Diploma of Health

2021 course information for Domestic Students
2021 course information for International Students

updated 8:11 PM on Fri, 16 April

View course information for 2020 | 2021

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Domestic snapshot

International snapshot

IELTS
View full English language requirements
ATAR/OP
45 / 19
Duration
1 year full-time; 2 years part-time
1 year full-time
Location
Coffs Harbour, Gold Coast, Lismore, Online
Start date
March, November
Course code
2125150
Course abbreviation
DipH
Credit points
96
Equivalent units
8
CRICOS
View in availability and fee details
Fees
Commonwealth supported
Fees
View in availability and fee details

Please note, some locations may not have all intake periods available. See the full availability details for further information.

View full entry requirements
Enquire How to apply Entry requirements
Course overview

Nursing, sport and exercise science, occupational therapy, speech pathology, psychology, biomedical science, osteopathic studies, podiatry and pedorthics …there are so many career paths in health.

If you're uncertain about which one is right for you, our Diploma of Health can provide the clarity you need for your future as a health professional. You can even tailor your learning by choosing a specialisation from a range of health disciplines. 

Graduates can seek professional outcomes in several areas, including as allied health assistants, personal care assistants, lab assistants, and case workers. This Diploma is also an ideal pathway towards further study at Southern Cross University and provides guaranteed entry to a range of Bachelor degrees.

This course is offered through SCU College. Additional support through workshops to develop academic and study skills is available to all SCU College students.

If you are interested in studying online, please see important information below under major areas of study.

Nursing, sport and exercise science, occupational therapy, speech pathology, psychology, biomedical science, osteopathic studies, podiatry and pedorthics …there are so many career paths in health.

If you're uncertain about which one is right for you, our Diploma of Health can provide the clarity you need for your future as a health professional. You can even tailor your learning by choosing a specialisation from a range of health disciplines. 

Graduates can seek professional outcomes in several areas, including as allied health assistants, personal care assistants, lab assistants, and case workers. This Diploma is also an ideal pathway towards further study at Southern Cross University and provides guaranteed entry to a range of Bachelor degrees.

This course is offered through SCU College. Additional support through workshops to develop academic and study skills is available to all SCU College students.

If you are interested in studying online, please see important information below under major areas of study.

Current Southern Cross students – to access your official course details for the year you started your degree, please visit the handbook.

Entry requirements

See the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, in conjunction with the Specific Award Rules listed below.

Applicants for admission to candidature to the Diploma of Health must have an assessable entry qualification from a country where English is the main language and where the medium of instruction for that qualification was English, or have completed an International English Language Test (or comparable test scores*) with:
 
All specialisations except Nursing and Speech Pathology:
  • A minimum overall score of 5.5 and a minimum score of 5.0 in each subtest (or comparable test scores*), except for writing with a minimum score of 5.5.
Nursing Specialisation:
  • A minimum overall score of 6.5 and a minimum score of 6.0 in each subtest (or comparable test scores*).

Speech Pathology Specialisation:

  • A minimum overall score of 7.5 and a minimum score of 7.5 in each subtest (or comparable test scores*).

*comparable scores include SCU College Placement Test scores, CPE, CAE and TOEFL PBT (see www.scu.edu.au/englishskills)

Language requirements

English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for entry to this course are as follows

CategoryScore
Overall Score5.5
Reading5.0
Writing5.5
Listening5.0
Speaking5.0

About the course

Students select a specialisation of study to prepare them for further study in one of the following disciplines: nursing, sport and exercise science, occupational therapy, speech pathology, psychological science, biomedical science, osteopathic studies, podiatry or pedorthics.

If you are interested in studying online, please note:

  • For all specialisations except psychological science, some units must be completed on-campus as they are not available online and require mandatory attendance.

In addition:

  • The biomedical science and osteopathic studies specialisations are not currently offered at Coffs Harbour
  • All specialisations are available at the Gold Coast
  • Check the individual specialisation you are interested in for more details about where the units are offered and any mandatory on-campus attendance.

Domestic students

LocationSession
Coffs Harbour1, 3
Gold Coast1, 3
Lismore1, 3
Online1, 3

If you are interested in studying online, please note:

  • For all streams except psychological science, some units must be completed on-campus as they are not available online and require mandatory attendance.

In addition:

  • The biomedical science and osteopathic studies streams are not currently offered at Coffs Harbour
  • All streams are available at the Gold Coast.
  • Check the individual stream you are interested in for more details about where the units are offered and any mandatory on-campus attendance.

International students

LocationSessionAnnual FeesCRICOS
Gold Coast1, 3$27,600 ($3,450 per unit)0101136
 Notice

Tuition fees are in Australian dollars, and are subject to change, including annual increases over the duration of a course. Annual tuition fee is based on completing 8 units per year. In addition students are required to pay OSHC for the duration of their visa in advance. Non-tuition fee covers textbooks, stationery and excursions.

How to apply

Where and when do you want to study?

Applications for this course are made directly to Southern Cross University via our online application service.

Australian/Domestic students

Coffs Harbour
Session 3 November 2021
Gold Coast
Session 3 November 2021
Lismore
Session 3 November 2021
Online
Session 3 November 2021

International students studying in Australia

Gold Coast
Session 3 October 2021
View domestic application details View international application details

Why choose SCU?

Excellence in research

Outstanding ratings of 'at world standard' or above in 23 research fields.

Excellence in Research Australia (ERA) 2018

Top 200 Young Universities

Only 25 years young and ranked in the top 200 universities in the world.

Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2020

Outstanding student support

5-Star Student Support across undergraduate and postgraduate studies

Good Universities Guide 2021

Learning outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a course. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes.

Course Learning Outcome

Exercise critical judgment and creative thinking to identify problems and contribute to their solutions in defined health settings

Exercise critical judgment and creative thinking to identify problems and contribute to their solutions in defined health settings

Apply ethical and sustainable values and practices within defined health settings

Apply theoretical and technical knowledge and skills within defined contexts within the field of health.

Demonstrate responsibility and accountability for own learning and work in defined health contexts.

Communicate information, concepts and solutions, individually and/or in a team, with an awareness of diverse cultural perspective's within defined health contexts.

Communicate information, concepts and solutions, individually and/or in a team, with an awareness of diverse cultural perspective's within defined health contexts.

Assessment methods

Assessment tasks vary from unit to unit and can include essays, reports, audio or video presentations, class participation, individual and group work, online quizzes, case analyses, and examinations. Assessment items are in accordance with learning outcomes and designed to ensure that all the graduate attributes are assessed throughout the course. The performance criteria, grading standards and due dates for assessment tasks are included in each Unit Information Guide. Students receive timely feedback on their assessment submissions.

Teaching methods

On-campus students experience a variety of teaching approaches including lectures, tutorials, online activities and video-linked or podcast virtual classes. The method of teaching may vary from unit to unit.

Our online study option is highly interactive and strives to promote collaboration and a sense of community. Students may receive a combination of podcast or video-linked lectures, electronic study materials, workshops, online discussion forums and virtual classes. The method of teaching may vary from unit to unit.

Please note that online study in this course may require some units to be completed on campus.

Career opportunities

Graduates of the Diploma of Health can seek professional work in a range of health professions including as allied health assistants, personal care assistants, disability support workers, case workers, and lab assistants.

The Diploma is also a pathway into a range of Bachelor degrees. Successful completion of the Diploma of Health guarantees entry and up to 8 units of credit (depending on the specialisation taken) towards a linked Southern Cross degree in Bachelor of Nursing, Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Bachelor of Pedorthics, Bachelor of Podiatry, Bachelor of Speech Pathology, Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science, Bachelor of Clinical Sciences (Osteopathic Studies), Bachelor of Psychological Science.

Please note that not all units are offered online in health sciences. Please check the specialisation you are interested in for more details about where the units are offered. Psychological Science is the only specialisation offered entirely online. If you are interested in continuing onto a Bachelor degree, check the individual courses for details about where they are offered.

Graduates who proceed to one of the pathway degrees will have a range of career opportunities in their chosen fields.

Ask a question

Domestic future
students

Call 1800 626 481 during business hours.

Enquire online

International future
students

Call +61 2 6620 3876 during business hours.

Enquire online

Current
students

Email: enquiry@scu.edu.au
Call 1800 005 687 during business hours.

Contact us

Course requirements

To be eligible to receive the Diploma of Health, students must complete the equivalent of 8 units (96 credit points), comprising:

Requirements following completion of the Diploma:

Nursing Specialisation:

Graduates of the course in this specialisation who have an Academic IELTS 7.0, with no band less than 7.0, qualify for direct entry into the Bachelor of Nursing (BN) at Southern Cross University. To be accepted into the BN, applicants need to meet the English Language standards specified by NMBA registration standards at: https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Registration-Standards.aspx in order to meet the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) accreditation standards.

If you intend to enrol into the Bachelor of Nursing at Southern Cross University, you will need to study the Health Assessment unit in Session 3 and it will be necessary for you to be fully compliant for professional experience placement prior to enrolment into the degree. See the Faculty of Health professional experience page for further information.

Speech Pathology Specialisation:

Graduates of the course in this specialisation who have an Academic IELTS 8.0, with no band less than 8.0, qualify for direct entry into the Bachelor of Speech Pathology at Southern Cross University. Up to 8 units of advanced standing is included in this pathway.

Other Specialisations (except for Biomedical Science and Psychological Science):

Graduates of the course in the Allied Health specialisations who have an SCU College English Language Test score comparable to Academic IELTS 7.0, with no band less than 7.0, qualify for direct entry into the relevant Bachelor course at Southern Cross University.

Evidence of compliance for Placement must be provided prior to any professional experience placement and some compliance requirements can take up to 4 months to fulfil. Please see the Faculty of Health professional experience page for more information.

Course structure

Schedule of units

TitleNote
Please note not all units are available Online. Students should select 1 Specialisation from the following:
Note 3
Note 2
Note 2
Note 4
Note 6
Note 5
Note 1
Note 4


Course progressions

Students should use course progression information to select units specific to their course and enrol in these units using My Enrolment



Notes

Note 1: This Specialisation is offered at the Gold Coast and Coffs Harbour campuses and Online.
Note 2: This Specialisation is only offered at the Gold Coast campus.
Note 3: This Specialisation is only offered at the Gold Coast and Coffs Harbour campuses. Students who are planning to follow the Indigenous Health Major in the Bachelor of OT are advised to enrol in INDG2011
Note 4: This Specialisation is offered at the Gold Coast, Lismore, and Coffs Harbour campuses.
Note 5: This Specialisation is offered at both the Gold Coast and Lismore campuses.
Note 6: This Specialisation is only offered at the Gold Coast campus. International students must enrol in this Specialisation in Session 3 only.

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