Graduate Certificate of Disability and Inclusion

2025 Deakin University Handbook

Year	2025 course information
Award granted	Graduate Certificate of Disability and Inclusion
Deakin course code	H508
Faculty	Faculty of Health
Campus	This course is only offered Online
Online	Yes
Duration	1 year part-time
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.
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.

Are you 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 progress their career, 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, you have the option to continue your studies by continuing on with the Master of Disability and Inclusion and completing eight more units including a major research project.

The course is deeply connected to people with disability, 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 contemporary international and national developments in disability legislation, policy, research and practice.

The topics you will cover are informed by leading disability theory and practice. In fact, the curriculum has been carefully designed to meet the needs of the contemporary disability sector you will be working in once you graduate. For example, you will gain an expert understanding of what underpins high quality individualised planning – a key feature of the NDIS in Australia, and used internationally to uphold the rights of people with disabilities embedded in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

Projects are anchored to developments and policies within the sector. You might be challenged to critically analyse recent updates to legislation. You also have the option of basing your assessment tasks on your current practice, weekly context or lived experience. This allows you to apply your skills instantly to the communities and contexts in which you engage.

A highlight of the course is building relationships with your fellow students and the academic team. Students in the Graduate Certificate 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. Additionally, our partnerships with key organisations such as the NDIS, and other peak government and non-government disability organisations, as well as our international partners including the United Nations, and key disability researchers and advocates across the globe 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 highly 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 an online course in the Faculty of Health you will be expected to spend 8-10 hours every week studying, interacting online and completing assessment tasks for each unit in your course.

Professional recognition

Not applicable

Career opportunities

The disability sector in Australia is rapidly expanding and evolving. According to the most recent National Disability Services (NDS) report, *The NDIS will soon have 500,000 participants and, according to some estimates, the disability workforce will need to double in size in the next three years just to keep pace with increasing demand. According to this same report, the disability industry is feeling pressure to secure quality staff in a range of positions.

As a graduate of this course, you'll be perfectly suited for these positions, which include roles in policy and practice leadership.

In particular, the course was designed to align with areas of knowledge and skills identified in 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.

*State_of_the_Disability_Sector_Reports/SoTDS_2020.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.

Course Learning Outcomes

Deakin 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 pass 4 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
4 credit points of core units

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:

This course is part-time only.

Course structure

Core units

Trimester 1

DAI001

Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points)

HDS730

Disability and Inclusion: Contemporary Theory and Lived Experience

HDS731

Planning for Inclusion Across the Life Course

Trimester 2

HDS732

Determinants of Health and Wellbeing in the Lives of People with Disability

HDS733

Community Capacity Building - Theory and Practice for Inclusion

Work experience

Not applicable

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

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.

Estimate your fees

For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.