Associate Degree in Applied Health and Community Support

Graduate attributes and course outcomes

The Associate Degree in Applied Health and Community Support will build your capacity to relate to, engage with, and support people in a multitude of ways. The graduate attributes image above represents the spectrum of roles and relationships that will be explored and developed, starting with ‘self’ and the individuals and families you support, and building over the duration of the course to consider broader engagement with communities, service providers and governing bodies. The primary outcomes of the course are to support you to: empower people and families to live well, and to build healthy and inclusive communities.

Career Options

• Team leader
• Service coordinator/supervisor
• Service navigator
• Service broker
• Practice coach/mentor
• Community development/engagement officer
• Service planner
• Service consultant
• Case manager
• Project manager/ project officer
• Rural health worker

Higher education

Completed at least one undergraduate unit (equivalent to 12.5 UTAS credit points).

Secondary education

Completed the TCE (or equivalent)

VET studies

A completed VET Certificate III or higher

Work and Life

If you have not successfully completed senior secondary, tertiary or TAFE/VET study, but have relevant work and life experience you can complete a personal competency statement. You may be eligible for an offer if you have work and life experiences that demonstrate a capacity to succeed in this course.

If your ability to access or participate in education has been affected by circumstances beyond your control, you can apply for special consideration as part of your application. We will consider a range of factors for special consideration, including economic hardship, a serious medical condition or disability.

We can only approve applications for special consideration where we are confident that you have the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in your studies. If your application is not approved, the UTAS admissions team will work with you to find the best alternative pathway to your chosen course.

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.

The Associate Degree in Applied Health and Community Support has been developed in consultation with the health, disability, mental health, aged care, social and community service sectors to address significant changes in service models and consumer expectation. The course has also been developed to meet the projected increases in role complexity and workforce demands in these sectors.

This course is suited to school leavers pursuing a career in the health, social or community service sectors or those seeking an alternative career choice in health, disability, mental health, aged care or community services. Individuals with vocational qualifications or relevant experience may undertake the course to upskill into roles with additional functional requirements and higher levels of responsibility, and/or to acquire a formal University qualification.

The Associate Degree in Applied Health and Community Support has a focus on applied learning opportunities including working with sector leaders, service consumers, organisations, individuals and communities.

Delivered through on-line learning, flexible tutorials, face-to-face workshops, authentic case studies, individual and community projects, the program is available for full-time and part-time students across all campuses in Tasmania.. Sector experts and service consumers will be actively involved in the development and delivery of the program to ensure that it remains relevant and up-to-date. The development of a professional portfolio over the duration of the course will enable graduates to reflect upon their learning and provide evidence of their capabilities for potential career opportunities.

On completion of an Associate Degree in Applied Health and Community Support, graduates are provided with:

• an entry point to a career in the health, social and community service sectors;
• an opportunity to accelerate progression within a current job;
• an opportunity for promotion to a new role;
• an opportunity to open up a new career path; or
• articulation into further study at the University of Tasmania.

Recommended Study Pattern

For students undertaking full-time study the following study pattern is recommended.

Year 1. 8 subjects in first year including:

• 4 Core subjects:
  • TAS-ZAC101 Respecting the Individual and their Context
  • TAS-ZAC102 Exploring Health and Wellbeing
  • TAS-ZAC103 Principles of Individualised Support
  • TAS-ZAC104 Applying Health and Wellbeing in Practice
• 4 subjects from the following streams
  • Business
  • Support Systems and Services

Year 2. 8 subjects in the second year:

• 4 Core subjects:
  • TAS-ZAC201 Engaging Communities in Health and Wellbeing
  • TAS-ZAC202 Organising for Change and Sustainability
  • TAS-ZAC204 Empowering Your Career in Health and Community Services
  • TAS-ZAC209 Building Cultural Capability in Health and Community Services
• 4 subjects from the following streams
  • Business
  • Support Systems and Services

Award Requirements

Satisfactory completion of 12 subjects, as required in the schedule, within 2-5 years from commencement.

Choose your subjects

Majors

For students undertaking full-time study the following study pattern is recommended for each stream:

Business Stream

Year 1. 

• 2 subjects from stream:
  • TAS-ZAC107 Business Principles and Practices in Health and Community Services
  • TAS-ZAC108 Leading and Managing People and Teams
• 2 UTAS electives

Year 2. 

• 2 subjects from stream:
  • TAS-ZAC203 Applied Health and Community Support Project

and

• TAS-ZAA140 Lean Thinking OR, TAS-ZAA233 Managing Projects
• 2 UTAS electives

Support Systems and Services Stream

Year 1. 

• 2 subjects from stream:
  • TAS-ZAC105 Health and Community Services in Australia
  • TAS-ZAC106 Quality Systems and Practice in Health and Community Services
• 2 UTAS electives

Year 2. 

• 2 subjects from stream:
  • TAS-ZAC207 Complex Challenges to Mental Health and Wellbeing
  • TAS-ZAC208 Contemporary Disability Practice
• 2 UTAS electives