Graduate Diploma in Digital Health

The Graduate Diploma in Digital Health is designed so that graduates will have undertaken an appropriately sequenced and structured program of learning and development to progressively build knowledge, understanding and skills developed through the sequence of courses. This sequence incorporates a value system based on serving the common good and advancing patient centred collaborative health service delivery, supported by a range of digital technologies, and will provide knowledge, understanding and skills of immediate applicability to practice, health service management and leadership, health data science, research, health policy, and the health information technologies industry, in a manner that is professional and ethical. Moreover, the sequence of courses has a strong focus on health data that underpins and integrates three topics, Health Administration and Leadership, Data Science and Information Technology. Problem solving and self-management skills are developed to promote independent learning and thinking, and to encourage further self-directed learning.

The overall aim is to ensure that students are able to build on their prior disciplinary knowledge, understanding and skills necessary to progress to a digital health generalist within the context of any aspect within the multidisciplinary health industry and its culture with the aim of promoting digital health adoption and optimum use of available technologies in a way that is ethical and characterised by a concern for respect, equity and social justice. The knowledge, understanding and skills developed will be career- and industry-relevant with respect to employment opportunities within either the Health IT or Health industries both in Australia and Internationally. 

The Graduate Diploma in Digital Health is designed to ensure its graduates will have advanced knowledge and understanding of health industry relevant concepts, significant relevant specialised skills, and research-led practice in the areas of health data standards, data science, data information management and digital health service delivery. 

Graduates of the Graduate Diploma in Digital Health should be able to:

1. Demonstrate advanced knowledge and skills required for the collection, transfer, linkage, analysis, interpretation and reporting of meaningful data required for use at various levels within a local digital health ecosystem and for use with advanced technologies and techniques;
2. Critically evaluate the use of data standards and data integrity when used for health data exchange purposes within a local digital health ecosystem;
3. Design and deliver the development of strategic planning for future selection and adoption of various digital health technologies;
4. Design and deliver strategies that promotes the adoption of patient centred, collaborative and multidisciplinary and ethical digital health support services.

The Graduate Diploma in Digital Health helps health and IT professionals acquire advanced knowledge and skills in interpreting meaningful health data, and foundational knowledge in digital health ecosystems to influence strategic direction that greatly benefits health care.

The diploma will prepare you to collect, transfer, link, analyse, interpret, and report meaningful data within a local digital health ecosystem for the use of advanced technologies and techniques. You’ll also evaluate the use of data standards and data integrity when used for health data exchange. The ethical underpinnings of the course will lead to the development of humanistic and ethical strategic directions for digital health technologies.

Recommended study pattern

Students admitted with a Bachelor degree in Health or in any other field of study:

Pathway 1 (80 cp)

To qualify for the Graduate Diploma in Digital Health, a student must complete 80 cp from the Schedule of Health and IT Unit Offerings, consisting of:

At least 30 cp from Health Units

At least 30 cp from IT Units

20 cp from Elective units

Health Units - select from:

• HLSC505 Health Data Fundamentals (10cp)
• HLSC506 Strategic Management in Digital Health Service Delivery (10cp)
• HLSC674 Electronic Health Records, Health Data Exchange and Standards (10cp)
• HLSC675 Health Knowledge Management (10cp)
• PHIL519 Ethical Practice in Digital Health (10cp)

Information Technology Units - select from:

• ITEC610 Python Fundamentals for Data Science (10cp)
• ITEC613 Introduction to Data Science and Machine Learning (10cp)
• ITEC615 Fundamentals of Information Technology (10cp)
• ITEC617 Data Information and Management (10cp)
• ITEC618 Programming Concepts (10cp)

Elective Units - select from:

• HLSC603 Organisational Culture and Management (10cp)
• HLSC604 Quality and Safety in Health Care (10cp)
• HLSC605 Leadership in Health Care (10cp)
• HLSC606 Workforce Management (10cp)
• HLSC607 Policy and Planning in Health Care (10cp)
• HLSC660 Redesign in Health Service Delivery (10cp)
• HLSC661 Facilitative Leadership, Coaching and Mentoring (10cp)
• ITEC622 Data Analytics and Visualisation (10cp)
• ITEC623 Essentials of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (10cp)
• ITEC624 Network Security and Applications (10cp)
• ITEC627 Advanced Programming Concepts (10cp)
• ITEC632 Applied Data Mining (10cp)

Students admitted with a Bachelor degree in Information Technology:

Pathway 2 (80 cp)  

To qualify for the Graduate Diploma in Digital Health, a student must complete 80 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings, consisting of: 

50 cp from Health Units

10 cp from ITEC613 Introduction to data science

20 cp from Elective units

Health Units - select from:

• HLSC505 Health Data Fundamentals (10cp)
• HLSC506 Strategic Management in Digital Health Service Delivery (10cp)
• HLSC674 Electronic Health Records, Health Data Exchange and Standards (10cp)
• HLSC675 Health Knowledge Management (10cp)
• PHIL519 Ethical Practice in Digital Health (10cp)

Information Technology Units - select from:

• ITEC610 Python Fundamentals for Data Science (10cp)
• ITEC613 Introduction to Data Science and Machine Learning (10cp)
• ITEC615 Fundamentals of Information Technology (10cp)
• ITEC617 Data Information and Management (10cp)
• ITEC618 Programming Concepts (10cp)

Elective Units - select from:

• HLSC603 Organisational Culture and Management (10cp)
• HLSC604 Quality and Safety in Health Care (10cp)
• HLSC605 Leadership in Health Care (10cp)
• HLSC606 Workforce Management (10cp)
• HLSC607 Policy and Planning in Health Care (10cp)
• HLSC660 Redesign in Health Service Delivery (10cp)
• HLSC661 Facilitative Leadership, Coaching and Mentoring (10cp)
• ITEC622 Data Analytics and Visualisation (10cp)
• ITEC623 Essentials of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (10cp)
• ITEC624 Network Security and Applications (10cp)
• ITEC627 Advanced Programming Concepts (10cp)
• ITEC632 Applied Data Mining (10cp)

Award requirements

To qualify for the degree, a student must complete 80 cp from the schedule of subject offerings.

Choose your subjects

Electives

Elective Units - select 2 from:

• HLSC603 Organisational Culture and Management (10cp)
• HLSC604 Quality and Safety in Health Care (10cp)
• HLSC605 Leadership in Health Care (10cp)
• HLSC606 Workforce Management (10cp)
• HLSC607 Policy and Planning in Health Care (10cp)
• HLSC660 Redesign in Health Service Delivery (10cp)
• HLSC661 Facilitative Leadership, Coaching and Mentoring (10cp)
• ITEC622 Data Analytics and Visualisation (10cp)
• ITEC623 Essentials of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (10cp)
• ITEC624 Network Security and Applications (10cp)
• ITEC627 Advanced Programming Concepts (10cp)
• ITEC632 Applied Data Mining (10cp)

Exit points

A student from Pathway 1 who has completed 40 cp of specified units from the Schedule of Unit Offerings, including at least 10 cp from Health Units and at least 10 cp from Information Technology units, may exit with the Graduate Certificate in Digital Health. 

A student from Pathway 2 who has completed 40 cp of specified units from the Schedule of Unit Offerings, including at least 20 cp from Health Units, may exit with the Graduate Certificate in Digital Health.

Established in 1991 after amalgamating four eastern Australian Catholic tertiary institutes, Australian Catholic University now has seven campuses, from Brisbane to Melbourne and welcomes students of all beliefs. Specialising in arts, business, education, health sciences, law, theology and philosophy, ACU encourages its students to think critically and ethically and bring change to their communities and offer this online through Open Universities Australia.

Learn more about ACU.

Explore ACU courses.

QS Ranking 2024:

34

Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:

29

An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy. 

International applicants must also meet the English Language Proficiency requirements as defined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy. 

To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must have completed the following prerequisites: 

A: Bachelor degree in Health or Information Technology 

OR 

B: Bachelor degree in any other field of study

OR

C: ACU’s Graduate Certificate in Digital Health 

NOTE: Applicants having completed ACU’s Graduate Certificate in Digital Health will be eligible for recognition of prior learning of up to 40 credit points.

International English Language Testing System - Academic (IELTS): Overall score: 6.5 with an individual score of 6.0 in all tests

Pearson Test of English (PTE): 58 with a minimum of 50 in all four communicative skills

Test of English as a Foreign Language - Academic (TOEFL): Internet based total of 79 with a minimum of 21 in writing, 18 in speaking, 13 in reading and 12 in listening

ACU English Language Test: B (65-74%

Cambridge Advanced English (CAE): Overall CAE of 176 with a minimum individual score of 169 in all test areas.

If your previous study has equipped you with knowledge, skills or experiences that align with the learning outcomes of units in your new course you may be able to apply for recognition of prior learning and you may be able to complete your course sooner. Speak to your course consultant for more information or to discuss your eligibility. ACU will consider requests for advanced standing based on prior studies to a maximum equivalence of 4 subjects (40cp).