Take charge and seize new opportunities in health and community care.
Health and community care faces a new world with a focus on care from home. This community care is associated with a range of different health situations experienced by people of all ages and backgrounds. Be one of the first to gain a tertiary education in the growing and fast-changing health and community care industry.
- Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.
- * Estimated tuition fees are based on 2025 rates. Refer to international fees for more information.
- Not all majors/minors and elective options are available at every campus. You should refer to the What Can I Study tab, and the proposed study sequence for your chosen campus and intake for further information.
Health and community care faces a new world with a focus on care from home. This community care is associated with a range of different health situations experienced by people of all ages and backgrounds. Be one of the first to gain a tertiary education in the growing and fast-changing health and community care industry.
The program focuses on analysing health care trends, managing human resources, providing workplace education and training, and coordinating complex care situations. Learn as you engage with a range of activities designed to help you appreciate the way that people experience care designed to maximise their potential health and well-being. You will be able to choose from careers that can include a respite care coordinator, leisure and lifestyle coordinator, aged care manager and a staff development officer. You will also be in a position to prepare for jobs growth through the government’s National Disability Insurance Scheme and Aged Care Reform. As a result of this scheme, thousands of people will be eligible to receive care based in the community, and you can be one of the first to provide it.
If you have TAFE qualifications and aspire to coordinator or management roles, there is now a pathway that takes advantage of our strong relationship with local and regional TAFE providers.
Career opportunities
This program prepares knowledgeable and skilled graduates to work within the dynamic, health and community care sector. You can work as a leisure and lifestyle coordinator, respite care coordinator, aged care manager, staff development officer, practice manager, quality assurance officer.
Post-admission requirements
Before undertaking work place learning, students must undergo a criminal history check and obtain a Blue Card. Refer to Program requirements and notes.
Program structure
Introductory courses (5)
COR109 Teaching Practice 2
BUS104 Teaching Reading and Writing
HLT133 Curriculum A Primary Years P-7
HLT134 The Diverse Learner across Early Childhood Contexts
NUR131 Teaching Mathematics Years P-7
Advanced courses (11)
HLT231 Curriculum B Primary Years P-7
HLT301 Introduction to Social Work
HLT331 Direct Practice 1
HRM210 Theories for Practice: Power, Oppression and the "Good Society"
HRM220 Engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
HRM311 Master of Social Work Field Education 1
HRM312 Advanced Social Research
HRM321 Advocacy and Leadership in Social Policy and Legal Contexts
NUR222 Children, Youth and Families: Challenges, Critique and Change
NUR332 Direct Practice 2
PLUS select 1 course from:
HLT326 Social Work in Health and Mental Health
WPL310 Master of Social Work Field Education 2
Minor courses (4)
Select 1 minor from:
Community Care
Health Promotion
Small Business Management
Elective courses (4)
Select 4 elective courses from either faculty (Arts, Business and Law or Science, Health, Education and Engineering).
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 288
Recommended study sequences
- (Sippy Downs) Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Sippy Downs) Semester 2 commencement (July)
- (Gympie) Study Plan - Semester 1 Commencement (February)
- (Gympie) Study Plan - Semester 2 commencement (July)
- (Sippy Downs) Certificate IV pathway - Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Sippy Downs) Diploma pathway - Semester 1 commencement (February)
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 288 units as outlined in the Program Structure.
- Complete no more than 10 introductory courses, including the core course
- You must select and register your compulsory major(s)/minor(s) as soon as possible
Program notes
- Hold a valid Suitability Card (Blue Card), which is issued by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian (CCYPCG). You should allow 12 weeks for CCYPCG to issue the card. Note: students who do not possess a valid Blue Card will be unable to complete the work place learning component of their program and will be unable to meet graduation requirements
- Have a National Criminal History check (by Queensland Police Service or other state / territory authority)
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses)
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations. Not all courses will necessarily include all methods
- As part of your USC program, you may apply to Study Overseas to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa
- Refer to the Planning your study page to manage your progression
- You may wish to use electives to complete an additional major or minor
- Register your selected major(s) and/or minor(s)