Graduate Diploma in Palliative Care

at Flinders University

Masters is designed to provide you with flexibility while aiming to deepen and extend the knowledge and skills required for practice in palliative care. It can be taken by coursework and a critical inquiry or research project. Topics cover areas such as communication at the end of life; oncology for palliative care; issues in the care of the spirit in palliative care; palliative care in aged care settings; palliative clinical management; suffering, futility and ethics in palliative care; understanding cancer; and design and ethics in research with vulnerable populations. Masters may include a topic in independent inquiry for evidence-based practice.

Year 1

Core

• Communication at the End of Life A
• Introduction to the Study of Palliative Care
• Clinical Research Methods
• Communication at the End of Life B

Applicants who do not hold the Graduate Certificate in Palliative Care must normally hold a bachelor degree or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution in dietetics, medicine, midwifery, nursing, occupational therapy, paramedic science, pharmacy, physiotherapy, psychology, speech pathology or social work.
 

In addition applicants must have no less than two years full-time equivalent professional experience in the health sector or closely related field.
 

International students must satisfy our English language proficiency requirements for admission. If your first language is not English you will need to have:
 

• Achieved the required test score for the course you are applying for. The IELTS and equivalent scores to meet the various levels #. IELTS, TOEFL, PTE and Cambridge tests must be taken in a registered testing centre.; or
• Successfully completed an approved secondary or tertiary qualification, taught in the English language in a country where English is the official language or the main language spoken (for up to an overall IELTS of 6.5) with evidence no more than five years old on the proposed date of commencement of the course; or
• Successfully completed a pre-course English program from an approved ELICOS Provider*.

Annual fees:  $37,500

Palliative and end-of-life care are developing at local and national levels within multiple health care settings. Organisations require practitioners with the specialist skills and attitudes provided by this course, whether experienced practitioners or graduates with basic palliative care skills. Graduates can find careers in areas ranging from rural and remote, acute, community, acute hospitals and aged care settings, to palliative care units and hospice care.
 

Potential employers include:

• Hospitals

• Hospices

• Nursing Homes

• Community Care