Graduate Diploma of Gerontology
Central Queensland University
About
The Graduate Diploma of Gerontology will progress your skills as a health professional responding to the growing challenges of a diverse ageing population.
You will develop insight into the health of the older person, as well as leadership skills, by participating in new paradigms of thinking.
You will acquire practical skills and research capabilities using interdisciplinary perspectives and ageing theories that can be applied across health care contexts and cultures.
This course provides a strengths-based and holistic view of the older person and the ageing process.
Rather than focusing on frailty and disease, you will study the physical, mental and social aspects and implications of ageing.
You will explore the determinants of healthy ageing as well as the various challenges faced by the older population.
This course offers an innovative, multidisciplinary variety of core and elective units and a curriculum that is fully responsive to the findings of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety (2018).
Attention is given to the agency of the older person, complex care needs including dementia and cognitive decline, polypharmacy and safety issues, governmental policies, standards of care and accreditation requirements.
The course is relevant to a wide range of professionals including nurses, allied health professionals, administrators and managers.
Structure
Course Structure
--> In order to complete this course, you must:
- Complete the core structure
Core Structure
--> View Full Course Structure -->| column1 | column2 |
|---|---|
| Number of units: 4 | Total credit points: 24 |
This course comprises 8 units. There are 4 compulsory units and 4 electives. The electives may only be selected from the units listed.
| column1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Available units | ||
| Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
| --> HLTH28001 | Polypharmacy and Safety Issues | --> |
| --> HAGE20001 | Opportunities and Challenges of Healthy Ageing | --> |
| --> DCHA20003 | Cognitive and Sensory Changes and Age | --> |
| --> NURS20165 | Leadership in Healthcare | --> |
Course Structure
--> In order to complete this course, you must:
- Complete the core structure
Elective
--> View Full Course Structure -->| column1 | column2 |
|---|---|
| Number of units: 4 | Total credit points: 24 |
Students are required to complete 4 electives, ensuring that at 3 units are at AQF Level 8 and 1 unit is at AQF Level 9.
| column1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Available units | ||
| Students may choose to do any of the following: | ||
| --> HLTH28002 | Aged Care Standards and Systems | --> |
| --> HHSM20004 | Organisational Culture in Health Care Settings | --> |
| --> HHSM20003 | Using Health Data: Recognising Risk to Initiate Change | --> |
| --> DEME20002 | Psychosocial Changes in Dementia | --> |
| --> DFVP20001 | Domestic and Family Violence Theories and Perspectives | --> |
| --> NURS20178 | Alcohol and Other Drugs | --> |
| --> NURS20154 | The Transformative Power of Story | --> |
| --> HHSM20001 | Australian Health Care Structures | --> |
| --> HLTH29031 | Complex Care Needs of Older People | --> |
| --> NURS20166 | Learning and Teaching in the Clinical Setting | --> |
Entry requirements
What do I need to start?
Entry Scores
Entry Requirements
Entry Requirements
• A completed 3 year Australian Bachelor degree, or Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) equivalent qualification, in a health-related discipline from a recognised tertiary institution; or
• A minimum of 3 years employment experience as a health professional in the aged care sector.
Employment experience should be in the form of a letter of employment and must be presented on a company letterhead as well as signed and dated by a delegated authority.
English Language Proficiency Requirements
If you were not born in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa or United States of America you are required to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements set by the University.
Applicants are required to provide evidence of completion of:
• A secondary qualification (Year 11 and 12, or equivalent), or
• Bachelor level qualification study for a period of at least 2 years fulltime with a minimum overall GPA 4.0 completed within Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, South Africa, Ireland, or United States of America.
If you do not satisfy any of the above you will need to undertake an English language proficiency test and achieve the following scores as below.
• An International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic) overall band score of at least 6.0 overall with a minimum 5.5 for Reading and Writing and 5.5 for Speaking and Listening, or
• An Occupational English Test with Grades A or B only in each of the four components.
English test results remain valid for no more than two years between final examination date and the date of commencement of study, and must appear on a single result certificate.
Each student will be assessed individually.
Advanced Standing
The following applicants may be eligible for a shorter course duration:
• Applicants with a Graduate Certificate in a health-related discipline.
Security Requirements
NA
Health Requirements
NA
Assumed Knowledge
It is recommended that students have completed a health-related degree.
Fees and Charges
- Domestic Fees -->
Learning outcomes
Core Learning Outcomes
- 1.
- Explore the complexity of issues associated with working with older people, and the impact this has on planning and delivery of health care in various settings.
- 2.
- Analyse the biopsychosocial opportunities and challenges of ageing that impact on the care of older people.
- 3.
- Determine and evaluate strategies and interventions to strengthen an older person's agency.
- 4.
- Evaluate policies which impact on the professional, governance, organisational and political context of aged care.
- 5.
- Analyse the impact of stereotyping and ageism, particularly as it relates to the wellbeing of older people and organisational culture.
- 6.
- Reflect on the process of ageing as it relates to a culturally diverse population, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
| column1 | column2 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Course Learning Outcomes | |||||
| Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 1. KNOWLEDGE Have advanced knowledge within a systematic and coherent body of knowledge that may include the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills in a new or existing discipline or professional area | --> | --> | --> | --> | --> | |
| 2. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to review, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge and identify and provide solutions to complex problems | --> | --> | --> | --> | --> | --> |
| 3. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to think critically and to generate and evaluate complex ideas | --> | --> | --> | --> | --> | --> |
| 4. SKILLS Have specialised technical and creative skills in a field of highly skilled and/or professional practice | --> | |||||
| 5. SKILLS Have communication skills to demonstrate an understanding of theoretical concept | --> | --> | --> | --> | ||
| 6. SKILLS Have communication skills to transfer complex knowledge and ideas to a variety of audiences | --> | --> | --> | |||
| 7. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to make high level, independent judgements in a range of technical or management functions in varied specialised contexts | --> | --> | --> | --> | ||
| 8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to initiate, plan, implement and evaluate broad functions within varied specialised technical and/or creative contexts | --> | --> | ||||
| 9. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILL Be responsible and accountable for personal outputs and all aspects of the work or function of others within broad parameters | --> | --> |
Learning Outcomes
Please refer to the Core Structure Learning Outcomes
Institution
