Warning! This is a restricted degree. Subject enrolment is only available to students admitted into this degree.
Available loans
Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
Total subjects
8
Price
$25,000
Study method
100% online
Assessments
100% online
Credit available
Yes
The third university established in Victoria, La Trobe University has a diverse community of more than 33,000 students and staff. Its commitment to excellence in teaching and research prepares students to make a bold and positive impact in today's global community. La Trobe provides Open Universities Australia with its core tenets, entrepreneurship and sustainability.
University ranking
Degree structure
Degree details
Upon successful completion of this degree, students should be able to:
- Design, develop and critically evaluate a select number of specialist disability interventions and programs;
- Use understanding of the lived experiences of people with disabilities and their families and other forms of knowledge to further the rights of people with disabilities through individual and systemic advocacy;
- Judge the effectiveness of various disability-related policies for a select group of people in particular professional contexts and deliver policy revisions to improve practice;
- Synthesise complex information to design and evaluate adjustments to improve accessibility and responsiveness of selected mainstream services and facilities used by people with disabilities;
- Investigate and interpret the legal and ethical challenges of people with disabilities and those who support them;
- Demonstrate the ability to work independently and as part of a team in the development, application and evaluation of person-centred support plans;
- Interpret and communicate information accurately and sensitively to specialist and non-specialist audiences in a selected range of contexts.
The disability sector is diverse and rapidly expanding. This course equips graduates with the academic knowledge required for a wide range of roles in disability, health, and human services across government, private and community service sectors.
Career objectives
La Trobe’s postgraduate disability courses will help you develop specialised knowledge and skills to solve problems, design programs and improve professional practice for people living with disabilities and their communities. This flexible online degree can be completed whether you are entering the sector, or a professional already in the field.
You will gain an in-depth understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of the industry. Drawing upon authentic scenarios, you will learn how to apply a range of skills related to leadership, management, innovation, problem solving and critical thinking.
Our course is taught by researchers from La Trobe’s Living with Disability Research Centre in collaboration with leading industry practitioners.
Higher education
The minimum entry requirement is successful completion of an Australian cognate Bachelor degree (or its equivalent).
Alternate entry requirements
Applications are also accepted from prospective students who do not meet the normal entry requirements but have either:
- Cognate or non-cognate bachelor qualification, plus the successful completion of four disability practice subjects that appear within the Graduate Certificate in Disability Practice and that have been completed within less than 8 years prior to the application. The completion of these four single subjects (60 credit points) can be credited towards this degree.
- Advanced Diploma in a disability-related field, with at least 2 years of relevant work experience.
- Non-cognate or non-Bachelor qualified students will be assessed on a case by case basis. In making an offer to an applicant, the University will give consideration to a range of factors to determine whether an applicant has demonstrated the capacity to work at a postgraduate level, including academic record, English proficiency, and/or employment experience.
Pathways into this course
Students may gain entry into this course through a large number of pathways, these include:
- Bachelor of Community Services
- Bachelor of Human Services
- Bachelor of Health Sciences
- Bachelor of Social Work
- Bachelor of Psychology
- Bachelor of Public Health
Students who apply for entry into this course from the following pathways, will be assessed on a case by case basis by the course coordinator to ensure appropriate underpinning knowledge in either of the following fields: behavioural sciences, social studies and/or human welfare studies and services:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Laws
- Bachelor of Education
English Proficiency Requirements
Demonstrated proficiency equivalent in Year 12 English.
Advanced Standing is the recognition of previous study or learning that can be counted towards a qualification. This can reduce the number of subjects required to complete your course. The amount of credit received depends on the level and relevance of your previous tertiary study and the number of subjects completed.
Visit our Advanced standing information to see if advanced standing is available for this course.
The Graduate Diploma in Disability Practice is a fully online course designed and taught by leading researchers from La Trobe University’s Living with Disability Research Centre.
The Living with Disability Research Centre is one of Australia’s preeminent research centres that specialises in the understanding and improving practice and service systems that support people with cognitive disabilities to be included in society and have a good life.
This course provides professionals from diverse employment contexts, with an opportunity to develop knowledge and skills to enhance their confidence and practice in working directly with people with disabilities and their families. It will also equip them to understand the current disability landscape at a time of significant reform and tackle disadvantage through system level change.
The Graduate Diploma in Disability Practice is structured flexibly so that students have an opportunity to customise their learning program to meet their own professional training needs. Single subject enrolment is also available.
Recommended Study Pattern
Students must complete 8 x 15 credit point subjects to satisfy the requirements of this degree, following the list of subjects from the Disability Practice curriculum as below:
- DIS501 Enhancing Social Inclusion
- DIS502 The Contemporary Disability Landscape
- DIS503 Support Planning with People with Disabilities
- DIS504 Translating Evidence into Disability Practice
- LAW500 Disability and the Law
- DIS506 Ethical Issues in Disability Practice
- DIS507 Advocacy in Contemporary Disability Practice
- DIS508 Understanding Complex and Challenging Needs
Award Requirements
To qualify for the Graduate Diploma in Disability Practice, students must complete 8 subjects.
Exit Points
On completion of 60 credit points option to exit with a Graduate Certificate in Disability Practice