Fast Facts
Location
Commencing
- Online: February, July
Fees
$31,200.00^
^estimated annual tuition fee for a full-time study load
Plus Student Services and Amenities fee
Fee deferral and scholarships available if eligible
Duration
1.5 years full-time
or part-time equivalent
Entry Requirements
AQF level 7 bachelor degree in a relevant health discipline; or B Physiotherapy, B Occupational Therapy, or B Speech Pathology
Course Code
114804
Course detail
Enhance your career in rehabilitation and health promotion with JCU’s Master of Rehabilitation. Advance your ability to design, manage, and evaluate rehabilitation plans for individuals and communities in culturally diverse populations. You will learn to develop solutions for complex issues in rehabilitation and develop the skills to make a difference in regional, rural, remote and Indigenous communities.
This Master of Rehabilitation degree is designed to maximise your professional expertise and extend your capacity in key areas of rehabilitation. You will choose from two streams — coursework or coursework and research — to build specialist knowledge, skills, and technical capability across a range of health contexts. In each stream, you will gain a broad understanding of rehabilitation and important topics including chronic conditions, evidence-based practice, and cultural practice.
The coursework stream will build your knowledge and technical understanding of areas including lifestyle medicine, health coaching and behaviour change, models of care, education for the health professional, advanced practice in a rural and remote context, rehabilitation for disability and palliative care.
The research stream incorporates two main subjects, with the first focusing on an extensive literature review and the second comprising the main portion of the research project. Your research project will investigate an issue or topic relevant to rehabilitation and the allied health sector. Undertaking this research project can open doors to a future PhD.
Tailor the Master of Rehabilitation to suit your interests, experience and career goals by choosing from one of four majors: General Major in Rehabilitation, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Speech Pathology.
Consult the handbook for more information.
Additional information
Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation
If you want a rewarding and challenging career working with and helping people, becoming a Master of Rehabilitation can be right for you. With this degree, you can become a fully qualified physiotherapist, occupational therapist or speech therapist, allowing you to make a tangible difference in people’s lives and work in a field you feel passionate about. Studying at JCU will provide you with expertise targeted toward helping communities in the Tropics, in particular, as well as improving the health and wellbeing of people all over Australia. With a course that you can study online there are few better options for rehabilitation than JCU. Learn all the skills you need to become employable in the field you choose and succeed in your new career by studying for the JCU master’s degree in rehab.
The Majors
The field of rehabilitation is wide and the JCU Master of Rehabilitation degree offers you the opportunity to choose a major that aligns with your interests and career goals.
- General Major in Rehabilitation: This major enables you to help people recover from illness and injury and support them in their everyday life. It will provide you with plenty of new knowledge, skills and evidence-based practice to implement into your current practice.
- Occupational Therapy: Occupational therapists help people improve their ability to perform everyday tasks they struggle with due to disability, illness and injury. This also includes people with mental health difficulties or learning disabilities, as well as the elderly. It’s the perfect career path for those who care about helping others and want to empower them to live their lives independently.
- Physiotherapy: The physiotherapy major is meant to enhance your existing qualifications as a physiotherapist, providing you with even more skills to help clients rehabilitate from injuries and illness.
- Speech Pathology: Speech pathologists assist individuals of all ages who have difficulties with communication or swallowing. Studying speech pathology provides you with advanced skills to support clients and empower them to communicate.
What You Will Learn
Studying for the master’s degree in Rehabilitation at JCU will provide you with a variety of useful skills that enable you to pursue a rewarding career in one of the fields described. You will gain the ability to design, manage and evaluate rehabilitation plans and learn how to work with culturally diverse populations, developing complex solutions for rehabilitation and maximising your professional expertise. You will gain a broad understanding of rehabilitation, chronic conditions, evidence-based practice and more. You will choose between coursework or coursework and research depending on your own aspirations.
Why Study a Master of Rehabilitation at JCU in QLD?
JCU rehabilitation graduates see great career outcomes and are highly employable. You will benefit from high-quality teaching and excellent learning resources. The master's degree in rehabilitation is taught entirely online, making it a flexible option you can complete from anywhere in the country from the comfort of your own home. Set yourself up for success by choosing JCU and applying for the master’s degree in rehab through the online application portal.
Hide additional information
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 Master of Rehabilitation.
Majors
General Major in Rehabilitation
Take the General Major in Rehabilitation to advance your career. Learn high-level skills to enable individuals to rehabilitate from illness and injury. Your advanced skillset will equip you for a range of roles to support clients in their daily life. Implement evidence-based practice by integrating your new knowledge and skills into your current practice.
Occupational Therapy
Choose the Occupational Therapy Major with a specialisation in rehabilitation for a highly valued qualification. Advance your skillset and successfully assist individuals in overcoming barriers that impair activities of daily living.
Physiotherapy
Major in Physiotherapy with a specialisation in rehabilitation to enhance your existing qualifications. Deepen your knowledge and advance your skills to successfully assist clients with their rehabilitation journey.
Speech Pathology
Gain advanced skills with the Speech Pathology Major. Assist individuals of all ages with communication and swallowing-related issues. Build your career and support clients through their rehabilitation and day-to-day life.
Grow your career in rehabilitation with the Master of Rehabilitation at JCU. Benefit from unique experiences in tropical, rural, remote, and regional areas and familiarity with Indigenous communities and their health.
JCU’s Master of Rehabilitation gives you the contemporary knowledge, skills and experience to update your clinical practice and expand your career prospects. You will gain advanced skills in your specialisation and valuable expertise in tropical, Indigenous, rural, and remote practice.
Graduates pursue careers in various areas including acute wards and rehabilitation settings with public and private health providers, aged care, private practice, policy development, or research. You could pursue your specialisation in roles such as clinician, case manager, or researcher. Additionally, you progress further to study a PhD.
Handbook year | Information valid for students commencing in 2023 |
Course code | 114804 |
Course type | Masters Degree (Coursework) (AQF Level 9) |
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 (General major); or Applicants must have completed at least a Bachelor of Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy or Speech Pathology at an Australian University or hold an equivalent international entry level qualification in one of these professions (Physiotherapy major, Occupational Therapy major or Speech Pathology major). Note: Completion of the Master of Rehabilitation will not enable Australian registration of overseas qualified health professionals. |
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. For students undertaking the Speech Pathology major, an overall IELTS of 7.0 with a minimum writing score of 6.0; speaking score of 8.0; reading and listening score of 7.0 is required. |
| 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. |
Post admission | Telephone and computer access with internet. Some subjects will require mixed mode attendance at the Townsville campus. |
Academic Requirements for Course Completion
Credit points | 36 credit points as per course structure |
Course learning outcomes | On successful completion of the Master of Rehabilitation coursework degree graduates will be able to:
|
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: Postgraduate Rehabilitation. |
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
Students can choose from 2 streams: (1) coursework or (2) coursework and research; and from 4 majors: General, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy or Speech Pathology. If students enrol in this course as a pathway to a PhD, they must complete the coursework/research stream.
CORE SUBJECTS
RH5200:03 Rehabilitation Research and Evidence-Based Practice
RH5202:03 Rehabilitation for Chronic Conditions
OT5202:03 Cultural Competency Principles in Australian Healthcare Practice
OPTIONS
Select a major (discipline area) from Table A
TABLE A (MAJORS)
Type of major | Mandatory, single |
Credit points in major | 9 credit points |
MAJOR | AVAILABLE AT | NOTES |
| General | External | Some subjects may require face-to-face attendance on campus in Townsville |
External | Some subjects may require face-to-face attendance on campus in Townsville | |
External | Some subjects may require face-to-face attendance on campus in Townsville | |
External | Some subjects may require face-to-face attendance on campus in Townsville |
PLUS
Select Option 1 (Coursework) or Option 2 (Coursework/Research)
OPTION 1 (COURSEWORK)
Select 15 credit points of specified subjects from List 1
PLUS
Select 3 credit points of any postgraduate subject (can be cross-institutional if approved by the Course Coordinator)
List 1
HS5102:03 Qualitative Research Methods for Health Professionals
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
OT5200:03 Advanced Practice within the Rural and Remote Context
RH5201:03 Rehabilitation for Disability across the Lifespan
RH5205:03 Palliative Care for Health Professionals
RH5206:03 Assistive Technology Strategies to Enable Personal Autonomy
TM5516:03 Biostatistics for Public Health
TM5528:03 Health Promotion
TM5541:03 Managing Effective Health Programs
OPTION 2 (COURSEWORK/RESEARCH)
RH5203:06 Research 1: A Literature Review – Part 1 of 2
RH5204:06 Research 2: A Research Project – Part 2 of 2
PLUS
Select 6 credit points of specified subjects from List 2
List 2
HS5102:03 Qualitative Research Methods for Health Professionals or TM5524:03 Qualitative Research Methods for Tropical Health Practitioners
TM5515:03 Epidemiology for Public Health
TM5516:03 Biostatistics for Public Health
Location
COURSE AVAILABLE AT | NOTES |
External | Some subjects may require face-to-face attendance at the Townsville campus |
Candidature
Expected time to complete | 1.5 years full-time or part-time equivalent |
Maximum time to complete | 6 years |
Maximum leave of absence | 1 year |
Progression
Course progression requisites | Nil |
Course includes mandatory professional placement(s) | Yes |
Special assessment requirements | At the discretion of the College Dean, students may be required to undertake a prescribed English language test to ensure that they have an acceptable level of English language proficiency, including at least at the level required to be admitted to the course, to safely participate in professional experience placements. |
Professional accreditation requirements | Not applicable |
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 | 12 credit points; unless students have completed the Graduate Diploma of Rehabilitation, in which case they may be eligible for up to 24 credit points of advanced standing for appropriate subjects. |
Currency | Credit will be granted only for studies completed in the 5 years prior to the commencement of this course. |
Expiry | Credit gained for any subject shall be cancelled 11 years after the date of the examination upon which the credit is based if, by then, the student has not completed the course of study prescribed for this course. |
Other restrictions | Not applicable |
Award Details
Award title | MASTER OF REHABILITATION |
Approved abbreviation | MRehab |
Inclusion of majors on testamur | The major shall appear on the testamur |
Exit with lesser award | Students who exit the course prior to completion, and have completed 12 credit points of appropriate subjects, may be eligible for the award of Graduate Certificate of Rehabilitation. Students who exit the course prior to completion, and have completed 24 credit points of appropriate subjects, may be eligible for the award of Graduate Diploma of Rehabilitation. |
Course articulation | Not applicable |
Special awards | Students may receive an Award of Recognition in accordance with the Recognition of Academic Excellence Procedure |
Estimated annual tuition fee: $AUD31,200.00
A Student Services and Amenities fee is payable per subject up to a maximum amount per year.
A variety of Scholarships are available to suit different student types.
Consult the admission requirements section in the Handbook for prerequisites and pathways into this course.
Complete an online application through our Online Application Portal.
Real stories
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Student
Tamara Matulick
Master of Rehabilitation
Doing the Master of Rehabilitation will help with career progression — especially in getting jobs I wouldn’t otherwise be able to get. You have to manage your time between work and study, but I think you’re more motivated as a learner because you’ve had situations where you can apply your experience and knowledge to.
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Alumni
Daniel Behary
MBBS Student (JCU), MRehab (JCU), BPhty (USYD)
What inspired me to undertake Master of Rehabilitation at James Cook University is my passion for Interventional Cardiology and interest in Medical research. This course offered me the opportunity to explore the benefits of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation which is often required for patients with advanced heart disease.
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Lecturer
Moira Smith
Course Coordinator, Rehabilitation
The Master of Rehabilitation is an exciting pathway in your healthcare career. There is a great variety of subjects to help upskill in the area of rehabilitation, addressing perspectives from many different disciplines. Whatever your aim, this course will assist the development of your skill set in rehabilitation.
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Employer
Kathy Luke
RAR Therapy Director
This course provides practical and evidence-based clinical skills that apply to the community work environment and ultimately benefit our clients. With an increased need for highly skilled therapists in community settings, this course is perfect for extending therapists’ knowledge and skills for clinical practice.