies in designing rigorous quantitative research to inform healthcare knowledge, practice, and policy.
• Undertake administrative operations such as reporting and budget planning.
• Understand business analytics, the accounting environment and health economics within organisations.

This double degree is for students who want to combine their passion for health and exercise with their interest in nutrition.

Through theoretical and practical learning, you’ll become an expert in all aspects of nutrition and food sciences. Most importantly, you’ll be ready to improve the nutritional and physical health, fitness and wellbeing of the community.

You'll learn from world-class industry experts in an environment full of opportunities for practical learning; and have the opportunity to complete a work placement with valuable industry experience. You can also tailor your degree to align with your career goals by choosing a primary stream in either Health and Physical Education, or Exercise and Sport Science.

What you'll learn

This double degree offers a strong blend of theoretical, practice-based and industry learning.

During your first year of study, you'll develop a strong foundation in: 

• Physiology
• Health and physical activity
• Nutrition and food sciences
• Chemistry
• Motor development and ageing
• Group and team psychology
• Evidence based practice and research methods

From your second year, you can choose to tailor the human movement component of the degree using the electives to suit your career goals, through primary streams in Health and Physical Education or Exercise and Sport Science.

In addition to studying core subjects in your final years, the stream subjects focus on areas like exercise prescription, exercise delivery, fitness and lifestyle management, and outdoor leadership. Alternatively, you can opt not to study a stream, and instead choose to study a broad range of elective subjects to give you a multi-disciplinary perspective. 

In the new Bachelor of Biomedical Science, you’ll explore the complex world of human health and disease under the guidance of industry experts.

In this three-year program, immerse yourself in biomedical research and gain skills to be used in clinical trials. Develop advanced knowledge in physiology, biochemistry, immunology, pharmacology, molecular biology, genomics and bioinformatics. You’ll get to learn alongside internationally-recognised researchers in cancer biology, vaccine development, genetics and neuroscience.

What you'll learn
Along with fundamental knowledge in biomedical sciences, you can choose pathways into further study in biomedical research and other health professions. Throughout your degree, you’ll:

• Explore the complex world of human health and disease.
• Learn advanced skills in biochemistry, immunology, genetics, pharmacology, cancer biology.
• Learn skills which can be applied to clinical trials research.
• Study core courses in chemistry, biology and anatomy, and develop advanced knowledge in physiology, biochemistry, immunology, pharmacology, molecular biology, genomics and bioinformatics.
• Benefit from a flexible learning environment with face-to-face and online courses.
• Gain research experience, which forms a great foundation for pathways in bioinformatics, genomics, and clinical trials.

What you'll learn

The Bachelor of Nursing prepares you for placement and your professional nursing career with more than 150 hours of learning in our Horizon Hospital and Health Service. You’ll also complete 1,000 hours in clinical settings across metro, regional and rural hospitals, and health services in South Australia.

During your studies, your learning will enable you to meet the seven interconnecting Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia Registered Nurse standards for practice, which include the capacity to:

• Think critically and analyse nursing practice
• Engage in therapeutic and professional relationships
• Maintain the capability for practice
• Comprehensively conduct assessments
• Develop a plan for nursing practice
• Provide safe, appropriate and responsive quality nursing practice
• Evaluate outcomes to inform nursing practice

The degree is designed to prepare you to meet healthcare delivery requirements for the 21^st century and respond to Australian and international healthcare priorities and trends including mental health, primary healthcare and healthy ageing. Six integrated themes are embedded throughout the curriculum and represent core approaches which inform contemporary nursing practice:

• Safety and quality
• Cultural safety
• Evidence-based practice
• Professional communication
• Consumers as partners in care
• Teamwork