Graduate Certificate in Dementia
Postgraduate | TAS-DMC-GCE | 2024
Find your place in the practices and systems of dementia care
Help to improve the lives of people with dementia and support their families and the community. Explore health science aspects and social issues. Begin to understand relevant neurobiology. Study public health policies and systems.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Applications close
- 7 July 2024
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 6 months full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 4
- Price from
- $4,950
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
- CSP available
- Yes
Graduate Certificate in Dementia
About this degree
Upon successful completion of this program, students should be able to:
- Draw on their body of knowledge and the perspectives and personal experiences of people with dementia and their carers, neuroscience, public health, clinical processes, health care systems, and social care systems to design solutions to problems that are context appropriate.
- Analyse and evaluate strategies, systems and practices aimed at improving the lives of people with dementia and their carers in communities, health systems and social care systems.
- Relate a wide range of local and global perspectives on dementia to local and specific contexts, applicable to individuals, organisations, governments and communities.
- Engage with a global community of learners in dementia to share knowledge and perspectives.
- Effectively communicate knowledge on dementia, care and prevention, in a variety of contexts.
- Demonstrate consideration of the lived experience of people with dementia and their carers when evaluating practices and policies.
- Approach issues of dementia care and prevention in a legally, ethically, socially and culturally responsible manner.
Be at the forefront of innovation to address dementia, the major health and social issue of the 21st century
The Graduate Certificate in Dementia offers a cross-disciplinary understanding of dementia and its impact on individuals, societies and governments. Graduates will possess a range of knowledge and perspectives to inform their professional and personal support for the needs of people with dementia. As expectations increase around person-centred care, and decision making informed by a deep knowledge of dementia, a variety of opportunities may become available for those with postgraduate qualifications in dementia.
Program objectives
The rising prevalence of dementia is creating new challenges and a pressing need for change in the way our systems and practices support people who live with dementia. This program will equip you with the expertise to lead transformation, based on the latest evidence.
Program information:
- Fully online and flexible with modular content suitable for a wide variety of study approaches
- Easy to navigate and accessible across a range of devices
- Personal perspectives highlighted in assessments linking acquired knowledge to individual contexts.
- Relevant and up-to-date program information
Recommended study pattern
For students undertaking full-time study the following study pattern is recommended. If students are undertaking part-time study, we recommend that students complete all first year compulsory subjects prior to completing elective subjects to maximise success.
Completion of 4 core subjects from the schedule below:
- TAS-CAD501 Health and Social Care in Dementia 1
- TAS-CAD502 Neurobiology of Dementia 1
- TAS-CAD503 Policies and Systems in Dementia 1
- TAS-CAD504 Community and Public Health Approaches to Dementia 1
Award requirements
Satisfactory completion of 4 subjects, as required in the schedule, within 0.5-2 years from commencement.
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
Wherever you are, the University of Tasmania brings its island campus to you through a growing range of online programs across art and design, business, education, health, science, sustainability, technology, and more. It’s never too late to switch things up. Kickstart that career you’ve been dreaming about, or upskill for the one you’re in. You’ll also become a part of the world's leading university on climate action.
Learn more about UTAS.
Explore UTAS courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 20
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 19
Entry requirements
- A Bachelor degree in a health discipline, social work or psychology (AQF7/equivalent from a recognised institution);
- A Bachelor degree (AQF7 equivalent) in another field; PLUS
- EITHER a year of full time (equivalent) work experience in dementia/aged care, neurobiology, heath systems/services or public health, OR successful prior completion of four subjects from the Diploma of Dementia Care (M1D)
We recommend that candidates complete the Understanding Dementia Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) prior to enrolment if their previous degree is not related to dementia.
The University of Tasmania grants credit and recognition of prior learning that may include formal and/or informal prior learning. More information is available here.
Career opportunities
Depending on your background and experience, career opportunities may include:
- Leadership roles in the health, community or aged care sector
- Designing and implementing dementia-related policy in the public or private sector
- Senior clinical roles and clinical leadership (for students with a health-professional background), driving evidence-based practice and clinical redesign
- Advocacy or advisory roles in the health, community or aged care sector
Career outlook
- Aged and Disabled Carers:
- $60K to $74K
- Health and Welfare Services Managers:
- Over $120K
- Welfare, Recreation and Community Arts Workers:
- $75K to $93K
Degree FAQs
That's up to you! Because we let you choose when to study online, you can actually pick up and pause study when it suits you. Many universities have a set time you need to complete your degree within. For some this is up to 10 years, and for others there is no limit.
There are some degrees that are stricter about when you can take breaks, and about how many years you can take to complete your degree. Please always check with your uni what the limits are.
As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.
If you're studying with Macquarie University, with the exception of certain degrees, there's no limit to how long you can take. But, please check with Macquarie Student Administration to be sure.
If you're studying with the University of Adelaide, you have up to 9 years to complete your undergraduate degree and graduate.
If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.
Through OUA, you can study all year round, so it's possible to fast-track and finish up sooner than studying at a traditional uni would allow. That said, you need to spend around 12 hours a week on each undergraduate subject you do, so taking on extra work to finish ahead of time can be challenging.
You may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government, depending on your citizenship status and where you'll be living during your studies. You can also pay upfront with your credit card.
Payment options are explained in Fees, and you can contact a student advisor for more information.
You might find learning through OUA a little different to how you've studied in the past. It can take time to develop the skills you need for independent online study.
We connect you with subjects and degrees that are taught by leading Australian universities. You can complete single subjects, or follow a degree structure to work towards a specific qualification. Subjects are offered in several study terms throughout the year, so you can choose to study part-time or full-time, continuously or with breaks.
We help you find the subjects or degree that's right for you, and we handle your enrolment in uni and some administration. Your uni sends you your study materials and deals with all academic matters. They're also in charge of your assessment and graduation. If you go on to complete a degree, you'll graduate from the uni offering your degree, for example, RMIT University or Griffith University.
Before starting an enrolment, it's important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you're eligible to apply. If you don't quite meet the requirements, we can help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study. Chat with us to find out more.
Our close of enrolment times vary. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting Key dates.
There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.
You can enrol without entry requirements
We have a unique open-door policy that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don't meet the entry requirements for a degree, we'll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there.
You have total control over how you study
Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We'll introduce you to flexible study options you didn't even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.
You'll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
Once you enrol through us, you'll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you'll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.
We'll help you navigate the university world
Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.
Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.
When you've made your choice, click 'Apply now' on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We'll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to us and we'll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.