Chronic Condition Management

The Graduate Diploma in Chronic Condition Management is a 36-unit program which is offered by the College of Medicine and Public Health.

The program is normally undertaken in two semesters full-time or six semesters part-time.The course articulates with the Graduate Certificate in Chronic Condition Management .Students who have completed the Graduate Certificate in Chronic Condition Management normally are awarded credit of 18 units of topics toward the Graduate Diploma.

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

Except with permission of the Dean (Education):

• the program must be completed within six consecutive semesters
• no topic may be attempted more than twice.

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

Core topics

27 units comprising:

MHSC8111 Managing Chronic Conditions - Self-Management Support Approaches (4.5 units) MHSC8112 Implementing Change in Healthcare Systems Supporting Chronic Condition Management (4.5 units) MHSC8114 The Persons Experience of Self-Management (4.5 units) MHSC8115A Chronic Conditions Management for Specific Conditions, Contexts or Populations A (4.5 units) MHSC8116 Client-Centred Health Behaviour Change (4.5 units) PHCA9501 Social Determinants of Health and Wellbeing (4.5 units)

Option topics

Plus 9 units of option topics from the following list: MHSC8113 Education and Training for Chronic Conditions Self-Management (4.5 units) MHSC8034 Motivational Interviewing (4.5 units) MHSC9025 Understanding and Implementing Evidence-based Practice (9 units)

Or by negotiation with the Course Coordinator, a student may select relevant elective topic/s from other existing postgraduate programs where pre-requisites are met including: Primary Health, Health Promotion, Disability Studies, General Practice and Community Nursing, Clinical Rehabilitation, Health Administration, Remote Health.

Examples are listed below:

DSRS9057 Introduction to Disability Theory and Professional Practice (4.5 units) DSRS9069 Mental Health, Disability and Rehabilitation (4.5 units) DSRS9065 Perspectives on Ageing and Disability (4.5 units)

Applicants who do not hold the Graduate Certificate in Chronic Condition Management must normally hold an approved degree from an approved tertiary institution or equivalent qualification in a health-related field such as allied health, medicine or nursing.

The Dean (Education) may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.

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

• understand the context for the development, management, and impact of chronic conditions as these relate to health promotion, prevention, early intervention and the social determinants of health, particularly for vulnerable or at risk populations
• demonstrate a significant understanding of core concepts of chronic conditions management (CCM) and chronic conditions self-management (CCSM) and the implications of these concepts for health service consumers, service providers, professional practice, and health systems within Australia and internationally
• demonstrate a significant understanding of the concepts of CCM and CCSM and their relationship with and implications for population health, public health and primary health care approaches
• understand the rationale for the 'chronic care' and 'patient-centred care' perspectives and other views of CCM and the importance of promoting self-management for the person and the health care wider community
• effectively assess and critique a range of CCM and CCSM research, including a critical awareness of international models of CCM and CCSM and their relationship to the Australian experience
• understand the dynamic processes associated with service delivery for CCM and CCSM, in particular, the systemic, cultural and organisational barriers and enablers to implementing these approaches within the health sector
• have knowledge and skill to evaluate services pertaining to CCM and CCSM and to prepare proposals to undertake such evaluation activities
• understand specific multicultural and indigenous issues in relation to CCM and CCSM in particular
• possess leadership-level capacity in undertaking, reflecting upon and evaluating core professional CCM and CCSM tasks such as CCSM assessment, educating others about CCM and CCSM, planning for and managing the implementation of CCM and CCSM in health organisations and in community settings.