Graduate Certificate in Gerontology

Central Queensland University

About

The Graduate Certificate in Gerontology will provide you with 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 by participating in new paradigms of thinking.

You will acquire practical skills 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, 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

Core Structure Graduate Certificate in Gerontology Electives Elective

Course Structure

--> In order to complete this course, you must:

  1. Complete the core structure
  2. Complete electives

Core Structure

--> View Full Course Structure -->
column1 column2
Number of units: 3 Total credit points: 18

This course comprises 4 units. There are 3 compulsory units and 1 elective. The elective 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 -->

Course Structure

--> In order to complete this course, you must:

  1. Complete the core structure
  2. Complete electives

Graduate Certificate in Gerontology Electives Elective

--> View Full Course Structure -->
column1 column2
Number of units: 1 Total credit points: 6

Students are required to complete 1 elective.

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 -->

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.

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 providing health care to older people in a variety of settings.
  • 2.
  • Examine biopsychosocial opportunities and challenges associated with ageing.
  • 3.
  • Determine and evaluate strategies and interventions to strengthen an older person's agency.
  • 4.
  • Examine 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.
  • 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 specialised 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 concepts --> --> --> -->
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 --> -->

Graduate Certificate in Gerontology Electives Learning Outcomes

Please refer to the Core Structure Learning Outcomes

Institution