Specialist Certificate in Empowering Health in Aboriginal Communities (SC-EHAC)

You’re currently viewing the 2021 version of this course

Overview

Award title	Specialist Certificate in Empowering Health in Aboriginal Communities
Year & campus	2021 — Shepparton
Fees information	Subject EFTSL, level, discipline and census date
Study level & type	Graduate Coursework
AQF level	Non-AQF
Credit points	25 credit points
Duration	12 months part-time

The Specialist Certificate in Empowering Health in Aboriginal Communities introduces students to health related knowledges from critical social science and Aboriginal cultural perspectives. It will specifically examine the integration, overlap, and disjuncture of Aboriginal knowledges and Western knowledges of health in which Aboriginal health services operate (focus of the first subject). Students are then supported in the application of this learning to undertake a project within an Aboriginal community on a topic selected by the student in consultation with the community (undertaken as part of the second subject). In undertaking this course, students will gain advanced understanding of how both Aboriginal and Western knowledges can be applied to the field of health in rural communities as well as community development and project management skills.

The course requires completion of two compulsory subjects delivered in a blended mode. Students attend short teaching intensive days on campus (Shepparton) totalling no more than two weeks per semester in at least two time blocks, allowing for the majority of time to be spent in community with online tutorials and other individualised supports.

Graduates of the Specialist Certificate are given advanced standing into the Master of Public Health (representing 25 credit points towards that degree); as well as eligibility to progress to the Graduate Certificate in Aboriginal Health in Rural Communities.

Entry requirements

1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:

a bachelor degree, or
seven years of documented, relevant (in a field related to Aboriginal health or Aboriginal community development) work experience; and
demonstrated evidence of written and analytical skills appropriate for postgraduate study.

Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.

2. In ranking applicants, the Selection Committee will consider:

prior academic performance; or
the work experience in Aboriginal health or Aboriginal community settings; and
demonstrated evidence of written and analytical skills appropriate for postgraduate study

3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.

4. Applicants are required to satisfy the university’s English language requirements for graduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 6.5 is required.

Notes.

In accordance with the Selection and Admission Policy (MPF1295), Indigenous applicants with two years of documented work experience in a field related to Aboriginal health and/or Aboriginal community development will be considered for selection.
Appropriate access to, and relationships within an Aboriginal community is needed to conduct a community-based project as part of this course. This will be discussed with potential students wishing to enrol in this course and assessed by course staff on a case-by-case basis.
Graduates of this course may be granted up to 25 credit points of advanced standing in the Master of Public Health

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

Student attendance at the intensive sessions for both compulsory subjects is required for 100% of the time unless written agreement from the course coordinator is attained. Failure to attend 100% of the intensive sessions will result in failure of the relevant subject.

Each student will receive a participation mark for each intensive session for each compulsory subject that is assessed by the instructor at that time. An average score (weighted for the time interval) will provide a participation mark worth 10% of the assessment in each subject.

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

As Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australian students will be part of the student cohort, cultural issues will be accounted for where reasonably practical. In addition, travel to attend the course will also be considered.

The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook. Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home

Intended learning outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

Recognise and relate how both Aboriginal and Western knowledges can be applied to health in Aboriginal communities
Demonstrate the ability to apply this understanding to the development of a community-based project
Analyse, synthesise and critically evaluate health-related research and literature
Critique, evaluate and apply different approaches to health projects in Aboriginal community settings
Implement a community-based health project plan in an Aboriginal setting
Produce written and oral reports

Generic skills

Increased critical, theoretical and analytical thinking abilities
Ability to integrate Western and Indigenous knowledges
Well-developed project management skills
Increased ability to communicate complex ideas in written, oral and other creative forms of communication
Advanced community development skills
Increased ability to critically analyse and evaluate research and health-related literature

Graduate attributes

Graduates of the course will embody The University of Melbourne's Graduate attributes. Specifically, the Specialist Certificate in Empowering Health in Aboriginal Communities graduates will:

Academic distinction

Attain academic excellence, especially in the fields of Aboriginal health, community development and project achievement. Graduates will have public health knowledge and skills to integrate Western health and Indigenous knowledges as well as critical skills to examine health and social issues from a variety of viewpoints. These will have been demonstrated in their ability to apply research-based project skills to undertake considered action based on community consultation and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Active citizenship

Recognise, value, promote and enact the intrinsic worth of Indigenous knowledges and cultures for the health sector and more broadly, an inclusive Australian society. Graduates will be keenly cognisant of the social and cultural diversity of all Australian communities and will have developed specific skills in the areas of cross-cultural, and interdisciplinary collaboration, and through the undertaking of a community-based project, have lived-experience of advocacy and innovation within community.

Integrity and self-awareness

Foster the development of self-reflective and organisational skills to set goals and manage time and multiple priorities. Graduates will be confident in their individual abilities and about working in team environments, enthusiastic about applying their knowledge, and have an agility of mind to adapt to changing circumstances whilst remaining committed to servicing community and improving the welfare of others, particularly those who experience marginalisation.

Course structure

Applicants must complete the first subject, ‘Utilising knowledge in Aboriginal health’ before commencing the second subject in the course.

Applicants are required to travel to the Department of Rural Health, main campus (Shepparton) for short intensive teaching. On‐campus attendance for these short teaching intensives is compulsory. Students must attend 100% of the on‐campus study days in order to pass the relevant subject. Alternative arrangements may be considered by the course coordinator under exceptional circumstances. In order to participate in the off‐campus components of the course, students must have access to reliable internet connection/s. Further, applicants must be able to accommodate a minimum time commitment of 15 hours per week for each subject.

The Specialist Certificate in Empowering Health in Aboriginal Communities is comprised of two compulsory 12.5 credit point subjects, taken part‐time over two semesters (one subject per semester). These subjects can also be undertaken as a progression towards a Graduate Certificate in Aboriginal Health in Rural Communities or Master in Public Health.

Compulsory subjects

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
RURA90008	Utilising Knowledge in Aboriginal Health	Semester 1 (Online)	12.5
RURA90009	Health Projects in Aboriginal Settings	Semester 2 (On Campus - Shepparton)	12.5

Last updated: 22 April 2023

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