Time to upgrade skills and qualifications

Health professionals will be able to upgrade their skills and qualifications in areas including mental health, lifestyle medicine and aged care following the introduction of the Master of Clinical Science, being offered at Southern Cross University from 2007.

The course is one of three new postgraduate courses being offered next year. The other two are the Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Master of Technology and Management, offered through the University’s Graduate College of Management.

The new courses, and the range of existing postgraduate courses, will be featured at the MBA and Postgraduate Expos at the Sydney Town Hall on September 14 and the Brisbane City Hall on September 19.

Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health and Applied Science Professor Jenny Graham said the new Master of Clinical Science had been developed to help address nationally identified skill shortages and health priorities.

“The course includes streams which focus on mental health and wellbeing, prevention and management of emerging lifestyle-associated diseases such as diabetes 2, and models for healthy ageing and quality aged care,” Professor Graham said.

The Master of Clinical Science also includes specialist areas such as evidence-based Complementary Medicine and the popular Perioperative Nursing stream, which will give graduates the qualifications necessary to assist surgeons in public and private health care operating theatres.

“This postgraduate program will be ideal for people already working in the health care industry who want to upgrade their qualifications or specialise in a particular field,” Professor Graham said.

The course is being offered by flexible delivery with major employment based projects a key element of the program.

The Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine will give graduates the skills necessary to function as independent clinical practitioners of Chinese Medicine, in acupuncture, and also move into research and academic careers in the growing field of Natural and Complementary Medicine.

The Graduate College of Management, which has developed an excellent reputation for its Master of Business Administration and Doctor of Business Administration courses, has introduced the new Master of Technology and Management.

The course is being offered by distance education and is designed for people working in the fields of technology, engineering and science who are looking to move into a business management role.

The course covers topics such as operations and quality management, project and knowledge management, informatics, supply chain management and the commercialisation of technology. The focus of the course is on the practical management skills that managers with a technical background need and demand as they move into management roles. The MTM also provides a more flexible alternative to traditional MBAs.

For information about all Southern Cross University courses visit www.scu.edu.au or phone 1800 626481.