Associate Degree in Applied Health and Community Support

Upon successful completion of this program, students should be able to:

1. Engage in strength-based collaborations with individuals, families, service providers and communities to promote positive health and wellbeing outcomes.
2. Explain and apply health, wellbeing and cultural awareness principles and practices when working with diverse groups, organisations and contexts.
3. Evaluate and communicate evidence and data to inform service planning, delivery and improvement.
4. Use reflection, communication, leadership and problem-solving skills to guide planning and decision-making.
5. Analyse and apply service structures, standards, innovations and technologies for sustainability and continuous quality improvement.

Graduation from the Associate Degree in Applied Health and Community Support can provide an entry opportunity for those who are interested in a career in the health and community service sectors with or without prior experience. It will also provide an opportunity to accelerate progression and/or promotion within a graduate’s current organisation, or open up new career paths and opportunities.

Potential career opportunities exist in the voluntary, private, not-for-profit, non-government and/or government sectors in health and community services. Roles include team leaders, coordinators, supervisors, service managers, coaches, service navigators and community development/engagement officers.

Opportunities also exist for graduates to work in direct service roles such as physical health workers, rural health workers and mental health workers or to become service brokers, service planners, project managers, project officers, consultants and administrators, or to pursue roles in occupational, corporate or community health and wellbeing.

Electives offered within this degree provide opportunities for further knowledge expansion and skills development in health, business and/or community development.

Higher education via OUA

Successful completion of one OUA open access subject of study at the equivalent AQF level, unless otherwise specified

Higher education

• Partially completed an undergraduate program at Diploma level or higher (or equivalent). You must have completed at least one subject of study (equivalent to 12.5 UTAS credit points), at 100 level or higher and which may include 100 level subjects completed in the UTAS Diploma of University Studies. If you have failed any subjects, your application may be subject to further review before an offer is made; OR
• Completed the UTAS University Preparation Program (or an equivalent qualification offered by an Australian University).

Secondary education

Completed the TCE or an equivalent qualification

VET studies

Successful completion of Certificate III or higher (or equivalent) in any discipline

Work and Life

Applicants without senior secondary, tertiary or VET / TAFE study can complete a personal competency statement.

Applicants may be eligible for an offer if they have relevant work and / or life experiences which demonstrate a capacity to succeed in this program.

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.

Working with people, you’ll have a real impact on people’s daily lives, with meaningful and fulfilling work. By studying the Associate Degree in Applied Health and Community Support you’ll gain a practical qualification that will set you up in a rewarding career for life.

This program has been designed to help you start or accelerate your career in the health and community services sector. You will learn the knowledge and skills required to support the delivery of quality health and community services. You’ll also learn essential skills for career advancement such as leadership, management and communication. Developed in consultation with the health and community service sectors, this program will address significant changes in service models and consumer expectation. This program has also been developed to meet the projected increases in role complexity and workforce demands in these sectors.

This program 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 and 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. 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 program 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:

• 3 Core subjects:
  • TAS-ZAC101 Supporting People and Diversity
  • TAS-ZAC102 Foundations of Health and Wellbeing
  • TAS-ZAC103 Contemporary Support in Health and Community Services
• Core Option: choose 1 of the following subjects
  • TAS-ZAC104 Promoting Health and Wellbeing
  • TAS-ZPP101 Professional Skills in Practice
• 2 Subjects from the Support Systems and Services 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

 8 subjects in second year including:

• 4 Core subjects:
  • TAS-ZAC201 Community Health and Wellbeing
  • TAS-ZAC202 Change, Resilience and Sustainability
  • TAS-ZAC204 Empowering Your Career in Health and Community Services
  • TAS-ZAC209 Building Cultural Capability in Health and Community Services
• 2 Subjects from the Support Systems and Services stream
  • TAS-ZAC207 Mental Health and Wellbeing
  • TAS-ZAC208 Contemporary Disability Practice
• 2 UTAS electives 

Award Requirements

Satisfactory completion of 16 subjects, as required in the schedule, within 2-5 years from commencement.