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Psychology

Diploma of Health Science

Course overview

This course has been Accredited by TEQSA as an AQF Level 5 – Diploma course.

Psychology is about all of us. Our lived experiences, our feelings, thoughts, behaviours, understandings, interactions, and decisions. It’s also about the way we live with ourselves and others.

Psychologists may work across many different health areas such as mental health, human resources, child and family services, alcohol and drug counselling, rehabilitation and disability, migrant support or research and policy development. This diploma will give you the skills to analyse and research behaviour and explain interactions between people and their environment.

Duration

Year 1: 8 units (8-12 months)
Year 2: 8 units (12 months)

Intake Dates

Year 1: February, June, October
Year 2: February, July

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Campus Location

ECU Joondalup Campus West

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International Fees

2025 Year 1: A$26,500
2025 Year 2: A$36,500

Scholarships

Domestic Fees

2025 Year 1: A$16,400
2025 Year 2: A$17,600

FEE-HELP available

Leads to ECU

Your Diploma of Health Science can lead into ECU second year of this degree:

This degree is accredited with the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) and recognised internationally.

Domestic students must enrol minimum 2 units (30 credit points) per study period.

Career Opportunities

Human resources management, criminal justice, education, rehabilitation, business, mental health, counselling, and the administration and provision of social services; in particular, performing in any job or role that involves understanding and guiding human behaviour, showing empathy and compassion, and displaying skills such as the ability to evaluate the needs of a client, write formal reports, and keep accurate and organised records.

Diploma of Health Science (Year 1)

CRICOS Code 103337G

Stage 1 of this course consists of 8 units of study and can be completed over 2 or 3 trimesters. It provides opportunities for scaffolded learning and the development of core academic and employability skills.

This unit introduces the foundations of academic writing – from library research using databases, selection of approved academic resources, to writing paragraphs and essays, using the APA referencing system and delivering oral presentations using multi-media.  The unit also includes essential study skills to assist with time management, note-taking and the use of memory aids for study purposes.

Pre-Requisite Units: None

Tuition Pattern: Weekly 3hr Class

Credits: 15

This unit develops knowledge and skills in computing systems – software, hardware, digital security, communication networks, internet, information and data management. Students will develop their digital literacy and gain practical skills in specific computing applications from the Microsoft Office Suite. Students will also be introduced to some basic hands-on skills in program design using Pseudocode.

Pre-Requisite Units: None

Tuition Pattern: Weekly 3hr Class

Credits: 15

This unit is designed for students who require a general mathematics background suitable for studies in business, health sciences and computing/IT courses.  Students will learn to use a scientific calculator and develop critical thinking skills to identify, analyse, synthesize and solve mathematical calculations in arithmetic, statistics, algebra, functions and their graphs, optimisation, sequences, series, growth and decay, trigonometry, geometric sequences, series, set theory and interest.

Pre-Requisite Units: None

Tuition Pattern: Weekly 3hr Class

Credits: 15

Students will identify, analyse and apply communication, social and intercultural skills for effective interpersonal and workplace relationships.  This unit develops written skills, oral presentation skills and research skills, to prepare students for academic or professional environments.  Students will make connections between learning and future employability through topics such as effective workplace relationships, negotiation, managing conflict, and skills for teamwork and leadership.

Pre-Requisite Units: None

Tuition Pattern: Weekly 3hr Class

Credits: 15

This unit introduces concepts and skills used by managers to propose, plan, secure resources, budget and lead project teams to successful project completion.  Students will examine and apply fundamental principles, strategies and approaches for project management in a variety of contexts that are universally applicable across organisations and project types.

Pre-Requisite Units: None

Tuition Pattern: Weekly 3hr Class

Credits: 15

ICS100  Intercultural Studies

The unit introduces students to intercultural interaction in the contemporary world, focusing on multiple and diverse audiences, modalities, globalisation, cultural symbols and values, language, and interpretations of intercultural sites. Accounting for the international students’ experiences, they are given a practical introduction to relevant processes leading to expanding their cultural knowledge. Global citizenship, including intercultural communication skills, is introduced and enhanced, focusing on cultural diversity and contemporary implications for professional practice. Students will explore, report and present on their intercultural communication journey, and its’ relevance to their discipline / professional interests.

SCN110 Foundation Science

This integrated Science unit enables students to investigate science issues in the context of the world around them. It incorporates aspects of biology, chemistry, and physics, and is suited to students wishing to pursue a range of future career and study options. Integrated Science encourages students to be questioning, reflective and critical thinkers about scientific issues. Students develop a range of practical skills and techniques through investigations and fieldwork in context, and use scientific evidence to make informed decisions about scientific issues.

CHE100 – Introductory Chemistry

This Chemistry unit is designed for students who wish to study engineering, physical sciences or health sciences at a tertiary level. It covers the study of matter and its interactions (chemical quantities, atoms, states, chemical bonding, chemical calculations, electronic and molecular structures, organic and inorganic chemistry).   Students will develop skills in organising, analysing and interpreting information and use simulated activities to prepare for future laboratory work.

BUS129 – Introductory Marketing

This unit explains theoretical principles/practices for marketing in changing environments.  It introduces fundamental marketing concepts across many institutions (government, manufacturing, services and not-for-profit sectors) and how marketing concepts are applied in the real world.   Students identify, analyse and combine key marketing tools to develop a marketing mix for specific markets and market segments; identify, collect and evaluate data for different marketing requirements and apply them in simulated contexts.   Students will also investigate social media and develop communication skills as part of a marketing campaign pitch.

Diploma of Health Science (Year 2)

CRICOS Code 103337G

Stage 2 of this course consists of 8 units of study and can be completed over 2 semesters.

Semester 1 units

This unit introduces psychology and the role of the scientific method. It equips students with a basic understanding of psychology by examining the biological basis of behaviour as well as psychological health and disorders.

Pre-Requisite Units: None

Tuition Pattern: Weekly 3hr Class

Credits: 15

In this unit students are introduced to the population approach to illness and disease prevention. Known also as public health, this approach focuses on improving the health of populations and is multidisciplinary in nature. The history and examples of population health strategies are introduced. The health status of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians is discussed. The various population health professional disciplines and career pathways are identified. Concepts and skills relating to academic integrity, citation of references and English language written communication are also addressed.

Pre-Requisite Units: None

Tuition Pattern: Weekly 3hr Class

Credits: 15

Epidemiology examines the patterns and causes of disease in human populations. This unit introduces key concepts on how public health research and surveillance is undertaken, evaluated, and used in industry. Students will learn how to source, review, interpret and apply epidemiological literature to support their practice.

Pre-Requisite Units: None

Tuition Pattern: Weekly 3hr Laboratory

Credits: 15

This unit examines research and theories of motivation and emotion that address the question of why people behave as they do. A range of motivational explanations of behaviour are examined, and the roles of emotional and cognitive processes are considered. The unit includes applications of motivation theory to areas such as work, education, and sport.

Pre-Requisite Units: None

Tuition Pattern: Weekly 2hr Lecture, and weekly 1hr tutorial

Credits: 15

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Semester 2 units

This units deals with the methods and skills or organising, summarising and presenting numerical data. The concepts of estimation and hypothesis testing are studied, with the emphasis on analysing real data. Students will learn to use statistical software packages and be expected to work through the tutorial worksheets.

Pre-Requisite Units: None

Tuition Pattern: Weekly 3hr Laboratory

Credits: 15

This unit explores cross-cultural understanding through development of lifelong learning principles informed by professional and ethical considerations within health systems. Students will build culturally reflexive awareness by practising critical reflection of health practitioner knowledge, skills, attitudes, behaviours and power differentials to establish culturally safe environments for all concerned. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health will be the primary focus of the unit, however, cultural safety and cultural capability will be applied in several additional contexts including the significance of: individualism and collectivism, gender and sexuality, spirituality and religion, and attitudes toward mortality.

Pre-Requisite Units: None

Tuition Pattern: Weekly 3hr Class

Credits: 15

This unit examines the influence that other people, rules, customs, and the environment have on our behaviour. A particular emphasis is on applying the findings of social psychology to a wide range of human activities and settings. A social cognition framework will be applied to consider people in social situations.

Pre-Requisite Units: PSY1101D

Tuition Pattern: Weekly 3hr Class

Credits: 15

This unit focuses on the biopsychological and physiological bases of human behaviours, emphasising the influence of psychology on biology. In addition, the unit covers how nervous system structures, functions, and processes allow humans to have sensory and perceptual experiences, emphasising psychophysical methods of investigation.

Pre-Requisite Units: PSY1101D

Tuition Pattern: Weekly 2Hr Lecture, and weekly 1 hr tutorial

Credits: 15

*This unit is service taught on the ECU Joondalup campus.

^Mid-year starters will take this unit in the semester 2

+Mid-year starters will take this unit in the semester 1

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