Deakin University
Graduate Diploma of Health Management
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 12 months
- Course Type: Graduate Diploma
Gain the strategic, economic and managerial insight to make evidence-based decisions and contribute to effective healthcare services and organisational outcomes.
Course overview
Develop the capabilities to make considered management decisions in a complex and evolving healthcare environment. Deakin University’s Graduate Diploma of Health Management supports professionals seeking to understand how services, people and resources can be managed more effectively.
Your studies connect public health practice with health economics and digital health, helping you evaluate how organisational decisions affect service quality, efficiency and community outcomes. You will also strengthen your ability to interpret evidence, solve complex management problems and communicate effectively with stakeholders from different professional backgrounds.
The course combines three compulsory units with structured choices in research, operations or leadership. A further elective component enables you to explore economic evaluation, resource allocation, health law and ethics or human resource management according to your professional interests.
Studied at Deakin University’s Burwood campus, the course can be completed in one year full-time or the part-time equivalent. It is accredited by the Australasian College of Health Service Management and may support management and leadership opportunities across healthcare settings. Graduates can also progress to Deakin’s Master of Health Management.
Key facts
June, 2027
What you will study
To earn the Graduate Diploma of Health Management, you must successfully complete units totalling 8 credit points, as detailed below. Unless otherwise noted, each course is worth 1 credit point.
Core units
- Principles and Practice of Public Health
- Health Economics 1
- Fundamentals of Digital Health
Research Elective units
Select one credit point from the following:
- Research Literacy
- Research Methods in Health and Social Development
Students intending to progress to the Master of Health Management and pursue a minor or major research project are recommended to complete Research Methods in Health and Social Development.
Management Elective units
Select one credit point from the following:
- Healthcare Operations
- Foundations in Leadership
Electives
Select three credit points from the following:
- Economic Evaluation 1
- Resource Allocation and Priority Setting
- Health Law and Ethics
- Human Resource Management
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
To be eligible for this course, applicants must meet at least one of the following requirements:
- Hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
- Have at least two years of relevant work experience or the part-time equivalent.
Relevant experience may include work as a health support worker or assistant, in aged care or disability services and support or as an allied health science professional.
Selection also considers academic history, work and life experience and individual circumstances. Meeting the minimum academic and English language requirements does not guarantee admission.
English language requirements
Applicants must provide evidence of at least one of the following:
- A bachelor degree from a recognised English-speaking country.
- An IELTS overall score of 6.5, with no band score below 6.0, or an accepted equivalent.
- Other accepted evidence of English-language proficiency.
Contact the university for further information.
Recognition of Prior Learning
You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help reduce the number of units you need to study to finish your course. Contact the university for more information.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes
- Apply knowledge and skills in the selected health and human services management stream that demonstrate creativity and initiative, evidenced by completing a capstone assessment task.
- Demonstrate communication skills to interpret, articulate and transmit information and interact professionally with clients and colleagues in a health and human services context.
- Independently selects and uses appropriate digital tools to disseminate accurate information.
- Consistently demonstrates critical reflection and analysis in evaluating theory and processes.
- Consistently identify multiple approaches to solving complex problems, demonstrating high intellectual independence and autonomy.
- Consistently and autonomously demonstrate responsibility and accountability for professional development, including self-management.
- Contribute and work effectively within a team environment, demonstrating awareness of and sensitivity to team members' differences.
- Consistently and sensitively adapt practices to meet the cultural, ethnic, religious, social and political backgrounds of all stakeholders.
Career outcomes
Graduates may pursue future management and leadership responsibilities across:
- Public health departments
- Hospitals
- Nursing homes
- Clinics
- Medical practices
- Mental health organisations
- Community health centres
- Rehabilitation centres
- Skilled nursing facilities
The course is accredited by the Australasian College of Health Service Management. Graduates may apply for membership with the professional body, subject to meeting its applicable requirements.
Fees and FEE-HELP
Indicative total fee in 2027: $30,600 (Full-fee paying place)
Indicative annual fees are based on your first year of study.
A student’s annual fee may vary by:
- The number of units studied.
- Choice of units.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.