Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion
2025 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2025 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion |
| Deakin course code | D381 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Health |
| Campus | Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong) |
| Online | No |
| Duration | 4 years full-time The course is only available to students on a full-time basis. |
| Course Map - enrolment planning tool | This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2025. Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. |
| CRICOS course code | 018323M Burwood (Melbourne) |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7 |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Indicative student workload
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Alternative exits
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Third party arrangements
- Other learning experiences
- Fees and charges
Course overview
Graduate prepared for a successful career in the largest growing employment sector in Australia* and develop the knowledge, skills and ethical understanding to become a registered nurse, balanced with the skills required to empower people to lead healthier lifestyles. Deakin's Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion enables you to make a real difference in the health outcomes of individuals, communities and global populations.
Ranked #16 in the world for nursing and in the top 200 worldwide for public health^, the course balances contemporary theory with extensive placement experience, and combined approaches involving community engagement, policy development, and research. Graduate career-ready with 920 hours of work placements in both nursing and public health and health promotion settings.
Passionate about helping people lead healthier lives, across clinical and community settings?
This combined degree in nursing and public health and health promotion gives you the advantage of learning skills in two differing facets of health care. Developed in consultation with our healthcare partners you will always be connected to those at the forefront of industry.
Ranked #16 in the world^, our School of Nursing and Midwifery is one of Australia’s most research-active schools and boasts some of the best facilities and resources available. Our Clinical Simulation Centres provide a safe, supportive and realistic environment for you to develop and hone essential nursing skills. At the centres you'll use case-based scenarios that will become more complex as your nursing degree progresses.
Under the supervision of registered nurses, you will gain real-world experience by working with multidisciplinary healthcare teams across areas including:
- acute/sub-acute care
- medical and surgical care
- aged care
- rehabilitation
- paediatrics
- community health settings
- mental health care settings.
Public health is the organised response by society to protect and promote health and prevent disability. By looking at patterns of health and disease across populations, public health experts can use data and evidence-based measures to address the world’s biggest health challenges. Health promotion is about working with communities to improve health and champion factors that support good health – be they environmental, legal, physical, economic or social.
You will study the foundations of modern health promotion practice, covering key study areas such as:
- biostatistics
- environmental health
- epidemiology
- health sociology
- planning and evaluation.
While you will graduate with a suite of specialised and highly sought-after healthcare skills, you will also enter the workforce with lifelong transferable skills, in areas such as:
- research
- analytical thinking
- project management
- communication
- community development.
Deakin’s purpose-built Clinical Simulation Centres for nursing students simulate real healthcare settings. They provide you with the facilities and equipment required to develop practical nursing skills, which are further enhanced through your professional experience placements.
In your final year, you will also have the opportunity to complete the Health Practicum unit, giving you 120 hours of invaluable practical experience in the health industry.
Discover our nursing and midwifery or health and community services courses.
*2023 Employment Projections - for the ten years to 2033, Australian Government, Jobs and Skills Australia
^2023 ShanghaiRankings Global Ranking of Academic Subjects
Indicative student workload
As a student in the Faculty of Health you can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, practicals and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time. There is an expectation that you are available to undertake clinical practicum outside of trimester dates. All expenses associated with professional experience placements are your own responsibility.
Professional recognition
Upon successful completion of your course, you will be eligible to apply for registration as a Registered Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).
The NMBA has mandatory registration standards that applicants need to meet to be registered. Core registration standards are available on the NMBA website.
This course is accredited with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) and is an NMBA approved course.
You may also be eligible to become a member of the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) and the Australian Health Promotion Association (AHPA).
Career opportunities
As a Deakin nursing graduate, you will be highly sought after by industry for your nursing knowledge, critical thinking, problems solving and communication skills, professionalism, and the ability to provide person-centred, evidence-based care – which is why we are proud to record a high graduate employment rate of over 93%.*
As a registered nurse with public health and health promotion knowledge, you can pursue career opportunities around the world in a range of work settings, including:
- hospitals
- homes
- hospices
- aged care settings
- clinics
- schools
- universities
- community health centres
- government agencies and private industries.
The skills you will develop in the growing public health and health promotion area will qualify you to work in diverse areas, including:
- health education
- health and human services
- public health communication
- health policy development and implementation.
Your knowledge of the social and environmental factors that affect the health of individuals and populations will prepare you for a career in a range of clinical and community settings, such as:
- public health
- schools
- rehabilitation
- health education
- voluntary organisations
- patient support agencies
- working abroad.
*Graduate Outcomes Survey 2021-2023, based on overall employment for undergraduate nursing graduates, Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT).
Participation requirements
As a student in the Faculty of Health you can expect to participate in a range of learning activities each week. This may include classes, seminars, simulations, and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.
Inherent requirements
A number of inherent requirements are essential to safely perform the skills and functions of the nursing role and consequently to undertake and successfully complete the course. Learn more about the School of Nursing and Midwifery's Undergraduate Courses Inherent Requirements.
Mandatory student checks
Department of Health – Safety Screening Requirements - Police Record Check, Working With Children Check and Immunisation Status
Police Record Check
In accordance with the Department of Health policy, all students are required to undertake a Police Record Check prior to professional experience placements in each calendar year of their course. Students who fail to obtain a Police Record Check prior to the commencement of professional experience placement will not be able to undertake professional experience placement and this will impede progress in the course.
Working With Children Check
In accordance with the Worker Screening Act 2020, all students are required to undertake a Working with Children Check at the commencement of their course. Students who fail to obtain a Working with Children Check prior to the commencement of professional experience placement will not be able to undertake professional experience placement and this will impede progress in the course.
Immunisation Status
Students are required to declare their immunisation status to satisfy the requirements of health organisations where they will be undertaking their clinical learning experience. A health organisation may refuse to accept a student for placement if the student’s immunisation status is not satisfactory to the health organisation.
Alternative exits
| Bachelor of Nursing (H326) | |
| Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion (H313) |
Course Learning Outcomes
See course entry for Bachelor of Nursing (H326) or Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion (H313)
Course rules
To complete the Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion students must pass 32 credit points and meet the following course rules to be eligible to graduate:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period
- 21 credit points of core nursing units
- 11 credits points of core public health and health promotion units
- Course requirements for both the Bachelor of Nursing and Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion must be satisfied
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. See the enrolment codes and terminology to help make sense of the University’s vocabulary.
Note:
- There is an expectation that you will be available to undertake clinical practicum outside of trimester dates. All expenses associated with professional experience placements are your responsibility.
- If you are enrolled at the Waterfront (Geelong) campus, you will be required to take your units associated with the Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion course on campus at Waurn Ponds (Geelong) or online.
Course structure
Units
Level 1 - Trimester 1
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points) |
| HBS109 | Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology |
| HNN112 | Quality and Safety: Nursing Practice 1 |
| HNN120 | Quality and Safety in Health Care 1 |
| HSH102 | Disease Prevention and Control |
Level 1 - Trimester 2
| HNN104 | Care of the Child and Adolescent |
| HNN114 | Person-Centred Health Assessment |
| HNN124 | Quality and Safety: Nursing Practice 2 |
| HNN154 | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples' History, Culture and Health |
Level 2 - Trimester 1
| HNN108 | Evidence-Based Practice |
| HNN217 | Primary Health Care |
| HSH112 | Local and Global Environments for Health |
| HSH208 | Health Communication |
Level 2 - Trimester 2
| HNN215 | Quality Use of Medicines |
| HNN227 | Acute Illness and Supportive Care (2 credit points) |
| HSH212 | Professional Practice |
Level 3 - Trimester 1
| HNN222 | Mental Health and Supportive Care (2 credit points) |
| HSH205 | Epidemiology and Biostatistics 1 |
| HSH323 | Program Planning, Management and Evaluation |
Level 3 - Trimester 2
| HNN301 | Mental Health and Wellbeing |
| HSH216 | Epidemiology and Biostatistics 2 |
| HSH219 | Population Health: A Research Perspective |
| HSH313 | Contemporary Health Issues |
Level 4 - Trimester 1
| HNN329 | Chronic Illness and Supportive Care (2 credit points) |
| HNN318 | Care of the Older Person |
| HSH318 | Implementation and Evaluation |
Level 4 - Trimester 2
| HSH303 | Health Practicum |
| HNN325 | Quality and Safety: Comprehensive Nursing Practice (2 credit points) |
| HNN320 | Quality and Safety in Health Care 2 |
Work experience
Professional experience practice - nursing
Beginning soon after commencement of the course, early exposure to the clinical environment gives you extensive opportunities to develop clinical skills in a variety of settings including acute/sub-acute care, medical and surgical care, paediatrics, aged care, rehabilitation, community nursing and mental health nursing.
There is an expectation that you will be available to undertake professional experience placements outside of trimester dates. All expenses associated with professional experience placements are your own responsibility.
To be eligible to undertake placements, you are required to supply mandatory documents (prerequisites) including police checks, working with children check and immunisation status.
Public Health and Health Promotion
The Health Practicum requires you to undertake a minimum of 120 hours of work experience in a health-related agency. In addition to developing a practical understanding of public health and health promotion, this experience will help you further develop the professional and personal skills required to work in a public health and/or health promotion role.
Course duration
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing placements.
Further information
Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.
- Contact Student Central
Third party arrangements
Student Placement Agreements exist between Deakin University, School of Nursing and Midwifery and Professional Experience Placement Providers and are generally revised every 3-5 years.
Quality assurance arrangements
Deakin University, School of Nursing and Midwifery provides training through facilitator and preceptorship workshops. Unit Chairs provide regular clinical support to facilitators whilst students are on placements.
Other learning experiences
The Bachelor of Nursing has 3 elective units which may be undertaken from any faculty as long as pre-requisite requirements are met.
The school offers nursing elective units e.g. HNN216 International Nursing Study Tour x 3. (Thailand, Bhutan, Philippines).
Fees and charges
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, and their study discipline or your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.