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Graduate Diploma in Disability Practice
PostgraduateLAT-DIS-GDI2020
Course information for 2020 intake
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Credit available
- Yes
- Total subjects
- 8
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
Graduate Diploma in Disability Practice
About this degree
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 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
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative total fee $25,400
The amount shown here is 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.
The third university established in Victoria, La Trobe University has a diverse community of more than 38,000 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.
Learn more about La Trobe University.
Explore La Trobe courses.
- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 17
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 15
Entry requirements
This is a restricted degree. Subject enrolment is only available to students admitted into this degree.
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.
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
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.
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.
Career opportunities
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.
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
| Role | Earnings | Employment change |
|---|---|---|
| Health and Welfare Services Managers | Over $120K | Up 56.6% |
| Occupational and Environmental Health Professionals | $93K to $120K | Up 31.7% |
| Social Workers | $75K to $93K | Up 29.8% |
| Welfare Support Workers | $75K to $93K | Up 38.5% |
Degree FAQs
How long does it take to finish an online degree?
That's up to you! Because we let you choose when to study online, you can actually pick up and pause study when it suits you. Many universities have a set time you need to complete your degree within. For some this is up to 10 years, and for others there is no limit.
There are some degrees that are stricter about when you can take breaks, and about how many years you can take to complete your degree. Please always check with your uni what the limits are.
As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.
If you're studying with Macquarie University, with the exception of certain degrees, there's no limit to how long you can take. But, please check with Macquarie Student Administration to be sure.
If you're studying with the University of Adelaide, you have up to 9 years to complete your undergraduate degree and graduate.
If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.
Through OUA, you can study all year round, so it's possible to fast-track and finish up sooner than studying at a traditional uni would allow. That said, you need to spend around 12 hours a week on each undergraduate subject you do, so taking on extra work to finish ahead of time can be challenging.
How can I pay for my studies?
You may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government, depending on your citizenship status and where you'll be living during your studies. You can also pay upfront with your credit card.
Payment options are explained in Fees, and you can contact a student advisor for more information.
How does studying through Open Universities Australia work?
You might find learning through OUA a little different to how you've studied in the past. It can take time to develop the skills you need for independent online study.
We connect you with subjects and degrees that are taught by leading Australian universities. You can complete single subjects, or follow a degree structure to work towards a specific qualification. Subjects are offered in several study terms throughout the year, so you can choose to study part-time or full-time, continuously or with breaks.
We help you find the subjects or degree that's right for you, and we handle your enrolment in uni and some administration. Your uni sends you your study materials and deals with all academic matters. They're also in charge of your assessment and graduation. If you go on to complete a degree, you'll graduate from the uni offering your degree, for example, RMIT University or Griffith University.
How do I know if I‘m eligible to apply for a course?
Before starting an enrolment, it's important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you're eligible to apply. If you don't quite meet the requirements, we can help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study. Contact us to find out more.
When is my cut-off date for enrolment?
Our close of enrolment times vary. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting Key dates.
Why should I study online through Open Universities Australia?
There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.
You can enrol without entry requirements
We have a unique open-door policy that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don't meet the entry requirements for a degree, we'll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there.
You have total control over how you study
Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We'll introduce you to flexible study options you didn't even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.You'll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
Once you enrol through us, you'll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you'll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.We'll help you navigate the university world
Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.
How do I enrol?
Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.
When you've made your choice, click 'Apply now' on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We'll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to a student advisor and we'll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.