Master of Health Service Management

The MHSM is designed for those interested in pursuing a significant management or administrative role in the private or public health sectors. Successful completion of the MHSM provides graduates with a substantial background in relevant health service management theory, research and practice that should enhance their ability to plan and manage successfully in an increasingly complex national and international sector, and within the framework of societal values.

Professional recognition

The Master of Health Service Management is recognised by the Royal Australian College of Medical Administrators (RACMA).

Higher education

For admission to this degree you need to have:

• a) an Australian Bachelor degree or equivalent level standard in any other institution majoring in a management and/or health related discipline and employment within the health sector; OR
• b) an Australian post-Bachelor degree (Honours, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Master, or Doctorate) or equivalent level standard in any other institution in any discipline and employment in the health sector; OR
• c) an Australian Bachelor degree or equivalent level standard in any other institution in an unrelated discipline and a minimum of two years relevant work experience in the health sector.

Successfully completed equivalent postgraduate units in other courses at the University of Tasmania or another approved tertiary institution may be credited towards the degree. Credit is also available for some qualifications attained through professional bodies such as Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators, where these have been assessed as equivalent to postgraduate study. Application for credit should be made at the time of application for admission.

The Master of Health Service Management is an advanced course of study designed to provide management professionals from both the public and private health sectors with training focused on issues of contemporary professional management practice. Some of Australia's leading senior health service executives teach into the units. Students are therefore exposed to a level of unparalleled experience and real-world case-studies.

This degree is offered only on a part-time basis (12 units over 2 to 3 years). The course is full fee-paying, which means that you will be charged at the full fee-paying rate listed for each unit.

All units are delivered primarily off campus (by distance), with non-mandatory, supporting intensive seminars in Sydney (approximately 6-10 days of intensives per year).

Recommended Study Pattern

• The Master of Health Service Management consists of eight core units, plus four units in your chosen area of specialisation.

Core Units

• BAA751 - Evidence Informed Decision Making
• BAA753 - Health Ethics, Law and Governance
• BAA754 - Health Finance, Economics and Accounting
• BAA756 - Healthcare Systems, Safety and Quality
• BAA758 - Leading and Managing Healthcare Organisations
• BAA722 - Research Methods in Health Management
• BAA737 - Health Management Research Plan
• BAA738 - Health Management Research Thesis

Specialisations (choose one)

Information Management
Understanding and working with health data and information is increasingly becoming an essential skill for health service managers. The purpose of this specialisation is to equip managers with knowledge and skills in the areas of health data and information, data analytics, information governance, and an introduction to health informatics. 

Students take these three units:

• BAA760 - Health Ontologies, Terminologies, and Classifications
• BAA735 - Health Data and Information Analysis
• BAA759 - Information Governance in Health

Plus one elective*, which may include one of the following:

• BAA607 - Safety in Health Service Management
• BAA608 - Clinical Documentation Improvement
• BAA753 - Health Ethics, Law and Governance
• BAA757 - Implementing Health Management Praxis
• CRH503 - E-health Privacy and Security Issues

Organisational Development Specialisation
The management and development of a healthcare organisation is recognised as critical to high patient quality care. The purpose of this specialisation is to integrate traditional management theory with current and emerging practices in healthcare. The benefits and challenges of knowledge translation, that is translating theory into practice, will be a priority.

Students will take these two units:

• BAA755 - Healthcare Organisational Behaviour
• BAA757 - Implementing Health Management Praxis

Plus two electives*, which may include the following options:

• BAA760 - Health Ontologies, Terminologies, and Classifications
• BAA759 - Information Governance in Health
• BMA583 - Managing People and the Employment Relationship
• BMA701 - Leadership and Change Management
• JNB514 - Transformational Leadership

Integrated Care
Integrated care is an ongoing strategic agenda in Australian healthcare, with all States and Territories facing similar challenges with integrating services. The purpose of this specialisation is to examine and evaluate integrated care models and their suitability for different healthcare contexts.
Students will take these two units:

• BAA750 - Delivering Integrated Care
• BAA752 - Foundations of Integrated Care

Plus two electives*, which may include the following:

• CAM530 - Systems Thinking in Public Health
• BAA607 - Safety in Health Service Management
• BAA608 - Clinical Documentation Improvement 
• BAA757 - Implementing Health Management Praxis
• CRH505 - Electronic Health Records

Safety and Quality
Safety and quality are recognised as issues central to executives and managers, as well as frontline clinicians. The purpose of this specialisation is to address structural arrangements in healthcare, accountability and transparency issues, and organisational governance requirements.

Students will complete these two units:

• BAA607 - Safety in Health Service Management
• BAA755 - Healthcare Organisational Behaviour

Plus two electives*, which may include the following:

• CAM621 - Risk Management and Governance
• CNA421 - Developing and Implementing 'Quality' Policy
• BAA753 - Health Ethics, Law and Governance
• BAA725 - Leadership in the Health Sector
• BAA608 - Clinical Documentation Improvement

*For a full list of elective options for each Specialisation, please visit see the course listing on the University of Tasmania website.

Award Requirements

To successfully complete this degree, students complete a total of 12 units - eight core units and four units in a chosen area of specialisation.