Master of Health Care Management

Upon the successful completion of this degree students will be able to:

1. define a body of knowledge that includes recent and contemporary developments in Health Care Management, Quality, Safety and Leadership
2. analyse critically all available information to demonstrate theoretical and practical knowledge and to reflect on theory, professional practice and scholarship
3. display effective communication skills and technical research skills to evaluate and synthesise complex information and to justify and interpret theoretical propositions, methodologies, conclusions and professional decisions to specialist and non-specialist stakeholders
4. apply initiative to situations in a work setting and/or for further learning
5. display the capability to operate with a high degree of personal autonomy and accountability
6. design a plan and execute a research-based project, and /or related piece of scholarship communicating the project findings

Enhanced quality, safety and management skills acquired will position students to meet consumer expectations of the healthcare system and to fulfil industry demand for increased middle management skills, mentoring, supervision and coaching skills in order to enhance the quality of services. Positions such as Accreditation Coordinator, Quality Manager, Quality and Risk Manager are essential within health services, particularly the private and aged care sectors, for their accreditation. Successful completion of this degree will put graduates in a favourable position to fill such roles.

Higher education

Completion of a Bachelor degree (AQF Level 7) or equivalent in a health discipline.

Work and Life

Preparation for the degree through previous study or professional experiences will be considered on a case-by-case basis. 

English Proficiency Requirements

Equivalent of an Academic IELTS overall score of 6.0 with no band less than 6.0.

Special requirements

Access to adequate library resources and to the Internet is essential for external students.

*** Proof of citizenship is not required for admission; however, it is required for access to Higher Education Loan Programs (HELP). Please upload a scanned copy of your birth certificate or Australian passport or citizenship certificate along with your application. 

Find out if you are eligible and apply at https://www.murdoch.edu.au/study/courses/undergraduate-courses/recognition-of-prior-learning.

This course aims to cultivate excellence in quality, leadership and management in health professionals working in Quality, Safety, Risk and Middle Management roles in acute, community, mental health, primary and aged care public and private sectors. Students will, on completion of the course, have the capacity and capability of applying these skills in a range of management positions and become leaders and champions of change. Innovative and creative elective units are designed to allow different disciplines to focus on their areas of speciality. Advanced Standing: Up to 12 credit points of advanced standing is available to students who have completed a Level 8 Graduate Certificate or a Bachelors degree with Honours.

Recommended Study Pattern

• There are 9 subjects in Semester 1 and 8 subjects in Semester 2. Students can enrol into their preferred subjects except for two, i.e., SHP603 & SHP604.
• SHP 632 the research methods subjects is a pre-requisite to undertaking the year-long research project subjects SHP 603. Students at Murdoch University are unable to self-enrol in SHP 603 as enrolment must be via review by the Academic Chair to check that they have successfully completed SHP 632.
• SHP 511, the leadership subject is also the pre-requisite for SHP 604 the Reflective Practice subjects

Award Requirements

To qualify for the award of Master of Health Care Management students must complete the following ten (10) core subjects:

• SHP501 Safety and Quality in Health Care
• SHP612 Managing in a Health Care Environment
• SHP511 Leadership in Health Care
• SHP632 Applied Health Research Methods: From Research to Practice
• SHP603 Applied Health Services Project (double eftsl subject)
• SHP602 Human Factors: The Impact on Patient Safety
• SHP510 Bioethics and Law for Health Care Leadership
• SHP639 Financial Management in Health Care
• SHP541 Health Policy in an Australian Context
• SHP604 Reflective Practice in Health Management

and one (1) of the following specified elective subjects:

• EDU616 Teaching, Learning and Working in Culturally Diverse Environments
• SHP641 Clinical Governance

Exit Points

Graduate Certificate in Health Care Management (comprising of 4 core subjects)