The MHM is offered either in face-to-face mode or by distance education, utilising case studies and scenarios from the Australian health care system or developing country health care systems. The MHM program brings together domestic and international students in a joint endeavour: to examine the critical elements required to provide the most effective, efficient and equitable health services possible,
The wealth of knowledge and experience of the lecturers make the MHM a unique, internationally recognised program that addresses the complexities of the health system in Australia and worldwide. Working as a medical specialist in regional NSW I often face health management challenges that I would have found insurmountable before I joined the program. The MHM has allowed me to reflect on matters that have been ‘invisible’ to me in the past due to my limited knowledge of health management. I believe the MHM is the ideal complement not only to those students pursuing a career in health management but also to doctors practising clinical medicine. The program is an ‘eye opener’ and contributes greatly to make clinicians better doctors by enhancing their knowledge and skills in health management.
Jeniffer Fiore Chapman MHM Student
while considering, in depth, the social, economic and political forces which shape health service delivery and health management practice in both developed and developing countries. Drawing on the latest evidence based health services and management research (including the work of researchers in the SPHCM and the Australian Institute of Health Innovation) students work collaboratively to critically examine, explore and develop strategic approaches to improving the delivery, quality and safety of care in health services around the world.
Students may choose to shape their electives to suit their needs. For example students who are or wish to work in the aged care sector or in disaster management now have a number of electives which specifically focus on these fields, with additional electives under development. Students interested in future higher research degrees are encouraged to undertake a research methodology course as well as a 6 UOC Project. While this will limit their choice of electives, it provides a solid foundation for application to a research degree.
Program requirements
48 Units of Credit (UOC) consisting of six core courses (36 UOC) and two elective courses (12 UOC).
Core courses
Students must complete six core courses (36 UOC) as a foundation for further study. These core courses are prerequisites for enrolment in some of the electives.
Additional requirement
Students from non-English speaking countries who have not previously completed a degree in Australia or other English speaking country are also required to take the core course
PHCM9100 Academic Practice in
their first semester. This course is also available to all other students to assist in gaining maximum benefit from their study, particularly if returning to study after a long break. The course is offered at no charge to students and does not
A/PROF JOANNE TRAVAGLIA Director, Health Management Programs
Joanne Travaglia is a sociologist with 30 years’ experience in the health field as a practitioner, manager, researcher and educator. She is the Director of the Health Management Program, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, and Senior Research Fellow, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, University of New South Wales. Her research focuses on the implications of patient and clinician vulnerability and diversity for the safety and quality of care. She has practiced, researched and taught in the field of cultural diversity throughout her career.
She has, or is currently working on a number of projects relating to the quality and safety of health care. These include: population level risks of error for vulnerable groups; inter-professional collaboration; clinical leadership and healthy clinical workplace environments; clinical governance; barriers and facilitators to the implementation of clinical guidelines; understanding and assessing workplace culture; social, organisational and professional factors influencing the implementation of safety and quality improvement strategies; approaches to, and the engagement of, consumers in healthcare
services and systems; the impact of patient safety inquiries; allied health professions and leadership; clinical implications of differences in professional epistemologies; the impact of clinician and patient diversity on the quality and safety of care; and the application of disaster theory to health services research.
contribute to the UOC requirements of the degree.
Elective courses
Students must complete two elective courses (12 UOC) to meet the requirements of the program. See ‘Course Selection’ in this prospectus or the School website for a current list of electives,
Mode of delivery
The MHM program can be taken either full-time or part-time. Courses are offered internally on campus with face-to-face teaching, or externally by distance mode using a combination of intensive workshops and online teaching. In some instances face-to- face courses also include a workshop and online component. Workshops are held at a residential school on campus, twice a year, one week before each semester starts in February/ March and July. As attendance at residential school is a requirement for most courses, please make sure that you check your course timetable to see which days you are required to attend. Students are also able to take a maximum of two courses as part
of Summer Term, which begins in November each year.
Minimum entry requirements
Successful applicants will have an undergraduate degree or higher degree in a health-related or public health- related discipline;* AND
1. Honours or a postgraduate qualification in a health-related or public health-related discipline; OR 2. Two years full-time professional
experience in a health-related or public health-related discipline, including as a volunteer in a health or public health organisation or equivalent professional experience acquired as part of a health-related degree of 4 or more years duration (eg MBBS, Bachelor of Nursing).
[*Examples include medicine, nursing, allied health, health sciences, biomedical sciences, behavioural and social sciences, human services, environmental health, veterinary science, health administration and management, biostatistics, health economics.]
Length of program
1 year full-time; 2 years part-time
Starting dates
Semester 1 – February/March Semester 2 – July
Summer Term – November/December (OnlydOmesticstudentscancOmmence theirprOgramin summer term:
internatiOnalstudentsmustcOmmence theirstudyin semester 1 Or 2)
Articulation
Credit for courses completed as part of the Graduate Diploma and the Graduate Certificate may be transferred to the Master of Health Management, in accordance with the UNSW policy on credit transfer.
Notes:
• Optional Summer Term: A selection of electives is offered during the summer term each year which runs from the middle of November to the end of January.
• Students from non-English speaking countries who have not previously completed a degree in Australia or other English speaking country are also required to take the core course PHCM9100
Academic Practice in their first semester.
• Students wishing to enrol in a project are usually advised to complete a research methodology course as their other elective.