student standing in front of health clinic

Course snapshot

Domestic snapshot

  • Start Date

    March

  • Duration

    8 months part-time
    Available part-time only. Students undertake one unit per term for four terms.

  • Location

    Online

  • Placement

    Yes  Learn more

  • Course abbreviation

    GradCertDEM

  • Course code

    1007289

  • Credit points

    48

  • Equivalent units

    4

  • Scholarships

  • Indicative fee

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

International snapshot

  • Start Date

  • Duration

    26 weeks full-time

  • Location

  • Placement

    Yes  Learn more

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

Overview

More than 1.2 million Australians are living with diabetes. Now in epidemic proportions, fighting this condition is one of the major challenges facing Australian and global healthcare systems.

Play your part in improving diabetes knowledge, awareness, and self-management with this specialised postgraduate program. This course is designed to qualify nurses, midwives, dietitians, pharmacists, medical practitioners, podiatrists, exercise physiologists and physiotherapists as diabetes educators. 

This important program links theory and practice, providing specialist knowledge about all aspects of diabetes, including its causes, complications, management and education strategies. A highlight is a professional placement flanked by a credentialled diabetes educator mentor.

Graduates can consider career opportunities offering diabetes-related services in private practice or other areas of the health industry.

female health worker

This course includes 40 hours of clinical placement within a recognised diabetes service with a credentialled diabetes educator as a mentor. 

The Southern Cross Model is a game-changer in higher education study.

Our students now engage in shorter, six-week unit structures designed around immersive and interactive learning experiences. The shorter unit structure gives students a greater sense of momentum as they achieve milestones quickly, resulting in increased student success rates, and course and teacher satisfaction. Lectures are a thing of the past - students will be engaged in active, interactive and discussion-based learning.

On-campus students experience a variety of teaching approaches including lectures, tutorials, online activities and video-linked or podcast virtual classes.

Our online study option is highly interactive and may include a combination of podcast or video-linked lectures, electronic study materials, workshops, online discussion forums and virtual classes.

The method of teaching and assessment may vary from unit to unit.

Learn more

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 (GA).

Course Learning Outcome

GA1: Intellectual rigour

Operate effectively with and upon a body of knowledge of sufficient depth to begin professional practice as a Diabetes Educator

GA2: Creativity

Develop effective problem solving skills, capable of applying logical, critical and creative thinking to a range of problems.

GA3: Ethical practice

Develop an understanding of health practice informed by ethical and legal principles.

Demonstrate commitment to ethical action and social responsibility as a professional and citizen

GA4: Knowledge of a discipline

Practice as a Diabetes Educator with the knowledge and skills to be a valued member of the Diabetes team.

Embrace the multidisciplinary nature of diabetes management and seek to gain knowledge and skills in these areas

GA5: Lifelong learning

Prepare for lifelong learning in pursuit of personal development and excellence in professional practice

GA6: Communication and social skills

Communicate effectively both in written and oral form and in professional practice as a member of the community

Apply skills, to work both autonomously and collaboratively as a professional.

GA7: Cultural competence

Embrace and respect multiculturalism and the diversity of Australian society, and international perspectives as a professional and as a citizen

You are required to undertake 40 hours of clinical placement within a recognised diabetes service with, as a minimum, a credentialled diabetes educator as a mentor. The importance of linking theory to practice is fundamental to student learning and to ensure graduates have the confidence to apply their knowledge and skills with clients in professional settings.

The 40 hours of placement is a mandatory component of the course. Clinical placement occurs following completion of three units and generally occurs in Term 4 for those undertaking the complete 8-month course. For those students who defer, placement may occur once three units have been successfully completed. Placements are organised by the Professional Experience Unit at Southern Cross University.

Professional experience placements require students to fulfil certain prerequisites prior to attending placement (e.g. a working with children check and National Police Certificate). Prior to applying for a course offered by the Faculty of Health, please consider the important information regarding these requirements.

Students gain knowledge and skills within the areas of primary health, chronic disease, teaching, management and leadership, research, client self-management and counselling. They gain an in-depth understanding of the diabetes disease process and management options, including medications for therapeutic effectiveness, problem solving for high and low blood glucose levels and reducing the risks of chronic complications.

Location Teaching period
OnlineTerm  1

Career Outcomes

Diabetes educators may work within a tertiary health centre, or within primary health. They can become self-employed and work in private practice, or they can work alongside other allied health providers such as dietitians, podiatrists, physiotherapists, and psychologists. Having credentialed diabetes educators working in primary health and particularly rural and remote regions is one of the current goals of the Australian Diabetes Educators Association (ADEA).

This course is accredited by the Australian Diabetes Educators Association (ADEA). Graduates are encouraged to pursue credentialing by the ADEA. The title Credentialled Diabetes Educator (CDE) is well recognised not only in Australia but overseas. Only those diabetes educators who have completed the ADEA credentialing program are awarded the title CDE.

Requirements

We encourage you to apply for the courses you most want to study. If you are not eligible to enter your chosen course right now, our team will work with you to find the best pathway option.

Before applying, make sure you double check all entry requirements, gather required documentation and review the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, noting any specifics listed below.

Entry requirements

All applicants must:

  1. have successfully completed a minimum AQF Level 7 qualification, or equivalent, in one of the following health disciplines:
    • Nursing;
    • Midwifery;
    • Dietetics;
    • Pharmacy;
    • Exercise Physiology;
    • Podiatry;
    • Physiotherapy;
    • Optometry; or
    • Medicine.
  2. be registered with AHPRA, or equivalent, as a Registered Nurse, Registered Midwife, Registered Podiatrist, Registered Physiotherapist, Accredited Exercise Physiologist, Registered Pharmacist, Accredited Practising Dietitian, Optometrist or General Practitioner (GP); and
  3. be qualified for a minimum of one year, be in current practice and have been active in practice for a minimum of one year.

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 Score7.0
Reading7.0
Writing7.0
Listening7.0
Speaking7.0

Course requirements

To be eligible to receive the Graduate Certificate in Diabetes Education and Management students must complete the equivalent of 4 units (48 credit points), comprising all core units.

Inherent Requirements
Inherent Requirements apply to this course as defined on the Student Access and Inclusion website. Students who have a disability or health condition which may impact on their ability to meet these requirements are encouraged to visit the Student Access and Inclusion website for further information and contact details.

Other things to consider

Credit for Prior Learning, also referred to as ‘Advanced Standing’ or Recognition for Prior Learning (RPL), is the process of looking at your prior study and/or experience to assess if you can be awarded academic credit or gain entry to a course on the basis of your existing knowledge and skills.

Learn more


Course structure

Your course progression is in the recommended order you should complete your course in. It is important that you follow this to ensure you meet the course requirements. For further assistance see How to Enrol in Units using My Enrolment.

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

Current Students should select their units by checking the Handbook for the year of their enrolment as these may be different.

View Student Handbook

Unit CodeUnit TitleAvailableCredit pointsNotes

Complete units in the following order to satisfy the Requirements of the Award

HBIO5001Pathophysiology and Diabetes in a Global Context
Term1
12
LocationDomesticInternational
Online
Term1
Term1
Enrolment informationPlease note this unit has assessments scheduled in Week 7. Details will be provided closer to the time.
PBHL5001Managing Diabetes as a Chronic Condition
Term2
12
LocationDomesticInternational
Online
Term2
Term2
Pre-requisitesHBIO5001 - Pathophysiology and Diabetes in a Global Context
PBHL5004Diabetes Self-management Education Theory and Practice
Term3
12
LocationDomesticInternational
Online
Term3
Term3
Pre-requisitesHBIO5001 - Pathophysiology and Diabetes in a Global Context
PBHL6001Diabetes Management in Health Systems and Settings
Term4
12
LocationDomesticInternational
Online
Term4
Term4
Pre-requisitesHBIO5001 - Pathophysiology and Diabetes in a Global Context AND PBHL5001 - Managing Diabetes as a Chronic Condition AND PBHL5004 - Diabetes Self-management Education Theory and Practice
Enrolment informationThis unit contains Work Integrated Learning (WIL) activities that require students to meet mandatory fit to practice obligations prior to attending. Failure to comply by the fit to practice deadline will result in the cancellation of your WIL activity. Full details are available at www.scu.edu.au/healthplacements.


Unit CodeUnit TitleNotes

Core Units

HBIO5001Pathophysiology and Diabetes in a Global Context
PBHL5001Managing Diabetes as a Chronic Condition
PBHL5004Diabetes Self-management Education Theory and Practice
PBHL6001Diabetes Management in Health Systems and Settings

Why Health at SCU

One of the best clinical lab facilities in Australia

Health Clinics on-campus provide safe and supervised environments for practicums

5-star health ratings

We are 5-star rated in psychology, nursing and health services and support

(GUG 2023)

Graduates in very high demand

Health graduates in very high demand as Health Care and Social Assistance is Australia's largest and fastest growing industry

Fees and Scholarships

Domestic students

You are a domestic student if you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident, New Zealand citizen, or Australian humanitarian visa holder. Your course will either be a Commonwealth Supported Place or a full fee-paying place. This is noted in the course snapshot.

Commonwealth Supported Places:

In a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP), the Government pays some of your fees and you pay the rest as the Student Contribution Amount (SCA).

SCA is calculated per unit, not per course. Eligible students can defer the SCA through a HECS-HELP loan.

Full Fee-Paying Places:

A full fee-paying place is where you pay the full (unsubsidised) tuition fee for your course. Eligible students can defer the payment of their tuition fees through the FEE-HELP scheme (including employer-reserved places for The Hotel School courses).

Also known as SSAF, the Student Services and Amenities Fee is a compulsory fee for most students used to provide important services and amenities to students both on and off campus. It’s charged per unit, based on the unit’s credit point value. Eligible domestic students have the option of deferring this fee through the SA-HELP loan scheme. More about SSAF

Depending on your course, your costs could also include computer equipment and software, books, stationery, field trips, uniforms or other course-specific expenses such as art materials, musical equipment or travel for practicums, internships, vaccinations or industry experience.

Scholarships vary in amount, from a few hundred to several thousand dollars each year. Eligibility isn't limited to top-performing students or those facing financial challenges; there are opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds and with different accomplishments. This ensures that education remains accessible to all, changing lives and helping individuals achieve their goals for a brighter future.

More about scholarships

Further fee information

Fees and Scholarships

International Students

If you're an international student, you can find the annual course cost in Australian dollars (AUD$) on our International Courses and Fees page or on the web page for your course under fees.

Also known as SSAF, the Student Services and Amenities Fee is a compulsory fee for most students used to provide important services and amenities to students both on and off campus. It’s charged per unit, based on the unit’s credit point value. Eligible domestic students have the option of deferring this fee through the SA-HELP loan scheme. More about SSAF

Depending on your course, your costs could also include computer equipment and software, books, stationery, field trips, uniforms or other course-specific expenses such as art materials, musical equipment or travel for practicums, internships, vaccinations or industry experience.

Southern Cross University offers a range of scholarships designed to support you while you study, available for a variety of backgrounds and achievements. Scholarships range from a few hundred dollars a year to several thousand dollars a year. Southern Cross has also introduced Access25, a new initiative for 2025 to delivering a quality education combined with a straightforward tuition model, ensuring every international student has equal access.

More about scholarships

Further fee information

Apply now

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Choose where you want to study

Online

Dates for the diary

Our shorter, more focused six-week unit structure gives students a greater sense of momentum and motivation as they achieve milestones quickly. Application dates per Term are shown on each course page however refer to our key dates and teaching calendar for detail on when enrolment opens, studies commence and when grades are published. There are also Dual Term and Tri Term calendars for those who have specific subjects.

See key dates

Credit Transfer

Get a head start on your degree. Find out if you’re eligible for credit from previous studies.

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Entry Pathway

We believe in equal access to further education, so we offer a range of pathways to university.

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