Advanced Practice

Healthcare delivery is constantly evolving in the face of population growth, our increasingly diverse and ageing communities, changing approaches to delivering healthcare, and availability of new technology. Health professionals need to be more collaborative, team-focused and adaptable than ever before.

Designed for working professionals

Online, flexible delivery with Commonwealth Supported Places, designed for busy healthcare professionals.

Co-designed industry specialisations

Choose a specialisation to develop advanced skills and progress your career.

Personalised capstone projects

Customise learning at the Master's level to select a research pathway of your choice.

Study options

Develop your leadership capacity

Our Advanced Practice courses will build your leadership and critical thinking skills, expand your knowledge, and support you to achieve your career ambitions and personal goals, no matter your discipline.

Our Advanced Practice courses have been co-designed with the health industry to specifically meet these needs. They feature a strong interdisciplinary approach that will provide you with knowledge and skills to expand your contribution to healthcare and meet your professional development requirements with flexible online study.

The Advanced Practice courses provide you with a strong foundation in leadership skills and critical thinking, which you will combine with electives and your choice from our range of contemporary specialisations, to broaden your health system knowledge relevant to your career aspirations.

The master’s degree component completes your learning journey, refining your research skills as you design and conduct a quality improvement project relevant to your workplace and/or career pathway.

As a graduate you’ll develop knowledge and skills to lead the positive change our system needs.

Watch our webinar

Meet the course coordinators and discover where further study in Advanced Practice can take you.

Specialisations available in 2025

Broaden your knowledge in specialised aspects of the healthcare system that align with your current or desired career pathway. As an emerging or established health leader, you might choose to specialise in Governance, Strategic Communication or Organisational Performance to enhance your capacity within your current role. Or you could develop your skills in Workplace Psychology to better understand and lead your people. The choice is open to you.

You can also experience first-hand what our expert lecturers can offer you with our free, online masterclass series.

You will learn to design, implement, and evaluate interventions to improve quality and safety using an evidence-based quality improvement methodology.

The specialisation will help you to develop the professional competencies required for effective surveillance of and response to public health incidents in Australia, and globally.

You will learn about evidence-based approaches for prevention and mitigation. You will develop management plans and pathways of care in primary, secondary and community health care systems.

You will develop advanced knowledge and applied skills for advanced airway and ventilation and haemodynamic support in patients with acute or complex medical or trauma emergencies, and for critical care retrieval. Your clinical reasoning and decision-making skills will be further developed.

Learn from the global leaders in dementia education to help lead positive change

The rising prevalence of dementia is creating new challenges and a pressing need for change in the way our systems and practices support people to live well with dementia. This specialisation is aimed at health professionals building their expertise in aged care and dementia.

You will develop a global perspective on the impact dementia has on individuals and societies, as well as become equipped with the expertise to lead transformation based on the latest evidence. Course content is delivered by staff from our Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, global leaders in dementia research and education.

You will develop experience and knowledge on the key concepts of health informatics, security and data, considering the decision-making power digital systems provide, while also understanding the ethical, social and economic considerations.

Lead the provision of safe, high-quality contemporary care

Gain a comprehensive introduction to contemporary healthcare quality and safety with a focus on person-centred care. In this specialisation you will develop a broad understanding of governance, clinical governance and risk management within health and human services, focussing on recent developments and changes.

Designed for clinicians, clinical managers and those in other management roles to develop the knowledge and skills that are vital to the provision of safe, high-quality contemporary care, you will explore healthcare quality and safety, learn about the foundations of patient safety and quality improvement design, explore the complex relationships between a range of systems and structures, and much more.

You will learn about funding models, supply and demand factors, and economic evaluations. You will apply your knowledge of economics and finance to consider how we can develop a more environmentally, economically and socially sustainable healthcare system.

Lead the change you want to see in the healthcare sector.

This specialisation allows you to improve existing health services and processes, with a central goal of improving patient care. Ideal for future change makers who are practising health professionals in public, private, and not-for-profit organisations, as well as healthcare administrators, you’ll develop the skills to drive healthcare improvement through evidence-based solutions, and help your workplace become more efficient, and person-centred.

Become a capable and responsive educator and supervisor

This specialisation is designed for health professionals working in a range of health and human service settings who want to develop skills in learner supervision, designing education for their peers, and developing educational interventions. A combination of core and choice units will see you exploring key supervision theories and practices, reflecting on your own experiences, and customising your learning to explore aspects of the healthcare system relevant to your workplace or career aspirations.

You will learn to identify and analyse medication safety issues and develop the skills to design and implement solutions to reduce medication related harm in your health care setting.

Master the dynamics of the healthcare environment to lead system change

Every health organisation needs qualified and passionate leaders. Core and choice units provide organisational performance management skills to emerging, middle and senior managers, clinicians, and health professionals working within health and human services. This supports you to both enhance your natural leadership qualities, and build new skills that meet the needs of the future, covering topics including health data management, managing complex adaptive organisations, decision-making, monitoring performance and health finance and economics.

You will learn about resilience, crisis management, corporate security, and business continuity. This specialisation prepares managers and leaders to respond appropriately to disruption in workforces, enterprises, economies, and individuals.

You will acquire advanced analytical skills and professional level communication expertise as you develop knowledge of the strategic and political communication fields.

Become a supply chain manager

Our supply chains must be managed by highly trained individuals and teams who can lead the development, implementation and control of sound contemporary management practices. This is particularly evident in the increasingly connected healthcare sector.

Designed for managers and senior administrators, we'll provide you with knowledge, skills, and expertise to manage this key organisational element that is tightly interconnected with human society: physically, socially and economically

Become a more effective people leader

The effective management of human resources is becoming an increasingly vital concern in organisations, whether they are professional practices employing only a few staff, multinational corporations, public sector or not-for-profit organisations. This specialisation introduces the concept of positive psychology into leadership practices and principles.

You will critically explore the theories, constructs and models within positive psychology, and how they can be integrated into the workplace environment, so you can become a more effective leader in health and human services.

Course options

We offer a range of course options designed to meet your professional and personal goals in the healthcare sector.

Graduate Certificate in
Advanced Practice

Graduate Diploma of
Advanced Practice
(Specialisation)

Master of
Advanced Practice
(Specialisation)

Duration: 1 year, up to a maximum of 3 years

Location:Online

Total 4 units (50 credit points)

  • 2 x core units
  • 2 x choice units

Duration: 2 years, up to a maximum of 5 years

Location:Online

Total 8 units (100 credit points)

  • 2 x core units
  • 2 x choice units
  • 4 x specialisation units

Duration: 3 years, up to a maximum of 7 years

Location:Online

Total 11 units (150 credit points)

  • Coursework pathway
  • Research pathway

Advanced Practice masterclass series

Experience first-hand what our expert lecturers can offer you with our free, online masterclass series.

Webinar topics cover the breadth of our Advanced Practice specialisations and choice units, as well as the core topics of leadership, and critical thinking. There are options to explore a new topic, or dive into something you are already familiar with and expand your knowledge.

Expand the accordions below to read more about each webinar, register to attend, and watch recordings of past sessions.

Upcoming masterclass webinars

Health Economics

How much is enough? The economics of health and healthcare in the age of ecological crisis.

Resources are always limited in healthcare – whether it’s doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, critical equipment, or simply money, there’s usually not enough to do everything we would like to do. More recently, we are starting to understand how environmental factors – from climate change to microplastics to biodiversity loss – will increasingly impact human health, healthcare and the wider economy in the years to come.

This talk will give a preview of our new “Sustainable Health Economics” subject. What will the accelerating ecological crisis mean for health, the economy and the availability of resources for healthcare? How can health economics help healthcare systems to navigate this world of planetary boundaries – and where do we need a new economics to get us out of this crisis?  What would a truly sustainable economy mean for healthcare, and how can you prepare professionally for the future we really face?

Applied Safety and Quality

Facilitating patient flow decision-making: Eating the elephant one bite at a time

Past masterclass recordings

Community and Urgent Care: Critical Care and Retrieval

Racetrack to Recovery

Host: Suzanne Avis, Chris Mullen
Duration: 60 minutes

This masterclass is a showcase all of the principles in critical care in the management of a sidecar motorcyclist that suffered life-threatening injuries and who received critical care management in the prehospital setting, went through to ICU, ECMO transfer to Melbourne, back to Hobart ICU, and discharged home.

It will demonstrate all of the aspects of critical care that we are trying to deliver in the course and a practical example of the importance of high performing clinicians, critical care teams and integration into the wider critical care system.

Systems Thinking

Your introduction to systems thinking principles in healthcare

Host: Pieter Van Dam
Duration: 60 minutes

Healthcare systems are complex, and in such systems, it could be challenging to understand how quality and safety is constructed and maintained.  It is important to use a systems thinking approach in improving the delivery of healthcare, as it increases the ability to understand complex work processes, to predict system behaviour and to design sustainable solutions for healthcare delivery issues. Systems thinking involves exploring the characteristics of components within a system and how they interconnect using a holistic lens.

Strategic Communications

What does it mean to be a strategic communicator?

Host: Alana Mann
Duration: 60 minutes

In our increasingly  dynamic media environment every industry professional needs the skills, knowledge, and tools to communicate complex ideas to diverse audiences. This webinar is for anyone who wants to inspire and promote change in their field through effective and ethical communication and storytelling

Digital Health

Future proofing the health care system - the role of digital health

Host: Sheree Lloyd
Duration: 60 minutes

Learn how digital health can enable a more equitable, responsive, sustainable, person centred health and social care system. We will share key insights to successful digital health adoption, introduce key concepts and demonstrate how digital health can advance health care systems and contribute to the achievement of the Quintuple Aim. Join us to learn how a short course and graduate certificate can boost your employability and professional development.

Digital Health is available as a choice unit in the Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, and Master of Advanced Practice. The University also offers a Graduate Certificate in Digital Health.

Neurobiology of Dementia

Understanding Dementia and its impacts on the public health system

Host: James Vickers
Duration: 60 minutes

This masterclass will focus on the latest developments in our understanding of the diseases that lead to dementia, why dementia is a substantial public health issue, and new approaches to therapeutics, risk reduction and early detection of dementia.

The Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice includes a specialisation in Dementia. The Dementia specialisation offers a comprehensive understanding of dementia from the perspectives of individuals, families, communities, health care systems and governments.

Organisational Resilience

Assessing your organisation’s resilience – Health and Hospitals

Host: Ben Brooks
Duration: 60 minutes

The Australian healthcare sector must enhance its resilience to operate in an increasingly complex and uncertain future environment. Our upcoming webinar will explore the key principles of organisational resilience how to evaluate organisational resilience in your healthcare setting.

Leading Resilient Organisations is a core unit in our Graduate Certificate in Organisational Resilience, and is also available as a choice unit in the Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, and Master of Advanced Practice.

Critical Thinking: Reasoning Skills for Health Professionals

Understanding and living with our cognitive biases

Host: Richard Corry
Duration: 60 minutes

This masterclass will introduce you to some of the cognitive heuristics and biases that we all share, and will look at the ways that they can lead us astray in our reasoning and decision making. We will then begin to discuss what we can do about this.

Critical thinking: Reasoning Skills for Health Professionals is a core unit in  the Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, and Master of Advanced Practice.

Healthcare Redesign and Health Service Improvement

A demonstration on how healthcare improvement can be achieved through evidence-based solutions

Host: Sarah Prior
Duration: 60 minutes

This masterclass will focus on the 8 Waste's in healthcare. Using evidence-based principles of healthcare redesign, we demonstrate how reducing waste can lead to improved outcomes for patients, families and carers, healthcare staff and organisations.

The Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice includes a specialisation in Health Service Improvement, which focusses on providing leadership skills to drive healthcare improvement through evidence-based solutions. Introduction to Healthcare Redesign is also is available as a choice unit in the Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma and Master of Advanced Practice.

Safety & Quality

Unlocking Excellence in Health Service Management (Safety & Quality): Your Path to Success

Host: Helen Almond
Duration: 60 minutes

Are you ready to take your career in health service management (safety and quality) to the next level? This webinar is your gateway to exciting opportunities and valuable insights.

Join us to gain awareness into why pursuing education in Safety and Quality in Health service management is a wise investment in your career and personal development. It equips you with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in a critical and growing field within the health and social care industry while contributing to improved person-centred care and healthcare system efficiency.

The Governance specialisation in the Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice provides a comprehensive introduction to contemporary healthcare quality and safety with a focus on person-centred care. You will gain a broad understanding of governance, clinical governance and risk management within health and human services, focussing on recent developments and changes.

Supply Chain & Logistics

Developing efficiency and resilience in logistics and supply chains for health services

Host: Stephen Cahoon
Duration: 60 minutes

In the evolving global business economy, businesses must enhance and transform their logistics and supply chain systems to gain competitive advantage. With global supply chains evolving and expanding constantly, the understanding of how to develop and implement sustainable, effective, and efficient logistics and supply chain management strategies is key to the success of businesses in any industry.

The Supply Chain and Logistics specialisation in the Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice will prepare you for management and senior administrative roles in a range of industries, including health. This specialisation will prepare you to succeed in a diverse range of areas including transport policy and administration, freight forwarding, exporting and importing, logistics and supply chains, and other critical elements of global international industry.

Public Health

An introduction to the tools necessary to make a difference in your community

Host: Louise Clark
Duration: 60 minutes

Our health systems have yet to fully embrace evidence use to inform change processes. This masterclass will explore theoretically informed approaches to the design, implementation, evaluation and sustainability of public health interventions.

Public health units feature prominently in the Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma and Master of Advanced Practice. Choice unit options in public health include Introduction to Public health, Introduction to Epidemiology, Systems Thinking in Public Health, Outbreak Management, and Non-Communicable Disease Prevention.

Outbreak Management webinar

Host: Michelle McPherson
Duration: 40 minutes

Ever wondered how public health units find out about outbreaks and then figure out what caused them? Join us for this webinar where we introduce the surveillance of infectious diseases and the ten steps of outbreak management.

Outbreak Management short course

Learn the skills and knowledge required to respond to communicable disease outbreaks and other public health incidents

This short course will provide you with the skills and knowledge required to respond to communicable disease outbreaks and other public health incidents, including the ten steps of outbreak management; assessment of public heath surveillance data and intelligence; using risk assessment frameworks; applying appropriate epidemiological, environmental and laboratory evidence; risk communication principles; and appropriate interventions.

Patient Safety – Medication Without Harm

Evaluation of pharmacist partnered medication charting in the emergency department

Host: Gregory Peterson
Duration: 60 minutes

This project straddles two study areas within the Advanced Practice suite of courses – healthcare redesign and medication safety.
Acute care provided in the hospital’s emergency department (ED) is a key component of the healthcare system that serves as an essential bridge between outpatient and inpatient care. However, due to the emergency-driven nature of presenting problems and the urgency of care required, along with increasing busyness, the ED is generally more prone to unintended medication regimen changes and similar medication errors than other departments. Ensuring the quality use of medicines (QUM), defined as “choosing suitable medicines and using them safely and effectively”, remains a challenge in the ED and hence requires special attention.

An area that has received considerable attention is obtaining a patient’s complete and accurate medication history prior to presentation, known as ‘best possible medication history’ (BPMH), as early as feasible on hospital attendance. This may form the basis for initial and subsequent care plans, if a patient is admitted, following presentation to ED. Another important consideration is having a clinical conversation between a pharmacist and a medical officer to optimise treatment plans and intercept any medication management issues early in the ED.

In line with these cornerstones, the Tasmanian Department of Health approved a 12-month partnered pharmacist medication charting (PPMC) project in the Royal Hobart Hospital ED. A multidisciplinary working group developed the PPMC care model. This talk will present an evaluation of the program, utilising a mixed-methods pragmatic design, by an independent University of Tasmania research team.

Nursing students, Rozelle campus, Sydney

Health partner scholarships

To help you advance your career, we offer generous scholarships to our valued partner employees. Search for your employer, speak to your workplace, or contact us on 13 8827 to find out more.

Search for your employer

Career opportunities

Now, more than ever, the healthcare industry needs leaders equipped for an ever-evolving sector.  Health care and Social Assistance is the largest employing industry in Australia, with job opportunities estimated to grow up to 15% over the next three years.*

24.3%

Nurse Managers

Projected growth by 2033*

22.8%

Human Resource Managers

Projected growth by 2033*

20.1%

Practice Managers

Projected growth by 2033*