Duration
1 Year Part-time
Study mode
Online
Intakes
January & July
FEE-HELP
Available
Nurse leaders and managers have to be acutely aware of the internal and external pressures that healthcare is facing and have the right skills and knowledge to be able to facilitate change in the 21st century to improve patient outcomes. An accomplished leaders and manager will need to be equipped to deal with financial, quality and human resource management built on the foundations of a sound knowledge of the healthcare system and organisational structure and culture.
Studying leadership and management with ACN will provide you with the order to improve your knowledge and skills to advance your career in healthcare leadership management. The aim is to encourage professional and ethical understanding of the impact of leadership and effective management on patient outcomes. Our course is written by specialist nurses, for nurses and students are supported by a team of clinical experts, working within the specialty.
Course overview
Capable clinical leaders and managers are pivotal to the health care system as they are required to manage human and financial resources to provide quality patient care. The Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Management is designed for registered nurses and midwives aspiring to management positions, as well as for those already holding such positions who wish to enhance their professional practice through formal study. The course aims to develop knowledge, skills and attitudes relevant to clinical leadership and management incorporating human resource management, financial management and quality processes. Through the exploration and integration of theoretical knowledge and concepts, nurses are prepared for their role as leaders and managers within the contemporary health care landscape. The units of study encourage students to draw upon their experiences, providing opportunities to reflect on and critique their knowledge, and abilities, in light of current literature, research and best practice guidelines.
Career outcomes
A Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Management is an investment in your future and will provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to ensure better outcomes for your patients and progress your career, leading to opportunities in healthcare management and higher nursing positions.
At successful completion of the course students should be able to:
- critically analyse leadership theories and styles
- reflect on management, motivation, and workplace culture required for effective leadership
- examine current evidence based practice that contributes to effective leadership and management
- appraise the process and applications of business planning to identify factors associated with funding and financial decision making
- analyse communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills required for effective leadership and management
- evaluate quality improvement systems and their impact on health care.
The Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Management is a one year course, consisting of four 10-week terms.
Students will need to complete 4 core units. One unit is studied per term.
Approximate hours of study are 12 – 15 hours per week.
Units of study
| Unit type | Unit name & pricing | Course codes |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 - Core | Introduction to Leadership and Management (249), Tier 1 | |
| Term 2 - Core | Human Resource Management (302), Tier 1 | |
| Term 3 - Core | Financial Management (303), Tier 1 | |
| Term 4 - Core | Quality (284), Tier 1 | |
ACN offers two intakes per year in January and July. Important dates including start and census dates can be found here.
Flexible intakes in April and October may be available, please contact our Customer Services team for further details.
Fees
| Tiers | 2023 Member price (10% discount) | 2023 Non-member price | 2024 Member price (10% discount) | 2024 Non-member price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | $2,196.00 | $2,440.00 | $2,308.50 | $2,565.00 |
| Tier 2 | $2,506.50 | $2,785.00 | $2,632.50 | $2,925.00 |
| Tier 3 | $2,947.50 | $3,275.00 | $3,096.00 | $3,440.00 |
| Tier 4 | $3,523.50 | $3,915.00 | $3,699.00 | $4,110.00 |
Fees are subject to change without notice.
ACN offers a flexible payment option allowing students to pay their fees on a term-by-term basis. Each term’s fees are due upfront, prior to term commencement.
FEE-HELP is also available for eligible students. Further information can be found here.
Want to save on course fees?
Being a part of the ACN community allows nurses to be the best they can be and strengthen the voice of nursing through a range of invaluable benefits, including 10% off graduate certificates and other education offerings, exclusive networking events, access to support and advice on ACN’s online engagement platform neo, free online CPD courses and opportunities to be involved in shaping health care policy. Find out more and join our tribe today!
Admission to a graduate certificate course is based on academic merit and selection. In addition, applicants must satisfy any prerequisites or additional requirements specified for particular courses, including ACN’s general eligibility criteria.
All applicants seeking admission are required to:
- hold a Bachelor of Nursing or registered nurse* equivalent qualification
- hold current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA); or the equivalent registering authority in your country of origin
- meet the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia English language skills registration standard (nursing and midwifery) – please refer to the AHPRA website to download the standard
- have a minimum of one year of postgraduate experience; and
- be currently employed in the clinical area of specialisation*
*For some GC units of study, consideration may be given for applicants who are not registered nurses on an individual basis.
Ashley Page MACN, Nurse Educator – Higher Education
RN, MHLM, Grad Cert Educ (Leadership), DipProfPract, CertIVTAE
Ashley coordinates and tutors for our Graduate Certificates in Acute Care and Leadership and Management. Ashley’s nursing experience includes roles in emergency nursing (15+ years) and management. Working as a Nurse Educator since 2012, Ashley is passionate about her role, which allows her to interact with nurses at different stages of their careers. Delivering quality education is a priority for Ashley, and her teaching focuses on helping students to apply theory into practice.
Please ensure you read all course information and make sure you meet entry requirements prior to commencing the application form.
Applications for enrolment will not be progressed until all relevant documentation has been received by Customer Services.
We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health care professionals to study this course. If you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person we encourage you to let us know in your application. If you require assistance with completing your application or support during the course, please don’t hesitate to let us know.
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Contact us
For general course information:
Customer Services
t: 02 9745 7500
e: customerservices@acn.edu.au
