Graduate Certificate of Health and Community
Acquire a wealth of skills and knowledge for your future career in health or community services.
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Study Pathways
WHY STUDY THIS COURSE?
This course is designed as a pathway into the Master of Social Work (Qualifying), supporting students who may not yet meet direct entry requirements. You will develop essential knowledge in health and community studies while building the academic skills needed for postgraduate success, creating a clear and supported transition into professional social work education.
WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?
In this 14-week course, you will complete four units across behavioural and social sciences, including psychology, sociology, and welfare systems in Australia. You will explore key concepts such as grief, trauma, and social structures, while developing critical thinking and applying theory in real-world contexts, preparing you for further study in health, community services, and social work.
The Graduate Certificate of Health and Community gives you a strong foundation and knowledge in psychology, sociology, grief and trauma and welfare systems in Australia across four focused units. At Acknowledge Education, this course can be completed in just 14 weeks, providing a structured pathway towards postgraduate study.
Students who have successfully completed an AQF Level 7 Bachelor degree with at least four relevant units in social and behavioural sciences, together with this course, are eligible for a pathway to the Master of Social Work (Qualifying) at Acknowledge Education.
The Graduate Certificate is available in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth, with intakes in February, May and September.
Course Overview
The Graduate Certificate of Health and Community is designed for health & community services professionals who wish to advance their careers, or for those who want to enter a new career in this growing industry sector. The course also offers a pathway into the Master of Social Work (Qualifying) degree at Acknowledge Education.
The Graduate Certificate of Health and Community provides a broad-based knowledge of health and community services, its practices, processes, and underlying theories and principles. The theoretical and applied learning units in this course, are designed so that students gain real-world knowledge and skills for application when working in health and community service contexts.
Course Description
The core curriculum includes four units, two from the behavioural sciences and two from the social sciences. The two units of study from the behavioural sciences are, GCIND801 Foundations of Psychology and GCIND802 Grief, Loss and Trauma Across the Lifespan, and the two units from the social sciences are, GCSOC801 Welfare Systems and Services in Australia and GCSOC802 Foundations of Sociology and Politics.
Course Structure
This course requires successful completion of 24 credit points: 4 core units weighted at 6 points each.
The course will be conducted over one trimester comprising 12 weeks with 4 units, with the course being completed within one trimester of full-time study.
Units
The units are:
GCIND801 Foundations of Psychology
GCSOC802 Foundations of Sociology and Politics
GCSOC801 Welfare Systems and Services in Australia
GCIND802 Grief, Loss and Trauma Across the Lifespan
Students admitted to the course are required to have completed a relevant three-year AQF Level 7 degree course.
Academic Requirements
To be accepted into the course, international students require a relevant three-year AQF Level 7 degree.
English Requirements
International students must have an IELTS (Academic) minimum overall band score of 6.5 (with no individual band below 6.0) or equivalent completed within the two years prior to admission.
Please click here to download Admissions Policy for Overseas Students (HE and VET) .
Employment pathway
This course offers an employment pathway into the health and community services sectors in Australia (aged care, disability care, youth work, community work, support work).
Potential occupations include;
Case worker
Community worker
Aged care advocacy worker
Potential employers include;
Community services
Health services
Local government
Higher Education pathway
The course offers a pathway into the Master of Social Work (Qualifying) at Acknowledge Education.
Students who have successfully completed an AQF(7), Bachelor degree with four relevant units of study (typically two units in the study of behavioural sciences and two units in the study of social sciences and equal to 0.5 EFTSL) AND who have successfully completed the Acknowledge Education Graduate Certificate in Health and Community are eligible for direct entry to the Master of Social Work (Qualifying) at Acknowledge Education.
February, May, September
View all dates here.
Why Study with AE?
Real outcomes for international students in Australia. We understand your goals and provide pathways to achieve them.
140+ Year Heritage
Multi-Sector Education Excellence
Over 140 years of excellence delivering ELICOS, VCE, VET, and Higher Education across 8 national campuses.
98% Placement Satisfaction
Job-Ready Success
98% student placement satisfaction with programs designed alongside industry partners for maximum graduate outcomes.
Up to 50% course credit
Credit for Prior Learning
Get up to 50% course credit for prior learning in Australia. You may be able to reduce both your tuition and study time.
2 week average to COE*
Seamless Enrolment
Expert onshore support from consultation to CoE issuance, with an average 2-week processing time.
*Processing times may vary depending on document completeness and course availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Graduate Certificate of Health and Community is a short higher education qualification that provides foundational knowledge in health and community services. At Acknowledge Education, it is completed in one trimester (approximately 14 weeks) and can support your progression into further study, including the Master of Social Work (Qualifying).
In Australia, a graduate certificate is an AQF Level 8 qualification, the same level as a graduate diploma but shorter in duration. It focuses on developing specific knowledge and skills and is commonly used for professional development or as a pathway into postgraduate study such as a master’s degree.
Getting qualified specifically in this particular Graduate Certificate of Health and Community can help you build foundational knowledge in areas such as psychology, sociology and community services, while developing academic skills for further study. At Acknowledge Education, it also provides a pathway into the Master of Social Work (Qualifying), supporting your progression into higher-level qualifications.
This course is typically completed in one trimester (approximately 14 weeks) of full-time study. It's designed as a shorter qualification that allows you to build relevant knowledge and skills in a focused timeframe while preparing for further study in health and community services.
In this Graduate Certificate in Health and Community, you'll study foundational topics such as psychology, sociology and community services, along with developing academic and communication skills. Your learning will include a mix of classes, discussions and independent study, helping you build both subject knowledge and the confidence to take your studies further.
Yes, this course is designed to support progression into further study at Acknowledge Education. It can provide a pathway into higher-level qualifications such as the Master of Social Work (Qualifying), allowing you to continue building your knowledge and skills in the health and community services field.
If you don’t currently meet the entry requirements, Acknowledge Education offers alternative pathway options to help you prepare for further study. You may complete selected units from the Bachelor of Community Services to build relevant knowledge, followed by the Graduate Certificate of Health and Community, before progressing to higher-level qualifications such as the Master of Social Work (Qualifying).