Leading Change in Health Services
PostgraduateACU-HLSC6622024
Course information for 2024 intake
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- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 10 weeks
- Loan available
- FEE-HELP available
Leading Change in Health Services
About this subject
On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:
LO1 Demonstrate an understanding of the significance of effective leadership and how this has an impact on achieving quality improvement in a health care setting through appraising different approaches to change
LO2 Critically analyse principles of effective governance in leading change from a national and international perspective
LO3 Apply change management and effective leadership techniques aimed at successfully leading staff through accreditation, management of a sentinel event, disaster/crisis response, or other identified change process
LO4 Create a strategic, ethically-based health service delivery plan underpinned by organisational values that has the potential to improve organisational performance
- Theoretical underpinnings
- Leading Change
- Leadership in Action
- Evaluating Change
This capstone subject builds on previous units in the course that focused on organisational culture and management (HLSC603), quality and safety in health care (HLSC604), leadership (HLSC605) and workforce management (HLSC606). These are critical aspects for effective leadership in a healthcare environment. Understanding organisational culture is essential for leading staff in managing resources for innovative practice improvement and implementing change processes.
This subject is essential for students to be able to use advanced knowledge and skill to create strategies for organisational change founded on an evidence-base and critical application of change theory, collaborative communication, workforce management and effective leadership. As leaders in driving change, students will be supported in developing and applying the skills necessary to predict potential outcomes of change and the impact on workforce, organisational performance and safety and quality improvement.
The aim of this subject is to develop health care leaders who will demonstrate competencies necessary to address health service challenges and lead staff in opportunities for socially responsible change, capacity building and quality improvement in a complex, evolving environment from both a national and international perspective.
In order to pass this unit, students are expected to submit two graded assessment tasks. In addition, students must achieve a cumulative grade of at least 50% across both assessments.
In this unit, to support students in being able to demonstrate unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes, a standards-based assessment is utilised, consistent with University assessment requirements. The assessment strategy allows for the progressive development of knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for the student to be able to demonstrate an understanding of leadership theory and the requisite skills necessary to achieve optimal outcomes when leading staff through change in health service delivery. These assessments are required to build student knowledge, skills and attitudes to graduate as a healthcare professional who can effectively lead staff through organisational change processes.
Assessment tasks are used that assess students’ ability to: (i) demonstrate the leadership skills necessary to effectively lead staff through a significant change process, and (ii) apply knowledge and skill in leadership to develop a draft health service plan.- Written Essay- Enables students to appraise elements of effective leadership and impact of change processes in healthcare (50%)
- Health Service Plan - Enables students to apply knowledge and skill in leadership to develop a plan that addresses an area requiring improvement in a health care organisation. (50%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
Established in 1991 after amalgamating four eastern Australian Catholic tertiary institutes, Australian Catholic University now has seven campuses, from Brisbane to Melbourne and welcomes students of all beliefs. Specialising in arts, business, education, health sciences, law, theology and philosophy, ACU encourages its students to think critically and ethically and bring change to their communities and offer this online through Open Universities Australia.
Learn more about ACU.
Explore ACU courses.
- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 35
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 26
Entry requirements
To enrol in this subject, you must be admitted into a degree.
Prior study
You must have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject:
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.