Global Utilities

La Trobe University
University Handbook 2010

Graduate certificates and postgraduate diplomas

Postgraduate Diploma in Health Services Management – Melbourne (City) (HPHSM)

Coordinator: Dr Zhanming Liang

Tel: (03) 9479 5136 or 9479 1750

Email: z.liang@latrobe.edu.au or phe.postgrad@latrobe.edu.au

Duration: 1 year full-time, 2-5 years part-time

The postgraduate diploma course provides an opportunity for people working in the health sector to develop advanced health management skills through postgraduate study. The core subjects assume no specific prerequisite knowledge in health management. Rather, they are designed to introduce current health managers and experienced health professionals to the formal study of health management. The Postgraduate Diploma in Health Services Management provides a comprehensive study package to ensure that current and potential health care managers, in both clinical and business management roles, acquire the full range of competencies required of Australian health managers. The course provides a structure for the study of the public health and health service policy context in which the manager works, together with an emphasis on the specific knowledge and competencies effective managers need. Our students have found that the combination of formal coursework and practical learning components is effective in assisting them to develop their competence as managers.

Admission requirements

Applicants are required to hold a minimum three year undergraduate degree and have at least two years professional experience working in the health system. For those without formal qualifications, but with experience in health services management, there is a special entry category of ‘recognition of prior learning’, and selection criteria may include work experience and skills. Special entry students may be required to undertake prerequisite studies.

Course structure – postgraduate diploma

The course is normally undertaken on a part-time basis over two to five years, but may be undertaken full-time over one year. The subjects may be taken in any order. All subjects are worth 15 credit points. The program timetable is designed to accommodate working students, and offers a combination of evening, block and online modes.

Teaching period Subject code Subject title Credit Points
TE-SEM-1 PHE4HOR Healthy Organisations 15
TE-SEM-1 PHE4AHS The Australian Health Care System 15
TE-SEM-1 PHE4HRM Human Resource Management in Health Services 15
TE-SEM-2 PHE4PDE Program Development and Evaluation 15
TE-SEM-1 PHE4HDD Health Data for Decision Making 15
TE-SEM-2 PHE4HDE Health Data for Decision Making – Skills Enhancement
TE-SEM-1 PHE4LAE Health Service Law and Ethics 15
TE-SEM-2 PHE4HSR Health Service Resource Management 15
plus one elective subject such as:
TE-SEM-2 PHE4HSO Health Management Strategy and Operations 15
TE-SEM-2 PHE4HPA Health Policy Analysis 15
TE-SEM-1 PHEHCQ Health Care Quality 1 15
TE-SEM-2 PHE4CHS Comparative and Historical Study of Health Sciences 2 15
or any other postgraduate elective offered in the School of Public Health, subject to approval by the course coordinator

Key 1 Subject PHE4HCQ is offered as both an online subject and face-to-face.

Key 2 Subject PHE4CHS is offered as an online subject.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Health Services Management is structurally integrated into the Master of Health Administration, enabling participants who perform at a high academic level to proceed with further studies.