Master of Health Promotion

2024 Deakin University Handbook

Year	2024 course information
Award granted	Master of Health Promotion
Deakin course code	H759
Faculty	Faculty of Health
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne)
Online	Yes
Duration	The time and cost can be reduced based on your previous qualifications and professional experience. This means you can fast track the masters degree from 2 years down to 1.5 years duration. See entry requirements below for more information.
Course Map - enrolment planning tool	These course maps are for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2024: Major Project Minor Project These course maps are for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2024: Major Project - International Students 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	069327G Burwood (Melbourne)
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9
Course structure applies to all students Mind, Society and Substance specialisation available to students that commence in 2024 onwards.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

The Master of Health Promotion gives you the skills and platform to create healthy social and ecological environments for whole populations. You will develop skills and knowledge in health program planning, evidence-based strategies, policy, advocacy and research to prevent, minimise and respond early to health issues and their underlying causes.

Want an internationally recognised qualification that opens the door to a career that builds strong and just communities?

Health promotion contributes to social change for improved health outcomes, especially for marginalised and disadvantaged communities. Preventative action saves health dollars as well as promoting wellbeing. With a Master of Health Promotion, you can be a key player in creating social and environmentally just and equitable communities. You’ll graduate with a valuable set of analytical, creative, advocacy, planning and communication skills that prepare you to lead the way in health promotion, locally and globally. Plus, the course’s practical learning opportunities ensure you’re ready for both the current and emerging health challenges of the 21^st century.

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 take control of their own health and advocate for just and equitable policies, strengthen community action and create environments that are more supportive of good health. Get hands-on practice developing these initiatives from start to finish, while gaining a deep understanding of the social, environmental, political and economic conditions that impact health. Whether you see yourself working on the prevention of violence against women, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, or promotion of positive mental health and wellbeing for youth, you will have the skills and experience to not only manage, but 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 customise your degree to your interests by choosing from a broad range of elective units. Choose from topics such as, nutrition, global health policy, environmental protection and obesity prevention to create a unique degree that takes your career further. The course also gives you the option of undertaking a major or minor project. These projects allow you to apply the knowledge and skills developed in the course to a contemporary health issue through either a critical a literature review, industry-linked project, policy proposal/review or an applied research project.

A strong focus of the course is professional development through practical experience. In particular, the course’s new work-integrated learning elective allows you to undertake 150 hours of valuable industry experience. This can be an agency-based work placement with one of our many industry partners, or agency-sponsored work based at the Deakin Freelancing Hub. These projects give you the chance to develop and apply your new skills in real-world contexts. They also allow you to work alongside leading health promotion practitioners and build professional networks that unlock new career pathways.

Our academics are renowned for their contributions to social and environmental justice, equity and the promotion of community wellbeing. Their project work and research feed into the course, ensuring content is authentic, relevant and responsive to the needs of an evolving 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 embedded in many renowned healthcare organisations, institutes and health and environmental settings across many different roles, so you will have access to the perfect mentor no matter your interests and career aspirations.

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.

Professional recognition

This course is accredited by the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE). Graduates can register with IUHPE as a registered Health Promotion Practitioner, securing you global and Australian recognition. Deakin is the first and only Victorian University to hold this accreditation.

Graduates may be eligible to apply for membership of the Australian Health Promotion Association (AHPA). All Master of Health Promotion students also have option of obtaining free membership to AHPA for the duration of their studies.

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.

Career opportunities

The health sector is Australia’s largest and fastest-growing. Contemporary health challenges such as obesity, mental health, climate change and an ageing population have increased the demand for skilled health promotion practitioners able to address the underlying social and ecological determinants of ill health and lead in the promotion of wellbeing.

With a Master of Health Promotion you can take advantage of this demand. Health promotion practitioners are employed locally and globally in all levels of government, health services, the education sector, private business and non-government, not-for-profit and community organisations. This also includes national and state-wide peak authorities such as VicHealth, the National Heart Foundation, Asthma Foundation, Gender Equity Victoria 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
advocacy
policy development
youth services
aged and disability services
women’s health
migrant, refugee and asylum seeker services

Mandatory student checks

Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a National Police Record Check, a Working with Children Check or other check. Refer the relevant unit guide.

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, 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. For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students 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 the action areas for health promotion the determinants of health (biological, behavioural and socio-environmental) the biomedical, 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 awareness of how health promotion practice is influenced, such as, ethnicity and Indigenous status, age, gender, society, culture, geography, the environment and socio-economic status.
Communication	Communicate on health promotion issues in an effective and coherent manner, attentive to the needs of the target audience. Develop effective communication skills relevant for the professional health sector.
Digital literacy	Demonstrate mastery in current technologies to discover, select, analyse, employ, evaluate, and disseminate technical and non-technical information applicable to health promotion.
Critical thinking	Demonstrate critical thinking to evaluate, using appropriate analytical and research methods, health promotion problems and solutions for individuals and communities.
Problem solving	Apply theoretical constructs and critical analysis to real-world and ill-defined problems and develop innovative health promotion solutions.
Self-management	Apply knowledge and skills in creative ways to adapt to new situations in professional practice and/or plan for further learning in the field of health promotion.
Teamwork	Work effectively within health promotion and multi-disciplinary teams with others from a range of backgrounds
Global citizenship	Apply the highest ethical standards in the development, design, construction and management of health promotion programs for Australia or elsewhere.

Course rules

To complete the Master of Health Promotion students must attain 16 credit points.

The Master of Health Promotion is typically 8, 12 or 16 credit points. The exact number of credit points you study depends on how much credit you receive as recognition of prior learning (RPL) – your professional experience and previous qualifications – which can save you time and money.

The course comprises 8 core units (these are compulsory) and 8 elective units (which must include a minor or major project).

The majority of core and elective units will be offered in online and campus mode. Some units may also be offered in block mode.

All commencing Faculty of Health Undergraduate and Postgraduate course work students are required to complete DAI001 Academic Integrity Module (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first trimester of study.

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

Course structure

Core units

DAI001

Academic Integrity Module (0 credit points)

HSH703

Health Promotion

HSH704

Health Communication

HSH705

Needs Assessment and Health Program Planning

HSH725

Research Literacy

HSH745

Health Program Evaluation

HSH702

Contemporary Health Issues and Policies

HSH715

Qualitative Health Research

HSH728

Health Equity and Human Rights

Projects and Specialisation

Students must complete a minor or major project option:

Minor Project option

HSH731

Minor Project A (1 credit point)

HSH732

Minor Project B (1 credit point)

Plus 6 electives from the Elective Unit Options table below

Major Project option

HSH733

Major Project A (2 credit points)

HSH734

Major Project B (2 credit points)

Plus 4 electives from the Elective Unit Options table below

Mind, Society and Substance specialisation (SP-H759001)

Available to student commencing in 2024 onwards

This specialisation is optional. These units are available as elective unit options in the table below or can be combined to complete this specialisation.

HPS772

Developmental Psychology (Child and Adolescent)

HPY711

Introduction to Psychology: Human Behaviour

HSH712

Alcohol, Tobacco, and other Drugs

Plus 1 unit from

HPS774

Social Psychology

HPY713

Introduction to Psychology: Individual and Social Development

Any student wishing to do both a Minor and a Major project, may do so with the permission of the course director, and will therefore only be required to complete 2 elective units from the elective unit options list below.

Other electives outside the list below may be approved on an individual basis. Course Director approval is required.

Electives

Other electives outside the list below may be approved on an individual basis. Course Director approval is required.

HPS772

Developmental Psychology (Child and Adolescent)

HPS774

Social Psychology

HPY711

Introduction to Psychology: Human Behaviour

HPY713

Introduction to Psychology: Individual and Social Development

HSH701

Principles and Practice of Public Health

HSH712

Alcohol, Tobacco, and other Drugs

HSH736

Community Consultation and Participation

HSH755

Postgraduate Health Practicum

HSH760

International Perspectives in Health and Social Development

HSH761

Health Technology Assessment 1

HSH762

Resource Allocation and Priority Setting

HSH764

Economic Evaluation - Theory and Practice

HSH769

Comparative Health Systems

HDS730

Disability and Inclusion: Contemporary Theory and Lived Experience

HDS731

Planning for Inclusion Across the Life Course

HDS732

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

HDS733

Community Capacity Building - Theory and Practice for Inclusion

HDS734

Inclusive Design and Technology

HMF701

Agricultural Health and Medicine

MPE781

Economics for Managers

MMM710

Emerging Issues in International Operations

HSN701

Principles of Nutrition

HSN702

Lifespan Nutrition

HSN705

Public Health Nutrition

HSN706

Policy and Practice for Healthy and Sustainable Food Systems

HSN708

Nutrition Promotion

HSN713

Food, Nutrition and Behaviour

HSN714

Systems Thinking in Public Health Nutrition

HSN734

Obesity Prevention

HSN738

International Nutrition

AHL701

The Humanitarian World

AHA722

Program Design

AHL705

Management of Humanitarian Health Programs

AHA721

Humanitarian Knowledge and Principles

AHA724

Disaster Risk Reduction and Community Led Recovery

Work experience

Students will undertake work integrated assessment tasks in several core and elective units. All students also undertake a capstone minor or major project.

Other learning experiences

Internships are also available to students with WAM 70 and above.

Other course information

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.

Further information

Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.

Contact Student Central

Research and research-related study

Research related study is undertaken in core units: HSH725 Research Literacy for Health Practice, HSH715 Qualitative Health Research, HSH731 Minor Project A and HSH732 Minor Project 2 (1 credit point each). Students can also elect to undertake HSH733 Major Project A and HSH734 Major Project B (2 credit points each). Research is also embedded in most core units and electives. These unit selections allow you to apply to undertake further study such as a PhD.