Graduate Diploma in Disability Practice

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.

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

Work and Life

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.

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