Fast Facts
Location
Commencing
- Online: February, July
Fees
$8,301.00+
$30,700.00^
+estimated annual Commonwealth Supported Fee for a full-time study load
^estimated annual tuition fee for a full-time study load
Plus Student Services and Amenities fee
Fee deferral and scholarships available if eligible
Fees currently displayed are indicative only. 2024 fees will be uploaded by October, 2023.
Duration
1.5 years full-time
or part-time equivalent
Entry Requirements
AQF level 7 or AQF level 8 bachelor degree in a relevant health discipline, completed more than 2 years prior to admission.
Course Code
117504
Course detail
Learn how to best utilise your full scope of practice in rural, regional and remote locations. This degree will prepare you to better meet the needs of your communities with this industry-developed specialist course.
The Master of Rural Generalist Practice will equip you to demonstrate clinical leadership across your chosen specialisation and contribute to combating the challenges of practice in rural settings. Undertake a range of subjects that allow you to deliver rural and remote health services effectively and confidently in low-resource settings.
Begin by examining the unique opportunities and contexts that come with practice in rural and remote areas. You will develop an understanding of teaching for learning, enabling you to both lead and share your knowledge with peers and the wider community.
Hone your research skills with an advanced look at data and resources relevant to the health profession, with an understanding on how best to incorporate research into everyday practice. You will learn to evaluate and utilise current and evolving evidence, including biostatistics and other health data, to develop innovative solutions for complex local health and community services challenges.
Study your way by learning online, empowering you to access expert lecturers and learning resources with minimal need to leave your community. Examine real-world issues as well as solutions that can be designed, developed and implemented in your own community’s context to further health and wellbeing.
For entry to this course, you must have achieved a health-related bachelor’s 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.
The study planner provides more information to assist in planning your enrolment in the Master of Rural Generalist Practice.
JCU’s Master 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.
As a JCU graduate, you will emerge equipped with specialist, sought-after skills that allow you to work and lead effectively in rural and remote communities.
Graduates advance their careers as nutritionists/dieticians, occupational therapists, pharmacists, physiotherapists, podiatrists, psychologists, radiographers, social workers and speech pathologists, among other roles.
Handbook year | Information valid for students commencing in 2024. |
Course code | 117504 |
Course type | Masters Degree (Coursework) (AQF Level 9) |
Owner | Academy |
College | Healthcare Sciences |
Award Requirements
Admission Requirements
Pre-requisites | Completion of an AQF level 7 or AQF level 8 degree in a relevant health discipline, more than 2 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 | 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 | 36 credit points as per course structure |
Course learning outcomes | On successful completion of the Master of Rural Generalist Practice, 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: Inherent Requirements. |
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 Professions
Select one of the Options listed below
Option 1
HS5603:06 Health Service Evaluation 1 and HS5604:06 Health Service Evaluation 2
Option 2
RH5203:06 Research 1: A Literature Review – Part 1 of 2 and RH5204:06 Research 2: A Research Project – Part 2 of 2
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 Professionals
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
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 | 1.5 years full-time or part-time equivalent |
Maximum time to complete | 4 years |
Maximum leave of absence | 1 year Please refer to the Coursework Enrolment Procedure |
Progression
Course progression | Nil |
Course includes mandatory professional placement(s) | No |
Course includes mandatory fieldwork | No |
Special assessment | Nil |
Professional accreditation | Nil |
Supplementary exam for | 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 credit for previous tertiary study in accordance with the Credit Transfer Procedure |
Maximum allowed | 9 credit points except where a student transfers from one JCU award to another, then credit may be granted for more than two-thirds of the new award, where there is subject equivalence between the awards |
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 | MASTER OF RURAL GENERALIST PRACTICE |
Approved abbreviation | MRurGenPrac |
Exit with lesser award | Students who exit the course prior to completion, and have completed the relevant number of credit points and appropriate subjects, may be eligible to receive one of the following awards: Graduate Diploma of Rural Generalist Practice 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 |
Estimated annual Commonwealth Supported fee: $AUD8,301.00
Estimated annual tuition fee: $AUD30,700.00
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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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.