Graduate Certificate in Contemporary Care of the Older Person

At the completion of this program students will be able to:

1. Communicate specialised knowledge, concepts and skills to a variety of audiences in the field of older adult care and service delivery.
2. Apply independent decision-making skills in the analysis and evaluation of complex problems to generate innovative solutions in the context of older adult care and service delivery.
3. Demonstrate leadership skills by initiating, planning, implementing and evaluating activities in the field of older adult care and service delivery.

Suited to nurses and other health professionals wanting to develop knowledge and expertise in the care of older adults in a variety of settings.

The course aims to develop excellence in leadership, innovation and contemporary care delivery to older adults in a variety of settings (including acute care, community and residential), to meet the rapidly increasing demand for highly skilled professionals.

Recommended study pattern

As a guide, you will be required to complete the following core units:

• Clinical Leadership and Management
• Contemporary Care of the Older Person 1
• Contemporary Care of the Older Person 2.

As part of your application, you’ll be guided through how to get the right degree structure in place for you.

Award requirements

Students are required to complete 60 credit points.

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $2,350

The amounts shown here are indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.

Fees may vary depending on:

• the subjects you choose
• credit from previous work experience
• your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.

To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.

ECU is ranked one of the world’s best young universities and Australia’s best public university for teaching quality. That quality extends to more than 30,000 students, many studying online through Open Universities Australia. ECU offers the same quality of teaching to you, regardless of where you’re studying in the world. Their flexible study solutions include a huge range of online courses, recognising your need to juggle work, family or other commitments.

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QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

29

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

24

All applicants are required to have a Bachelor degree; or equivalent prior learning including at least five years relevant professional experience, and all applicants must also submit a current curriculum vitae including two professional references.

Academic admission requirements (Band 6) may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

• Bachelor degree; or
• Equivalent prior learning including at least five years relevant professional experience.

English competency requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

• IELTS Academic Overall band minimum score of 6.5 (no individual band less than 6.0);
• Bachelor degree from a country specified on the English Proficiency Bands page;
• Successfully completed 0.375 EFTSL of study at postgraduate level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent);
• Where accepted, equivalent prior learning, including at least five years relevant professional experience; or
• Other tests, courses or programs defined on the English Proficiency Bands page.

If you have completed units of study in another Postgraduate course or have relevant professional experience, you may be eligible for Credit and Recognition of Prior Learning (CRPL).

To assess your eligibility for credit, we first need you to apply for and accept an offer in your course of interest with us. You can then submit an Application for Credit and Recognition of Prior Learning via your Student Portal.