Courses
The Graduate School for Health Practice has an active doctoral program with students undertaking research in health systems improvement in China, East Papua New Guinea and Indigenous Australia. The focus is on maternal child health services and community development.
The Graduate School is also developing and providing high quality postgraduate programs across a number of health and social welfare disciplines responsive to industry and regional needs. A number of short courses are also being offered and developed in 2008 and 2009.
The GSHP Student Orientation Handbook 2008 (.pdf, 1.66MB) contains information on studying at CDU and the GSHP.
The list of prescribed texts for Semester 2, 2008 units is available here.
The list of prescribed texts for Semester 1, 2009 units is available here.
The texts will be available from the Bookstore in the University in the New Year.
Note: You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view pdf files. Get Adobe Acrobat reader.
- Degrees by course work
- Master of Health Practice (Nurse Practitioner)
- Master of Midwifery
- Master of Nursing
- Graduate Diploma in Child and Family Health
- Graduate Diploma in Midwifery - includes information about the employed student model of midwifery
- Graduate Diploma in Nursing
- Higher degrees by research
- Short courses
- Frequently Asked Questions
Degrees by course work
Master of Health Practice (Nurse Practitioner)
1 year full time, 2 years part time (external or mixed mode delivery)
The Master of Health Practice (Nurse Practitioner) (.pdf, 99KB) is a practice-focused program for practicing health professionals in the field of nursing and midwifery with at least three years' clinical experience in their specialty practice. The course is built on the ANMC (2006) National Competency Standards for Nurse Practitioners. It will enable advanced practice nurses to incorporate application of high-level knowledge and skills into extended practice a variety of complex situations, to develop their professional efficacy, autonomy and accountability, and clinical leadership in professional health practice.
This course is designed to extend knowledge and skills already gained in practice and through post graduate study. It aims to build on a specialisation within a systematic and coherent body of knowledge. The course emphasises advanced and extended clinical practice and clinical leadership within cross-cultural clinical practice.
More information can be found under CDU course pages: Master of Health Practice (Nurse Practitioner)
For more information contact:
| Course Co-ordinator: | Professor Sandra Dunn |
| Phone: | 08 8946 7114 |
| E-mail: | sandra.dunn@cdu.edu.au |
| Graduate School of Health Practice: | |
| Phone: | 08 8946 6380 |
| Fax: | 08 8946 6311 |
Master of Midwifery
1.5 years full time, 3 years part time (external or mixed mode delivery)
The Master of Midwifery (.pdf, 100KB) course is designed to enable currently practising midwives to extend their knowledge and develop skills in leadership and research. The course is embedded in a strong evidence base and offers students professional and clinical skill development along with the necessary investigative and life-long learning skills. The course will integrate the research, ethical, political and reflective skills necessary to enable clinical and professional leadership through an informed position on maternity care issues. Graduates will have the capacity to undertake leadership roles in a variety of health and educational settings.
More information can be found under CDU's course pages: Master of Midwifery
For more information contact:
| Course Co-ordinator: | Associate Professor Sue Kildea |
| Phone: | 08 8946 7741 |
| E-mail: | sue.kildea@cdu.edu.au |
| Graduate School of Health Practice | |
| Phone: | 08 8946 6380 |
| Fax: | 08 8946 6311 |
Master of Nursing
1.5 years full time, 3 years part time (external or mixed mode delivery)
The Master of Nursing (.pdf, 80KB) is designed to enable registered nurses to increase their clinical knowledge and competence, to develop skills in professional leadership. It is grounded in culturally respectful evidence-based practice. Graduates will have the capacity to undertake leadership positions in variety of clinical and educational settings. Within the program students can choose to study sequences in selected clinical nursing specialties, clinical education and/or management.
In 2008 specialty sequences will be offered in mental health nursing, renal nursing, surgical nursing, paediatric nursing, clinical education and clinical management.
More information can be found under CDU course pages: Master of Nursing
For more information contact:
| Course Co-ordinator: | Professor Sandra Dunn |
| Phone: | 08 8946 7114 |
| E-mail: | sandra.dunn@cdu.edu.au |
| Graduate School of Health Practice: | |
| Phone: | 08 8946 6380 |
| Fax: | 08 8946 6311 |
Graduate Diploma in Child and Family Health
1 year full time, 2 years part time (external or mixed mode delivery)
The Graduate Diploma in Child and Family Health will assist students in providing support to new parents. In addition to the traditional knowledge and skills around growth monitoring and developmental assessments, graduates of this course will understand the importance of psychosocial assessment and support. It will strengthen the practitioner's role in promoting links with other services and prepare them to work in partnership with families in a strengths based model as opposed to the traditional problem-oriented models, commonly found in health services.
More information can be found under CDU's course pages: Graduate Diploma in Child and Family Health
For more information contact:
| Course Co-ordinator: | Dr Sue Kruske |
| Phone: | 08 8946 6092 |
| E-mail: | sue.kruske@cdu.edu.au |
| Graduate School of Health Practice: | |
| Phone: | 08 8946 6380 |
| Fax: | 08 8946 6311 |
Graduate Diploma in Midwifery
1 year full time, 2 years part time (external or mixed mode delivery)
The Graduate Diploma in Midwifery (.pdf, 100KB) prepares Registered Nurses to work as professional and contemporary midwives, with the overarching framework of woman-centered care, in a variety of models of care. The graduate will be capable of meeting the diverse needs of Australian women at all points along the childbirth journey: in urban, rural and remote environments. Graduates of this course will be eligible to practice as a midwife in any state or territory of Australia. It is designed as a a flexible course to meet the needs of students in urban centres and rural and remote communities.
See also fact sheet for the employed student model of midwifery and advert (.pdf, 135KB) for positions with the Department of Health and Community Services.
More information can be found under CDU's course pages: Graduate Diploma in Midwifery
For more information contact:
| Course Co-ordinator: | Ms Jenny Cameron |
| Phone: | 08 8946 7741 |
| E-mail: | jenny.cameron@cdu.edu.au |
| Graduate School of Health Practice: | |
| Phone: | 08 8946 6380 |
| Fax: | 08 8946 6311 |
Graduate Diploma in Nursing
1 year full time, 2 years part time (external or mixed mode delivery)
The Graduate Diploma in Nursing (.pdf, 69KB) provides graduates with comprehensive specialist nursing knowledge to better meet the demands of their workplace, as well as build their capacity to move onto further study and into research. It offers students the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and skills in clinical practice, clinical education or clinical management.
The course focuses on cultural awareness in the health practice context, and builds on existing knowledge and understanding of nursing practice, assessment and evidence based practice. In the increasing complex and challenging world of health practice this course provides the opportunity for individuals to extend clinical development and intellectual engagement, and build their capacity in critical analysis and reflection, in nursing practice and education.
More information can be found under CDU's course pages: Graduate Diploma in Nursing
For more information contact:
| Course Co-ordinator: | Professor Sandra Dunn |
| Phone: | 08 8946 7114 |
| E-mail: | sandra.dunn@cdu.edu.au |
| Graduate School of Health Practice: | |
| Phone: | 08 8946 6380 |
| Fax: | 08 8946 6311 |
Higher degrees by research
PhD, Masters of Research and Honours are all available here with a Professional Doctorate being planned with the Menzies School of Health Research to commence in 2009. For more information visit the student pages.
Short courses
Health Aspects of Disaster
Running from 7-11 April 2008
1 week intensive, internal delivery only
The Health Aspects of Disaster short course is designed to provide an overview of many of the aspects of Health in Disasters. The unit covers important thematic areas such as: types, phases and effects of disasters on health, nutrition and mortality; public health and medical responses; infectious disease and nutritional emergencies; pandemic scenarios; refugee camps; psychosocial effects; co-ordination of donor and aid agencies; terrorism and trauma management and disaster preparedness. The course also includes case studies of recent disasters, presented by those with direct experience of these situations.
Please note: This short course has been based on a unit at University of Queensland but is not yet accredited at CDU. Students enrolled in the Public Health Coursework Programs and other postgraduate awards may be eligible for credit on satisfactory completion of the course including assessment tasks. Prior approval should be sought from the course coordinator of that award.
Course coordinator: Alison Murray
Further information: Health Aspects of Disaster short course (.pdf, 149KB)
Family Partnerships Training Program (FPTP)
This short course assists participants to determine and develop the core skills of ‘helping’ needed to establish
a facilitative relationship with parents. It is designed to help parents to deal with the problems facing them while
identifying their strengths. The program was developed by Professor Hilton Davis and colleagues from the UK who
work for “The Centre for Parent and Child Support” based at Guy’s Hospital in London. Hilton Davis introduced FPTP to
Western Australia in 2001 and it is now available in every state and Territory in Australia.
Course coordinator: Sue Kruske
Further information: Family Parnerships Training Program short course
