Graduate Certificate of Disability and Inclusion

2021 Deakin University Handbook

Note: You are seeing the 2021 view of this course information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]

Year	2021 course information
Award granted	Graduate Certificate of Disability and Inclusion
Course Map	This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2021. This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2021. Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
Campus	This course is only offered Online
Cloud Campus	Yes
Duration	1 year part time
Deakin course code	H508
Approval status	This course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework.
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Start working in disability sooner or build on your current skills and experience with a Graduate Certificate of Disability and Inclusion. Complete your course in just one year, and graduate with a contemporary understanding of disability that prepares you for the exciting roles emerging within the sector.

Ready for a rewarding career in disability but not ready to commit to a masters degree?

Flexible online delivery and a short study duration make this course a popular choice for busy students looking to move up in the disability sector. Study four core units, which are consistent with core units from the Master of Disability and Inclusion, and feel confident about contributing to more inclusive, accessible communities once you graduate.

If, upon successful completion of the course, you want to dive deeper into disability and inclusion and build even more industry experience, you have the option of continuing your studies by articulating into Master of Disability and inclusion and completing eight more units including a major project. If you begin your masters and need to move on after completing four additional units on top of your Graduate Certificate, you can graduate with a Graduate Diploma in Disability and Inclusion.

The course is deeply connected to the disability industry, the organisations that work within it and the communities they serve. Many of our students have lived experience with disability – either their own or that of someone close to them. Our academics are embedded within the field, contributing to research of global significance. And our curriculum is responsive to developments in disability, adopting the values and policies of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in the Australian context and other national policies. All of this adds up to a course that reflects exactly what it’s like to work in the evolving disability and inclusion sector.

The topics you’ll cover are informed by leading disability theory and practice. In fact, the curriculum has been carefully designed to meet the needs of a contemporary disability sector you’ll be working in once you graduate. For example, you’ll gain an expert understanding of what underpins good individualised planning – a key feature of the NDIS in Australia, and used internationally to uphold the rights of people with disabilities embedded in the UNCRPD.

Projects are anchored to developments and policies within the sector. You might be challenged to critically analyse recent updates to legislation. If you are currently working in disability, you also have the option of basing your assessment tasks on your current practice. This allows you to apply your skills to the work you care about and have an instant impact on the communities in which you are working.

A highlight of the course is building relationships with your fellow students and the academic team. Students in the Masters of Disability and Inclusion come from a range of disciplines and backgrounds, ensuring your learning experience is vibrant and engaging. Our academic staff are leading nationally and internationally recognised researchers, making them great mentors, as well as teachers. On top of that, our partnerships with key organisations such as the NDIS, the Victorian Advocacy League for Individuals with Disability (VALID), Gen U in Geelong, Inclusion Melbourne, and other peak government and non-government disability organisations means the door will be open to professional networks and exciting employment opportunities. A constant connection to people with lived experience of disability makes your study experience richer and more relevant. It also allows you to see the world through the eyes of a person with a disability, giving you a real and valuable perspective on inclusion.

Indicative student workload

As a student in a Cloud (online) course in the Faculty of Health you will be expected to spend 8-10 hours every week studying, interacting via CloudDeakin and completing assessment tasks for each unit in your course.

Professional recognition

Not applicable

Career opportunities

The disability sector in Australia isn’t just growing, it’s evolving. According to an NDS report, the disability support workforce growth rate was 11.1% per year (between 2015-2017). This compares with growth of 1.6% for the entire Australian workforce at the time^.* This means there are a range of positions being developed to support the continued implementation of the NDIS.

As a graduate of this course, you’ll be perfectly suited for jobs including roles in policy, practice leadership and research that have recently emerged as part of the full rollout of the NDIS in Australia.

In particular, the course was designed to align with areas of knowledge and skills identified current disability position descriptions. These include:

knowledge of disability systems including disability research, legislation and policy
high-level communication skills for working with people with disability and their families
self-directed approaches to service planning
community-capacity building knowledge and skills.

In addition to these roles, there are a huge range of areas within the sector you can explore once you graduate, such as:

policy and legislation
education
health and human services
community development
roles within state and federal government, government agencies, community organisations and disability service providers.

* https://www.nds.org.au/images/workforce/ADWR_Third_Edition_July_2018.pdf

Participation requirements

Not applicable

Mandatory student checks

There are no mandatory student checks required for this course.

Pathways

This course provides a pathway to higher degree by research courses and other postgraduate coursework programs.

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on your course, the type of fee place you hold, your commencement year and your study load. To find out about the fees and charges that apply to you, visit the Current students fees website or our handy Fee estimator to help estimate your tuition fees.

Course Learning Outcomes

Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline Specific knowledge and capabilities	Apply advanced knowledge and skills in the area of Disability and Inclusion that includes theories of disability and social inclusion, including barriers and enablers to inclusion and the key conceptual models and policy underpinning inclusion of people with disability.
Communication	Communicate on disability and inclusion issues (e.g. barriers, enablers, policies) in an effective and coherent manner being mindful of the target audience.
Digital Literacy	Apply current technologies and demonstrate digital literacies applicable to disability and inclusion; and utilise a range of digital technologies and sources to find, select, use and disseminate relevant information.
Critical thinking	Critically analyse information drawn from a variety of sources about barriers and enablers to inclusion, disability and inclusion theory, policy and practice.
Problem Solving	Analyse real-world issues relating to disability and inclusion to assess key barriers, and identify innovative and evidence based effective approaches to enabling inclusion for people with disability.
Self-management	Work and learn through independent and self-directed initiatives, reflecting on learning and apply new knowledge and skills in Disability and Inclusion.
Teamwork	Demonstrate effective teamwork skills to enable inclusion for people with disability.
Global Citizenship	Recognise and apply ethical approaches to disability research and practice, and show awareness and respect for diversity in line with contemporary human rights obligations.

Course rules

To complete the Graduate Certificate of Disability and Inclusion students must attain 4 credit points. All four 1 credit point units are core units (these are compulsory).

All commencing Faculty of Health Undergraduate and Postgraduate course work students are required to complete HAI010 Academic Integrity in their first trimester of study (0 credit point compulsory unit).