Graduate Certificate in Health Leadership
Course code: GC-HTHLEAD
February, July
AUD $20,496 (2026 indicative first year fee). Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) are not available
February, July
AUD $20,992 (2026 indicative first year fee)
IELTS 6.5: with no band less than 6.0
Course structure
Overview
In this course you will benefit from formal education in leadership with subject content grounded in evidence-based practice produced by leadership scholars and implemented by leaders within healthcare organisations.
Critically examine the structural organisation and governance of healthcare in Australia and refine your understanding of the interrelationships between organisational and clinical aspects of care.
Develop your knowledge base and advanced competencies through interactive facilitator presentations, asynchronous online learning, group exercises and team discussions, and valuable training with experts in the healthcare landscape.
You will apply this learning directly in your own professional contexts to enhance quality of care and service delivery in accordance with industry standards both for today and in the future.
In this course you will:
- Learn how to lead productive cross-functional teams and collaborate effectively.
- Enhance your management and coaching competencies in a clinical environment.
- Learn how to leverage funding within the healthcare system and enhance the financial performance of healthcare organisations.
- Develop your expertise in financial and managerial accounting within a healthcare context.
- Refine your negotiating and conflict resolution skills.
- Learn from health profession leaders who will share their leadership challenges and proven solutions.
- Advance your understanding of health workforce development and resources management, considering the requirements of an ever-evolving healthcare landscape
Course Structure
Designed to be taken over one year, the Graduate Certificate in Health Leadership comprises four core subjects, delivered over twelve days of synchronous, on campus sessions, and combined with a suite of asynchronous online resources and discussion-boards.
To gain the qualification, you must complete all four core subjects.
Sample course plan
View some sample course plans to help you select subjects that will meet the requirements for this coursework.
Graduate Certificate in Health Leadership Sample course plan
50 point program
Year 1
50 pts
Explore this course
Explore the subjects you could choose as part of this degree.
Students must complete the following subjects:
| Accordion | |
|---|---|
| Leadership in Clinical Settings · 12.5 pts |
The healthcare system requires leaders, and many clinicians anticipate taking on leadership positions, or find themselves in leadership roles, without any formal education in leadership. This can have negative consequences for the leader, colleagues, patients and healthcare organisations. The purpose of this subject is to provide clinical leaders (and aspiring leaders) with knowledge of leadership practices and the opportunity to implement this learning and acquire new skills. Subject content will be grounded in evidence-based knowledge produced by leadership scholars and practiced by leaders within healthcare organisations. Topics covered will include:
Teaching/learning formats include:
The informal exchange of insights and experiences among participants is a key aspect of learning. |
| Understanding Australian Healthcare · 12.5 pts |
This subject will explore the factors that influence the design and functioning of Australian healthcare systems. Firstly, it will examine the structural organisation and governance of healthcare in Australia: federal-state relations, public vs private funding and the interaction between primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare. Through examining the organisation of care within and across healthcare systems, the interrelationships between organisational and clinical aspects of care will be identified. Secondly, this subject will examine the theories and frequently used techniques of financial and managerial accounting in healthcare organisations. Critical topics such as funding models, value-based care, supply and demand factors, environmentally sustainable economic evaluations, financial statements and working capital cycle, budgeting approaches and key performance indicators, and long-term investments will be explored. |
| Leading Healthcare Change for Impact · 12.5 pts |
Today's healthcare system is multifaceted, complicated and often resistant to change. This subject will examine strategies for leading change in clinical settings and healthcare organisations. Participants will learn how to build and lead change initiatives, as well as to access resources, negotiate with others and effectively deal with obstacles as they implement their innovative programs. Topics covered will include:
Teaching/learning formats include:
The informal exchange of insights and experiences among participants is a key aspect of learning. |
| Developing Healthcare Workforces · 12.5 pts |
Healthcare in Australia is undergoing a significant transformation. Digitisation, increasing and changing service demands, evolving community and patient expectations and the challenges of maintaining appropriate levels of funding are driving a variety of innovations across the healthcare system. Healthcare organisations need to manage the transition of employees to new and different ways of working, and consider the requirements of a future workforce capable of delivering outcomes in a healthcare landscape very different to that of today. This subject examines the theoretical principles that underpin best-practice health workforce development, resources management, and the integration of functional practices and processes in systems that drive achievement of the strategic objectives of organisations both for today, and in the future. |