Study with the Department of Community and Clinical Health
The Department of Community and Clinical Health is a leader in entry-to-practice courses, graduate research degrees and continuing professional development programs.
Our undergraduate education programs equip graduates with the competencies for safe and effective entry-level practice in audiology, occupational therapy, orthoptics, social work and social policy, and speech pathology.
Our postgraduate research degrees, and continuing professional development programs, give health professionals the opportunity to upskill, reskill, advance into leadership roles, or pursue research.
Courses
Student experience
Our students are taught by knowledgeable and caring academic staff. They learn in a supportive environment where they are encouraged to develop the practical skills and theoretical knowledge they need to graduate with confidence.
With access to our extensive network of healthcare services and industry partners, our students can connect with peers, academics, and health professionals to build new knowledge and practices together.
Find out how we set our students up for success.
At La Trobe University, we have a longstanding commitment to diversity, inclusion and social justice. Our students are among the most diverse of all Australian universities, and we are committed to providing a learning environment and workplace where all students and staff feel valued, respected and supported to achieve their full potential.
We care about building a connected community that actively champions diversity and inclusion to help people thrive. We achieve this by supporting our people, valuing diverse thinking as a key driver of innovation, and holding ourselves to account in delivering a culture where equity is a way of life.
La Trobe is committed to promoting equal opportunities and support for all students and staff, with a focus on six key pillars: cultural, disability, gender equality, Indigenous, LGBTIQA and life stages.
Find out more about our services and events.
We believe that a good learning experience becomes a great one when students are supported, challenged and encouraged to reach new goals.
Our small class sizes help students to build positive working relationships with their peers and academic staff, both in their discipline and in interdisciplinary subjects.
These connections do not begin and end in the classroom. Our students benefit from mentoring opportunities through their clinical placement experiences, by attending professional conferences, or volunteering with their professional association.
Many students also build lifelong friendships through their participation in one of La Trobe’s many student associations.
We believe that wellbeing is just as important as success. La Trobe offers extensive support services to optimise the student experience.
Our courses are designed to equip graduates with the competencies, skills and experience to work in their chosen profession.
Our students benefit from a wide range of on-campus learning experiences – including practical classes, workshops and simulated learning environments – and off-campus placement experiences with our healthcare and industry partners.
Placements give our graduates the essential workplace experience they need to succeed in their future careers. They are available in a range of settings including public hospitals, private practice, schools, community services, government agencies and not-for-profit organisations. Many of our students undertake their placement experiences interstate or overseas.
The result: We give students the skills, knowledge and experience they need to make a seamless transition from university to employment.
We recognise that our students will work in Australia and abroad. It is important that they develop an awareness of their culture and bias, an understanding of their own privilege and a deep respect for all people.
Optimising these cultural competencies ensures that our graduates provide culturally safe and effective services, to a diverse range of people, throughout their careers.
Our students have opportunities to undertake a range of virtual and in-person learning experiences at the global level.
Our academic staff bring their international experience in research and clinical practice to our curriculum, to offer students a global understanding of health and wellbeing.
Find out more about our exchange programs.