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JCU’s Graduate Diploma of Rural Generalist Practice provides Allied Health professionals with a pathway for advancing their academic and clinical expertise in a wide range of community and clinical settings.

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#1 in Queensland

for median graduate salary 2024 Good Universities Guide, PG Health Services

Enhance your expertise

Build the skills to progress your career

#1 in Queensland

for full-time employment 2024 Good Universities Guide, PG Health Services

Online

Online study is only available to off-shore students

Online: February, July

$39,280.00⁺

⁺estimated annual tuition fee for a full-time study load

Plus Student Services and Amenities fee
Scholarships and financial aid available if eligible

1 year full-time

or part-time equivalent

AQF Level 7 bachelor degree in a relevant health discipline completed more than two years prior to admission

English language requirements

Band 3a

If your native language is not English, you must meet the minimum English language requirements for this course.

117506

What to expect

Students can undertake a range of subjects that allow them to deliver rural and remote health services effectively and confidently in low resource settings. You will gain leadership, research and patient management skills in rural generalist professional practice to respond to diverse healthcare needs.

For entry to this course, Australian practitioners need to have achieved a health-related Bachelor degree and have at least two years’ professional experience in one of the following Allied Health practice fields: Nutrition/Dietetics, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Psychology, Radiography, Social Work or Speech Pathology.

View the Handbook for a detailed overview of available subjects. The study planner also provides more information to assist in planning your enrolment in the Graduate Diploma of Rural Generalist Practice.

Inherent requirements

Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University’s learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please review the inherent requirements for the Graduate Diploma of Rural Generalist Practice.

Career Opportunities

JCU Graduate Diploma of Rural Generalist Practice graduates are equipped with specialist, sought-after skills that allow them to work effectively in rural and remote communities.

You could find employment in the allied health industry, particularly in rural, remote and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Graduates advance their careers as nutritionists/dieticians, occupational therapists, pharmacists, physiotherapists, podiatrists, psychologists, radiographers, social workers or speech pathologists.

Handbook

Handbook year	Information valid for students commencing in 2024.
Course code	117506
Course type	Graduate Diploma (AQF Level 8)
Owner	Academy
College	Healthcare Sciences

Award Requirements

Admission Requirements

Course pre-requisites	Completion of an AQF level 7 bachelor degree in a relevant health discipline, from this or another university, more than two years prior to admission.
Minimum English language proficiency requirements	Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the English language proficiency requirements of Band 3a – Schedule II of the JCU Admissions Policy.
Additional selection requirements	Information published by JCU or otherwise made available to students when applying, may specify additional criteria to be considered in ranking applicants in order of merit if the number of applications exceeds a quota or other limit on the places made available for the course. Information provided by applicants during the application process and any other information obtained by JCU in the application process may be used by JCU to rank applicants in order of merit by reference to those additional criteria.

Academic Requirements for Course Completion

Credit points	24 credit points as per course structure
Course learning outcomes	On successful completion of Graduate Diploma of Rural Generalist Practice, graduates will be able to: Apply advanced rural and remote generalist knowledge and skills to healthcare service delivery with a high level of independence and proficiency Retrieve, critically evaluate, synthesise and apply established and evolving evidence in order to develop innovative solutions for local healthcare challenges Demonstrate clinical leadership in planning, implementation and evaluation of service development and quality improvement in the local service setting Expertly communicate using high-level oral and written English language Demonstrate high-level responsibility and accountability for professional healthcare practice.

Inherent Requirements

Inherent Requirements	Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University's learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please visit: Graduate Diploma of Rural Generalist Practice.
Reasonable adjustments	All JCU students have the opportunity to demonstrate, with reasonable adjustments where applicable, the inherent requirements for their course. For more information please visit: Student Disability Policy and Procedure.

Course Structure

CORE SUBJECTS

OT5200:03 Advanced Practice Within the Rural and Remote Context

HS5405:03 Teaching for Learning in the Health Professionals

Plus

Select 3 credit points from List 1

Plus

Select 3 credit points from List 2

Plus

Select one of the Options listed below

List 1

HS5102:03 Qualitative Research Methods for Health Professional

RH5200:03 Rehabilitation Research and Evidence Based Practice

TM5516:03 Biostatistics for Public Health

List 2

NS5331:03 Effective Clinical Governance

TM5513:03 Public Health Management, Leadership, Planning and Policy or NS5339:03 Leading and Managing in Health

TM5541:03 Managing Effective Health Programs

Options

Option A – Credentialed Diabetes Educator

HS5381:03 Health Education and Self Management

NS5380:03 Foundations of Clinical Diabetes

NS5382:03 Applied Clinical Diabetes Education

NS5383:03 Diabetes Education Professional Practice

Option B – Dietetics

Select 9 credit points from List 4, and

Select 3 credit points from List 1, List 2, List 3, or List 4

Option C – Occupational Therapy

Select 9 credit points from List 5, and

Select 3 credit points from List 1, List 2, List 3, or List 5

Option D – Pharmacy

Select 9 credit points from List 6 or outbound cross-institutional study subject/s as approved by the Course Coordinator, and

Select 3 credit points from List 1, List 2, List 3, or List 6

Option E – Physiotherapy

Select 9 credit points from List 7, and

Select 3 credit points from List 1, List 2, List 3, or List 7

Option F – Podiatry

Select 9 credit points from List 8, and

Select 3 credit points from List 1, List 2, List 3, or List 8

Option G – Speech Pathology

Select 9 credit points from List 9, and

Select 3 credit points from List 1, List 2, List 3, or List 9

Option H – Psychology

Select 9 credit points from List 10, and

Select 3 credit points from List 1, List 2, List 3, or List 10

Option I –Social Work

Select 9 credit points from List 10, and

Select 3 credit points from List 1, List 2, List 3, or List 10

List 3

HS5800:03 Introduction to Lifestyle Medicine

HS5801:03 Health Coaching and Behaviour Change

HS5802:03 Models of Care and Innovation in Lifestyle Medicine

HS5803:03 Lifestyle Medicine Assessment and Prescription

NS5341:03 Business and Finance for the Health Manager

PS5109:03 Ergonomics

TM5528:03 Health Promotion

List 4

HS5381:03 Health Education and Self Management

NS5367:03 Advanced Topics in Dietetics Practice

NS5380:03 Foundations of Clinical Diabetes

RH5202:03 Rehabilitation for Chronic Conditions

RH5205:03 Palliative Care for Health Professionals

List 5

HS5111:03 Alcohol and Other Drugs

HS5112:03 Trauma and Crisis Management

OT5005:03 Advanced Topics in Clinical Practice

OT5201:03 Advanced Mental Health Practice

OT5202:03 Cultural Competency Principles in Australian Healthcare Practice

RH5201:03 Rehabilitation for Disability Across the Lifespan

RH5202:03 Rehabilitation for Chronic Conditions

RH5205:03 Palliative Care for Health Professionals

RH5206:03 Assistive Technology Strategies to Enable Personal Autonomy

List 6

NS5380:03 Foundations of Clinical Diabetes

RH5202:03 Rehabilitation for Chronic Conditions

RH5205:03 Palliative Care for Health Professionals

List 7

PS5101:03 Clinical Expert Updates for Physiotherapy

PS5108:03 Advanced Musculoskeletal Practice

RH5201:03 Rehabilitation for Disability Across the Lifespan

RH5202:03 Rehabilitation for Chronic Conditions

RH5205:03 Palliative Care for Health Professionals

List 8

HS5381:03 Health Education and Self Management

NS5380:03 Foundations of Clinical Diabetes

RH5202:03 Rehabilitation for Chronic Conditions

RH5205:03 Palliative Care for Health Professionals

RH5800:03 Advanced Topics in Podiatric Practice

List 9

RH5201:03 Rehabilitation for Disability Across the Lifespan

RH5202:03 Rehabilitation for Chronic Conditions

RH5205:03 Palliative Care for Health Professionals

SL5200:03 Advanced Practice in Dysphagia

SL5201:03 Advanced Practice in Adult Speech Pathology

SL5202:03 Advanced Practice in Paediatric Speech Pathology

List 10

HS5102:03 Qualitative Research Methods for Health Professionals

HS5111:03 Alcohol and Other Drugs

HS5112:03 Trauma and Crisis Management

OT5201:03 Advanced Mental Health Practice

RH5201:03 Rehabilitation for Disability Across the Lifespan

RH5202:03 Rehabilitation for Chronic Conditions

RH5205:03 Palliative Care for Health Professionals

Location

COURSE AVAILABLE AT	NOTES
JCU Townsville (Mixed)	Some subjects may require face-to-face attendance at JCU Townsville

Candidature

Expected time to complete	1 year full-time or part-time equivalent
Maximum time to complete	3 years
Maximum leave of absence	1 year

Progression

Course progression requisites	Nil
Course includes mandatory professional placement(s)	No
Special assessment requirements	Nil
Professional accreditation requirements	Nil
Supplementary exam for final subject	A student who has failed the final subject towards the award and who gained 40% or more of the marks for that subject, may be granted a supplementary examination in that subject. However if that subject is required for accreditation, then the criteria specified by that accreditation will apply.

Credit

Eligibility	Students may apply for a credit transfer for previous tertiary study or informal and non-formal learning in accordance with the Credit Transfer Procedure
Maximum allowed	9 credit points
Currency	Credit will be granted only for subjects completed in the 5 years prior to the commencement of this course
Expiry	Credit gained for any subject shall be cancelled 8 years after the date of the examination upon which the credit is based if, by then, the student has not completed this course.
Other restrictions	Not applicable

Award Details

Award title	GRADUATE DIPLOMA OF RURAL GENERALIST PRACTICE
Approved abbreviation	GDipRurGenPrac
Inclusion of majors on testamur	Not applicable
Exit with lesser award	Graduate Certificate of Rural Generalist Practice
Course articulation	Not applicable
Special Awards	Students may receive an Award of Recognition in accordance with the Recognition of Academic Excellence Procedure

Fees and scholarships

Estimated annual tuition fee: $AUD39,280.00

Course fees are charged per year of full-time study. International course fees are reviewed annually and subject to change.

A Student Services and Amenities Fee is payable per subject up to a maximum amount per year.

Student Visa holders must have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of their Student Visa (except Norwegian, Swedish and Belgian citizens). Costs depend on the length of study and the number of dependents accompanying the student. For more information see Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).

Scholarships and financial aid are also available for international students.

Pathways to JCU

JCU offers multiple Pathways to University. If you do not meet the entry requirements for this Diploma, consider exploring our available Pathways options.

Contact our friendly team today to discover which pathway is right for you.

How to apply

Application dates vary between courses, whether they're delivered in semester, trimester or carousel study modes. View our Application due dates page for more information.

Gather the documents you need to apply and submit an application via JCU's online application portal.

Alumni

Andric Lu

Graduate Diploma of Rural Generalist Practice

I studied a Graduate Diploma of Rural Generalist Practice through JCU, which allowed me to advance my clinical skills and develop leadership styles. Currently, I am developing a workplace-based project to improve access and service delivery through an inpatient telehealth Physiotherapy model of care.
Alumni

Emma Rewald

Graduate Diploma of Rural Generalist Practice

I chose to study a Graduate Diploma of Rural Generalist Practice at JCU as I saw it as an excellent opportunity to develop my clinical and non-clinical capabilities. JCU’s online learning allowed me to progress through the course content in my own time, juggling commitments with working fulltime.
Lecturer

Dr Anne Jones

Course Coordinator, Graduate Diploma of Rural Generalist Practice

It can be difficult to access ongoing training and support when you work and live outside the major centres so this program is fully online. Allied Health Rural Generalist training is practical, work integrated development relevant to the needs of rural and remote communities.
Employer

Helen Weisemann

Midwifery Unit Manager, Mater Health Services NQ

I hire JCU graduates because they’re very resilient and resourceful, and they understand the requirements of working in rural and remote environments. They’re real assets to the team.