Diploma of Health Sciences

Majors in: health promotion, health and medical sciences, public health, rehabilitation counselling, Health wellbeing and performance

WAM required: 50

Credits: 8

Duration: The degree will take two years to complete after finishing the Diploma of Health Sciences.

WAM required: 70 – students must also achieve a minimum score of 70 in Human Biosciences A and Human Biosciences B.

Credits: 7

Progression Quota: Strict quotas apply – please contact the College for more information.

Duration: The degree will take 4 years to complete after finishing the Diploma of Health Sciences.

WAM required: 65

Credits: 8

Duration: The degree will take two years to complete after finishing the Diploma of Health Sciences.

Progression Quota: Strict quotas apply – please contact the College for more information.

Please note: Students must also meet AHPRA English Requirement. This course has a strict quota.

Students commencing the Diploma of Health Sciences in Trimester 1 must study a full-time study plan (4 units in each trimetser) if they wish to progress to the Bachelor of Nursing the following year.

The nursing stream is only offered in Trimester 1 and Trimester 3 of each year, there is no June intake.

WAM required: 75

Credits: 5

Progression Quota: Strict quotas apply – please contact the College for more information.

Duration: The degree will take four years to complete after finishing the Diploma of Health Sciences.

WAM required: 70

Credits: 5

Progression Quota: Strict quotas apply – please contact the College for more information.

Duration: The degree will take four years to complete after finishing the Diploma of Health Sciences.

WAM required: 70

Credits: 5

Progression Quota: Strict quotas apply – please contact the College for more information.

Duration: Students will receive credit towards their La Trobe University degree, the duration of the degree will still be standard, and students will have a less than full-time course load in their first year of the course.

WAM required: 80 – students must also achieve a minimum score of 75 in Human Biosciences A and Human Biosciences B.

Credits: 5

Progression Quota: Strict quotas apply – please contact the College for more information.

Duration: The degree will take four years to complete after finishing the Diploma of Health Sciences.

WAM required: 70

Credits: 5

Progression Quota: Strict quotas apply – please contact the College for more information.

Duration: The degree will take four years to complete after finishing the Diploma of Health Sciences.

WAM required: 80 – students must also achieve a minimum score of 75 in Human Biosciences A and Human Biosciences B.

Credits: 5

Progression Quota: Strict quotas apply – please contact the College for more information.

Duration: The degree will take four years to complete after finishing the Diploma of Health Sciences.

WAM required: 80

Credits: 6

Progression Quota: Strict quotas apply – please contact the College for more information.

Duration: The degree will take four years to complete after finishing the Diploma of Health Sciences.

(online, zero credit point unit, all students must complete this unit in their first trimester)

This subject introduces students to the principals of academic integrity in the context of La Trobe University’s values and policy. Students learn what their responsibilities are in relation to maintaining ethical standards in all aspects of academic work and the potential ramifications for academic misconduct according to the Academic Integrity Policy. Activities and quizzes are provided, which are designed to develop and understanding of the concepts of cheating, plagiarism and collusion. Topics include an explaining of how the text-matching tool ‘Turnitin” is used at La Trobe, and where to get help and where to go to develop referencing skills.

Assessment: Final Quiz (must achieve 8/10 to pass), Statement of Student responsibility (must achieve 10/10 to pass)

HHLT1IPP Introduction to Professional Practice will introduce you to the health care system; as a consumer participant, as a health and human services practitioner and as part of a health care team.

This subject also offers you the opportunity to reflect on your own experiences within the health care system, and to use this to analyse and develop your understanding of health and human services.

Topics included in this subject:

•  The structure and function of the Australian Health Care System
• Issues of access and equity in the Australian Health Care System
•  Working in teams, as students and as health care practitioners
• Person and family centred care
• Clinical decision making
• Communication and Health Information
• Legal and ethical aspects of practice

Assessment: Autobiography (5%), Online Test (20%), Written Case Studies Report (25%), Extended Response Task (30%), Online Test (20%)

Requirement and availability for this subject is under review for 2024 and 2025

In this subject, students will be introduced to the anatomical organisation of the body and the basics of cell structure and function. The fundamentals of the nervous and endocrine systems will then be explored in the context of mechanisms of physiological control. This information will provide the foundation for the study of the major organ systems of the body, which include the respiratory, cardiovascular, renal, digestive, reproductive systems and metabolism. Underpinning these studies will be the concept of homeostasis and how it is maintained by integration of organ system functions. In addition, students are required to engage in guided, independent learning throughout the semester to extend their level of knowledge in the topic areas described above.

Assessment: Workshop Quiz Online x10 (10%), Online Tests x2 (50%), Final Exam A and B (40% total)

In this subject, students will develop the foundation knowledge for working with individuals in health and human services settings. Students will learn how particular characteristics and actions of an individual impact on health and welfare outcomes. Students will be:

(i) presented with frameworks, including a developmental perspective, for understanding how the characteristics and actions of individuals impact on health outcomes;

(ii) provided with foundation knowledge for understanding how individuals present in, and progress through, health settings; and

(iii) reviewing theoretical approaches to producing individual change in health and wellbeing settings.

Assessment: Quiz (5%), Enquiry 2 – Individual Conference Poster (35%), Enquiry 3 – Individual Reflection (30%), Exam (30%).

This subject is an introduction to the use of research-based evidence in professional health care practice. Working in interprofessional teams and using a range of case scenarios, students will develop research skills in areas relevant to their field of practice. Through online activities and workshops, students will learn about the role of evidence-based practice in health. Areas of study include systematic approaches to acquiring evidence, critical appraisal of the literature, interpretation of research design, descriptive and inferential statistics and assessment of research outcomes. Students will learn how an evidence-based approach in health informs clinical practice. Students will develop research skills to determine the most appropriate intervention techniques for application in a given clinical population, while understanding the complex interaction between social, economic and environmental influences that contribute to sustainability thinking in health research.

Assessment: 15 Minute Online Test x2 (10% total), 30 Minute Online Test x2 (20% total, Article Summary (15%), Academic Essay 1500 words (30%), Research Report 600 words (25%)

In this unit, students will continue with the study of anatomy & physiology and apply the concepts of human structure and function and homeostasis introduced in HHBS1HBA, to the musculoskeletal, nervous and endocrine systems. Anatomical principles and terminology will be applied to relevant body systems and the concept of integrated function of multiple systems in one body region will be introduced. Integrated whole body responses to homeostatic challenge will be included.

Assessment: Summarative Quizzes x5 (25% total), Enquiry 1 and 2: Team Report (20%), Enquiry 3 (30%), Exam (35%)

In this subject, you will develop a broad understanding of health and wellbeing, examining key theories that underpin concepts in contemporary health and wellbeing. You will investigate the complex range of interactions that influence the health and wellbeing of individuals, communities, and populations. As health is a dynamic concept, you will further examine the social, environmental, and biomedical determinants of health and wellbeing within an Australian and global context.

Assessment: Early assessment Piece (5%), 3 x Tests (30% = 10% each), Media Analysis (25%), Health and Wellbeing Plan Review (40%)

Recommended Elective

This unit will provide students with an introduction to learning at University with a focus on the academic skills needed to engage successfully in the diploma and further study in Health Sciences. Students will be introduced to information literacy resources, the learning management system and a range of online learning support materials. They will use Enquiry Based Learning process to explore the skills and concepts required to fully participate and learn in teams. The unit focuses on extending students’ engagement with the content in the other diploma units with a particular focus on scientific knowledge, effective reading and independent study strategies.

Assessment: Profile Page (5%), Online Tests x2 (40% total), Research Essay (30%), Team Presentation (25%)

Living organisms, with their many intricate and intriguing processes, are composed of lifeless molecules. SBIO1MGC takes a look at how those molecules are organised into the smallest unit of life, cells, across a range of organisms. SBIO1MGC also covers how those cells capture light energy, break down molecules to release energy, synthesise new molecules, communicate with other cells, and how the instructions to perform those functions are stored and passed on to the next generation.

Assessment: Online Quizzes (15% total), Clinical Skills Assessment (50%), Written assessment (35%)

Required for students in the Food and Nutrition pathway 

Chemistry Foundations is a subject designed for students who have no or little previous experience or study in chemistry. Students will learn concepts, knowledge and skills that will enable them to apply chemical principles and practice during their university degree and future employment.

Assessment: Workshop and Online Quizzes (25%), Laboratory Report (25%), Exam (50%)

Recommended for students in the Food and Nutrition pathway

Applications of Chemistry will continue exploring the core concepts in chemistry and build upon the knowledge from SCHE1CHF. Students will learn concepts, knowledge and skills that will enable them to apply chemical principles and practice during their university degree and future employment.

Assessment: Workshops Tests and Online Quizzes (25%), Laboratory Reports (25%), Exam (50%)

*** Please note students must enrol and pass SCHE1CHF Chemistry Foundations before enrolling in SCHE1APL Applications of Chemistry

In this subject you will discover how your brain works in creating your behaviour, how your brain and behaviour change across the lifespan, how, why and in what way you are different from other people. You will learn about how you sense the world and how you process and understand the information that arises from your senses.

Assessment: EAP Quiz (5%), Group Oral Presentations (15%), Individual Major Essay (30%), Online End-of-Trimester Exam (50%)

In this subject you will be introduced to key areas of psychology with a socio-cultural perspective. People share knowledge with others in society. The shared knowledge (i.e., culture) gives meanings to people’s lives as well as influencing their everyday behaviour, the sense of who they are, their personal relationships and psychological wellbeing. We will discuss psychology of individuals in diverse contexts to understand how personal experiences, including emotions, motivation, intimacy with others and health behaviours are shaped by cultural understanding and social expectations in those contexts.

Assessment: Self-Reflection Questionnaire (3%), Self-Reflection Video Assessment (12%), Major Essay (25%), Online Quizzes x3 (60% total)

To be eligible for a transfer into the Bachelor of Nursing after successful completion of Foundation Studies or the Diploma of Health Sciences, students will need to achieve the required WAM and achieve an IELTS score of 7.0 (no band less than 7.0) to demonstrate adequate English language proficiency to enter these courses.

International students applying for Bachelor of Nursing: Please note that to receive a package offer for Foundation Studies or the Diploma of Health Sciences leading to the Bachelor of Nursing, an IELTS of 6.5 (no band less than 6.5) is required.

To be eligible for a transfer into the Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) after successful completion of the Diploma of Health Sciences, students will need to achieve the required WAM and achieve an IELTS score of 7.0 (no band less than 7.0) to demonstrate adequate English language proficiency to enter these courses.

To be eligible for a transfer into the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) after successful completion of the Diploma of Health Sciences, students will need to achieve the required WAM and achieve an IELTS score of 7.0 (no band less than 7.0) to demonstrate adequate English language proficiency to enter these courses.

To be eligible for a transfer into the Bachelor of Podiatry (Honours) after successful completion of the Diploma of Health Sciences, students will need to achieve the required WAM and achieve an IELTS score of 7.0 (no band less than 7.0) to demonstrate adequate English language proficiency to enter these courses.

To be eligible for a transfer into the Bachelor of Paramedic Practice (Honours) after successful completion of the Diploma of Health Sciences, students will need to achieve the required WAM and achieve an IELTS score of 7.0 (no band less than 7.0) to demonstrate adequate English language proficiency to enter these courses.

To be eligible for a transfer into the Bachelor of Prosthetics and Orthotics (Honors) after successful completion of the Diploma of Health Sciences students must achieve the required WAM and achieve an IELTS score of 7.0 (no band less than 6.5) to demonstrate adequate English language proficiency to enter this course.

To be eligible for a transfer into the Bachelor of Orthoptics (Honours) after successful completion of the Diploma of Health Sciences students must achieve the required WAM and achieve an IELTS score of 6.5 (no band less than 6.0) to demonstrate adequate English language proficiency to enter these courses.

To be eligible for a transfer into the Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) after successful completion of the Diploma of Health Sciences students must achieve the required WAM and achieve an IELTS score of 7.5 (no band less than 7.0) to demonstrate adequate English language proficiency to enter this course.

International students applying for the Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours): Please note that to receive a package offer for a Diploma of Health Sciences leading to a Bachelor of Applied Science and Master of Speech Pathology, an IELTS of 7.5 (no band below 7.0) needs to be achieved before entering the Bachelor of Applied Science and Master of Speech Pathology.