Graduate Diploma of Health Promotion
2025 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2025 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Graduate Diploma of Health Promotion |
| Deakin course code | H615 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Health |
| Campus | Offered at Burwood (Melbourne) |
| Online | Yes |
| Duration | 1 year full-time or part-time equivalent |
| 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 | 018317J Burwood (Melbourne) |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8 |
Course structure applies for students who commenced in 2024 onwards. | |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Indicative student workload
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Mandatory student checks
- Pathways
- Alternative exits
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Fees and charges
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 will 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 will 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 lectures, 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 (AHPA) and the International Union of Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE).
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)
Alternative exits
| Graduate Certificate of Health Promotion (H515) |
Course Learning Outcomes
| Deakin 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:
|
| 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 pass 8 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
- 7 credit points of core units
- 1 credit point of course electives
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.
Course structure
Core units
Trimester 1
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points) |
| HSH703 | Health Promotion |
| HSH704 | Health Communication |
| HSH715 | Qualitative Health Research |
Plus one elective credit point
Trimester 2
| HSH705 | Needs Assessment and Health Program Planning |
| HSH725 | Research Literacy |
| HSH728 | Health Equity and Human Rights |
| HSH745 | Health Program Evaluation |
Elective unit options
| HSH701 | Principles and Practice of Public Health |
| HSH702 | Contemporary Health Issues and Policies |
| HSH712 | Alcohol, Tobacco, and other Drugs |
| HSH717 | Health Economics 1 |
| HSH719 | Economic Evaluation 1 |
| HSH736 | Community Consultation and Participation |
| HSH744 | Epidemiology 1 |
| HSH746 | Biostatistics 1 |
| HSH747 | Biostatistics 2 |
| HSH760 | International Perspectives in Health and Social Development (requires application and interview) |
| HSH769 | Comparative Health Systems |
| HMF701 | Agricultural Health and Medicine |
| HSN701 | Principles of Nutrition |
| HSN702 | Lifespan Nutrition |
| HSN706 | Policy and Practice for Healthy and Sustainable Food Systems |
Work experience
Students will undertake work integrated assessment tasks in several core and elective units.
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.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.