Bachelor of Health Services Management

The Bachelor of Health Services Management at Charles Darwin University is a three-year degree for people who want to run the business side of health care. You study how hospitals, clinics, community health organisations and aged care providers are funded, staffed and regulated in Australia. Expect units in health economics, health law and ethics, human resource management, financial management, quality and safety, and health information systems. You also look at the Australian health system itself, Medicare, private health insurance, the National Disability Insurance Scheme, and how the states and territories share responsibility with the Commonwealth.

How the degree is structured

Australian bachelor degrees are made up of units of study, each worth a set number of credit points. A standard full-time load is eight units a year, and you need to pass a required total of credit points to graduate. Charles Darwin University runs most courses on a semester calendar, though some units are offered in summer or winter sessions and a few can be taken online or in mixed mode. The degree usually includes a set of core management and health units, a choice of electives, and a final-year capstone unit where you work through a real management problem or project. Work-integrated learning is common in this field, so you may complete a placement in a health service, an aged care facility, a government health department or a non-government organisation. Placement hours and any checks you need before you start, such as a police clearance or immunisation evidence, are set out by the university, confirm the current requirements on the official course page.

What you actually learn

By the end you should be able to read a budget and explain where the money goes, interpret health policy and work out what it means for your organisation, manage rosters and staff performance, handle complaints and incidents, and use data to improve patient care. You also build the writing and speaking skills to brief a board, negotiate with a funding body, or explain a decision to a clinical team. The Northern Territory setting matters here. CDU works with health services across the Territory, including remote and Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, so you get exposure to the practical problems of delivering care across very large distances with small teams.

Who it suits

This degree suits school leavers who want a health career without a clinical role, and people already working in health, aged care or disability services who want to move into coordination, team leadership or management. It also works for career changers from business, government or community organisations. If you are an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session. After you finish, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may let you stay and work in Australia, depending on your circumstances. English requirements for entry are published by the university, and the Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa. Tuition is listed on the CRICOS register under course code 0101043. Check the official course page for entry requirements, unit lists, placement details and fees before you apply.

• Health services manager or assistant manager in public hospitals, private hospitals and day surgery centres
• Practice manager in general practice, dental or allied health clinics
• Aged care coordinator or facility manager in residential and home care providers
• Team leader or service coordinator in disability and community health organisations
• Project officer or policy officer in state, territory or Commonwealth health departments
• Administration and operations roles in Aboriginal community-controlled health organisations
• Patient services, quality and safety, or health information officer roles
• Officer in health insurers, primary health networks and non-government health organisations