Back to Find Courses page

Graduate Certificate in Diabetes Education and Management

Graduate Certificate

Course snapshot

Domestic snapshot

  • Start Date

    View in availability

  • Duration

    8 months part-time
    Available part-time only. Students undertake one unit per term for four terms.

  • Location

    View in availability

  • Placements

    Yes

  • Course abbreviation

    GradCertDEM

  • Course code

    1007289

  • Credit points

    48

  • Equivalent units

    4

  • Indicative Fee

    Commonwealth supported

Overview

More than 1.2 million Australians are living with diabetes. Now in epidemic proportions, fighting this condition is one of the major challenges facing Australian and global healthcare systems.

Play your part in improving diabetes knowledge, awareness, and self-management with this specialised postgraduate program. This course is designed to qualify nurses, midwives, dietitians, pharmacists, medical practitioners, podiatrists, exercise physiologists and physiotherapists as diabetes educators. 

This important program links theory and practice, providing specialist knowledge about all aspects of diabetes, including its causes, complications, management and education strategies. A highlight is a professional placement flanked by a credentialled diabetes educator mentor.

Graduates can consider career opportunities offering diabetes-related services in private practice or other areas of the health industry.

Course Learning Outcome

GA1: Intellectual rigour

Operate effectively with and upon a body of knowledge of sufficient depth to begin professional practice as a Diabetes Educator

GA2: Creativity

Develop effective problem solving skills, capable of applying logical, critical and creative thinking to a range of problems.

GA3: Ethical practice

Develop an understanding of health practice informed by ethical and legal principles.

Demonstrate commitment to ethical action and social responsibility as a professional and citizen

GA4: Knowledge of a discipline

Practice as a Diabetes Educator with the knowledge and skills to be a valued member of the Diabetes team.

Embrace the multidisciplinary nature of diabetes management and seek to gain knowledge and skills in these areas

GA5: Lifelong learning

Prepare for lifelong learning in pursuit of personal development and excellence in professional practice

GA6: Communication and social skills

Communicate effectively both in written and oral form and in professional practice as a member of the community

Apply skills, to work both autonomously and collaboratively as a professional.

GA7: Cultural competence

Embrace and respect multiculturalism and the diversity of Australian society, and international perspectives as a professional and as a citizen

You are required to undertake 40 hours of clinical placement within a recognised diabetes service with, as a minimum, a credentialled diabetes educator as a mentor. The importance of linking theory to practice is fundamental to student learning and to ensure graduates have the confidence to apply their knowledge and skills with clients in professional settings.

The 40 hours of placement is a mandatory component of the course. Clinical placement occurs following completion of three units and generally occurs in Term 4 for those undertaking the complete 8-month course. For those students who defer, placement may occur once three units have been successfully completed. Placements are organised by the Professional Experience Unit at Southern Cross University.

Professional experience placements require students to fulfil certain prerequisites prior to attending placement (e.g. a working with children check and National Police Certificate). Prior to applying for a course offered by the Faculty of Health, please consider the important information regarding these requirements.

Students gain knowledge and skills within the areas of primary health, chronic disease, teaching, management and leadership, research, client self-management and counselling. They gain an in-depth understanding of the diabetes disease process and management options, including medications for therapeutic effectiveness, problem solving for high and low blood glucose levels and reducing the risks of chronic complications.

Location Teaching period UAC code QTAC code
Online Term 1 N/A N/A

Career Outcomes

This course is accredited by the Australian Diabetes Educators Association (ADEA). Graduates are encouraged to pursue credentialing by the ADEA. The title Credentialled Diabetes Educator (CDE) is well recognised not only in Australia but overseas. Only those diabetes educators who have completed the ADEA credentialing program are awarded the title CDE.

Requirements

We encourage you to apply for the courses you most want to study. If you are not eligible to enter your chosen course right now, our team will work with you to find the best pathway option.

Before applying, make sure you double check all entry requirements, gather required documentation and review the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, noting any specifics listed below.

Entry requirements

All applicants must:

  1. hold a bachelor degree or equivalent qualification, and hold current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) as either a Nurse, Midwife, Dietitian, Medical Practitioner, Pharmacist, Podiatrist, Exercise Physiologist, Physiotherapist, Optometrist; OR
  2. hold current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner.

Please note: If you are an AHPRA registered Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner applying to the course you will need to complete additional steps for applying for initial credentialling to become a Credentialled Diabetes Educator through the Australian Diabetes Educators Association. Find out more about that process here: https://www.adea.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Guidelines-for-the-Credentialling-of-Aboriginal-and-Torres-Strait-Island-Health-Professionals.pdf  

 

Language requirements

English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for entry to this course are as follows

CategoryScore
Overall Score7.0
Reading7.0
Writing7.0
Listening7.0
Speaking7.0

Course requirements

To be eligible to receive the Graduate Certificate in Diabetes Education and Management students must complete the equivalent of 4 units (48 credit points), comprising all core units.

Inherent Requirements
Inherent Requirements apply to this course as defined on the Student Equity and Inclusion website. Students who have a disability or health condition which may impact on their ability to meet these requirements are encouraged to visit the Student Equity and Inclusion website for further information and contact details.

Course structure

Your course progression is in the recommended order you should complete your course in. It is important that you follow this to ensure you meet the course requirements. For further assistance see How to Enrol in Units using My Enrolment.

Students should use course progression information to select units specific to their course and enrol in these units using My Enrolment.

Unit Code Unit Title Available Credit points Notes

Complete units in the following order to satisfy the Requirements of the Award

HBIO5001 Pathophysiology and Diabetes in a Global Context
Term1
12
Location Domestic International
Online
Term1
Term1
Enrolment information Please note this unit has assessments scheduled in Week 7. Details will be provided closer to the time.
PBHL5001 Managing Diabetes as a Chronic Condition
Term2
12
Location Domestic International
Online
Term2
Term2
Pre-requisites HBIO5001 - Pathophysiology and Diabetes in a Global Context
PBHL5004 Diabetes Self-management Education Theory and Practice
Term3
12
Location Domestic International
Online
Term3
Term3
Pre-requisites HBIO5001 - Pathophysiology and Diabetes in a Global Context
PBHL6001 Diabetes Management in Health Systems and Settings
Term4
12
Location Domestic International
Online
Term4
Term4
Pre-requisites HBIO5001 - Pathophysiology and Diabetes in a Global Context AND PBHL5001 - Managing Diabetes as a Chronic Condition AND PBHL5004 - Diabetes Self-management Education Theory and Practice
Enrolment information This unit contains Work Integrated Learning (WIL) that requires students to meet mandatory fit to practice obligations prior to attending. Failure to comply by the fit to practice deadline will result in the cancellation of your WIL and you will not be permitted to continue in this unit. Full details are available at www.scu.edu.au/health/work-integrated-learning.

Unit Code Unit Title Notes

Core Units
HBIO5001 Pathophysiology and Diabetes in a Global Context
PBHL5001 Managing Diabetes as a Chronic Condition
PBHL5004 Diabetes Self-management Education Theory and Practice
PBHL6001 Diabetes Management in Health Systems and Settings