Graduate Diploma of Health Promotion

2023 Deakin University Handbook

Note: You are seeing the 2023 view of this course information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]

Year	2023 course information
Award granted	Graduate Diploma of Health Promotion
Course Map	This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2023. Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne)
Online	Yes
Duration	1 year full-time or part-time equivalent
CRICOS course code	018317J Burwood (Melbourne)
Deakin course code	H615
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

The Graduate Diploma of Health Promotion trains you in the analytical, strategic and communication skills needed to improve health and wellbeing through practical action. Gain a deeper understanding of the causes of health issues, then learn how to develop initiatives that address these challenges at a grassroots level.

Want to work in an area of health that drives positive change through prevention?

Health promotion can keep half a million Australians out of hospital every year by preventing chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, stroke and depression. With a Graduate Diploma of Health Promotion, you can be a key player in this incredibly important field that looks to educate and influence behaviour long before health issues appear.

The course explores evidence-based health promotion strategies that improve the health of individuals, families, communities and countries. These are strategies that empower people to improve their health, strengthen community action and create environments that are more supportive of good health. Importantly, the strategies you will be implementing address health issues at a grassroots level, significantly reducing the cost and burden of disease through prevention.

Get hands-on practice developing these initiatives from start to finish, all while gaining a deep understanding of the social, environmental, political and economic conditions that impact health. Whether you see yourself working on community outreach campaigns that encourage healthy eating, or coordinating stress management programs for schools and workplaces, you’ll have the skills and experience to thrive.

Some of the course’s core study areas include:

health communication
evidence-based health program planning
health program evaluation
health equity and human rights
contemporary health issues and policies
health research.

You can also customise your degree with an elective unit that matches your interests. Choose from topics such as epidemiology, biostatistics, nutrition and obesity prevention to create a unique degree that takes your career further.

Our academics are renowned for their contributions to social justice, equity and the promotion of community wellbeing. The insights gathered from their work and research feeds back into the course, ensuring content is fresh, authentic and relevant to the needs of the sector. There are also opportunities for students to join academics and their colleagues on projects that address current health issues of global importance. We have academics playing an active role in many renowned healthcare organisations and institutes, so you’ll have access to the perfect mentor no matter your interests and career aspirations.

The course is a pathway to the Master of Health Promotion and includes eight units from the masters program. If you are interested in building more industry experience, you might like to articulate into the masters degree upon successful completion of the graduate diploma.

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 classes, seminars, practicals and on-line 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.

Professional recognition

Graduates in this course should be eligible to apply for membership of the Australian Health Promotion Association and the International Union of Health Promotion and Education.

Note: All information regarding professional recognition is accurate at the date of publication. Enquiries regarding accreditation and professional membership should be directed to the School of Health and Social Development in order to ascertain the current status of accreditation at any future point in time beyond publication. Representations about accreditation apply only to the course, and the relevant professional body retains discretion as to who they admit as members of their association. Deakin University cannot exercise any control over membership of an external body.

Career opportunities

Health sector is Australia’s largest and fastest-growing sector. On top of that, modern health challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, obesity, diabetes, mental health and an ageing population have increased the demand for skilled health promotion practitioners who are able to address health issues through prevention.

With a Graduate Diploma of Health Promotion you can take advantage of this demand. Health promotion practitioners are employed locally and globally in all levels of government, a variety of health services, schools, private business and non-government and community organisations, such as the National Heart Foundation, Asthma Foundation and The Cancer Council. Some of the areas you could be working in include:

community development
social planning and activities
health education
program development and evaluation
youth services
aged and disability services
policy development.

Graduates may be eligible to apply for membership of the Australian Health Promotion Association (AHPA) and the International Union of Health Promotion and Education.

Note: information regarding professional recognition is accurate at the time of publication. Enquiries regarding accreditation and professional membership should be directed to the School of Health and Social Development in order to ascertain the current status of accreditation. Representations about accreditation apply only to the course and the relevant professional body retains discretion as to who they admit as members of their association. Deakin University cannot exercise any control over membership of an external body.

Mandatory student checks

Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, Working with Children Check or other check.

Pathways

Students completing the Graduate Diploma of Health Promotion can articulate into a higher award, the Master of Health Promotion (H759)

Alternate exits

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on your course, the type of fee place you hold, your commencement year, the units you choose and 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.

Use the Fee estimator to see course and unit fees applicable to your course and type of place. Further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods is available on our Current students fees website.

Course Learning Outcomes

Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities	Apply a critical and advanced knowledge in the area of health promotion that includes: theories of behaviour change, inequalities and inequities in health including the concept of the social gradient and relevance to practice, the action areas for health promotion, as well as the determinants of health. the behavioural and socio-environmental models of health and their relevance to health promotion practice in general and needs assessment in particular. stages of program planning, implementation, evaluation and sustainability.
Communication	Communicate on health promotion issues in an effective and coherent manner and mindful of the target audience. Articulate the various ways in which health promotion practice is influenced, such as, ethnicity and Indigenous status, age, gender, society, culture, geography, the environment and socio-economic status.
Digital literacy	Demonstrate understanding of current technologies and digital literacies applicable to health promotion. Utilise a range of digital technologies and information sources to discover, select, analyse, employ, evaluate, and disseminate both technical and non-technical information.
Critical thinking	Demonstrate critical thinking in evaluating solutions to health promotion problems. Access and critically analyse information drawn from a variety of sources. Critically reflect on the impact of inequalities and social disadvantage on the health of individuals and communities.
Problem solving	Apply theoretical constructs and critical analysis to real-world and ill-defined problems and develop innovative health promotion solutions with creativity. Analyse and develop strategies to promote health. Assess the health status of communities and evaluate intervention processes and outcomes using appropriate analytical and research methods.
Self-management	Apply knowledge and skills in creative ways to new situations in professional practice and/or further learning in the field of health promotion with adaptability, autonomy, responsibility and personal accountability for actions as a practitioner and a learner. Reflect upon and critique skills developed and plan for their own future continuing professional development.
Teamwork	Apply teamwork, leadership and management skills and principles to work effectively in a team environment and with others from a range of disciplines and backgrounds.
Global citizenship	Apply the highest ethical standards in the development, design, construction and management of health promotion programs and activities.

Course rules

To complete the Graduate Diploma of Health Promotion students must attain 8 credit points comprising seven 1-credit-point core units (these are compulsory) and one credit point elective unit.

The elective unit is selected from the list below. Students successfully completing the Graduate Certificate of Health Promotion (H515) may be eligible for up to 4 credit points of Recognition of Prior Learning towards this course.

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).

Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.