Bachelor of Health Science

Course Structure

You are required to complete 16 units and either one eight-unit major or two four-unit minors. You can choose from the following options:

Four-unit minors

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
• Human and Community Wellbeing
• Introduction to Occupational Therapy
• Introduction to Physiotherapy
• Introduction to Podiatry
• Introduction to Speech Pathology
• Project Management
• Psychology for Health
• Public Health 
• Strategic Communications

Eight-unit majors

• Human and Community Wellbeing
• Public Health
• Strategic Communications

Unit information

For information on the units you could study as part of this course, visit the Handbook and select the "Course Structure" tab.

Credit transfer information

If you have already completed study relevant to the course you have enrolled in, you may be eligible for credit transfer.

Four-Unit Minors

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies minor

Many Indigenous Australians experience poorer health than other Australians, especially in rural, regional and remote communities. As such, they require care that is contextualised within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander systems of kinship, reciprocity and spirituality and which acknowledges the intergenerational effects of past government policies, discrimination and racism on the health and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians. In this minor, you will engage with colonialism taking you into the national context of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and perspectives in interface with non-Indigenous power and authority. You are enabled to make connections to the international, global, and colonial context. You will develop skill sets to critically investigate, argue and interpret issues around identity, nationalism and power, and to question issues and approaches that purport to be about ‘reconciliation’. You will develop your critical and ethical thinking skills and be enabled to be a transformative citizen skilled in the struggle for social justice.

Human and Community Wellbeing Minor

With an ageing population and an increase in services for people with disability, there is an unprecedented opportunity for professionals to work within the human service sector in Australia. This minor will introduce you to the human services sector in Australia and the concepts of social justice, inequality and disadvantage. You will gain practical skills in active listening and cross-cultural communication, and critically analyse different contexts for community work. You will gain an understanding of different organisational theoretical models to analyse and creatively consider organisational and system change. 

Introduction to Occupational Therapy minor

This minor is designed to introduce you to the profession of occupational therapy, including occupational, biomedical, and social foundations. Occupational therapists support people of all ages and their families to engage in their desired and required occupations and activities of daily life, optimising physical and mental health and wellbeing. During this minor you will be introduced to: the scope of contemporary occupational therapy practice; the history of occupational therapy; occupational therapy theories and models; foundational professional skills, including interviewing; how personal, environmental, and occupational factors can represent strengths and barriers to occupational engagement; and the support occupational therapists provide to people to achieve their goals. This minor is subject to quota availability.

Introduction to Physiotherapy minor

Physiotherapy is an exciting and rewarding allied health profession that has employment opportunities in hospital, community, sports and occupational settings. Physiotherapists work collaboratively with other healthcare providers to improve the quality of life for individuals with health and/or movement disorders. In this minor, you will develop an understanding of the ethical, legal and professional frameworks that underpin physiotherapy practice, including evidence-based and inter-professional healthcare. You will acquire basic knowledge and skills in the assessment of posture and movement, and the safe use of therapeutic massage, manual handling, and mobility aids in the context of physiotherapy practice. You will also be introduced to the physiological and biochemical determinants of exercise performance and develop basic skills in the assessment and prescription of exercise for healthy individuals. This minor is subject to quota availability.

Introduction to Podiatry minor

Podiatry is a specialised allied health profession focused on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of conditions related to the lower limb. This minor will introduce you to foundational aspects of podiatry practice including the standards and codes of practice for a podiatrist. You will gain knowledge in functional anatomy and biomechanics of the lower limb, learn how to set up a clinical workspace, apply infection control principles and conduct general assessments of the foot and lower limb.

Introduction to Speech Pathology minor

Speech Pathology is an exciting field that helps people overcome communication difficulties that prevent them from fully engaging with people around them. In this minor, you will develop an understanding and appreciation of how communication disorders across the lifespan create barriers to participation in community, education and employment. Strategies to facilitate the development of language in children and improved understanding and use of language to promote better health outcomes will also be explored. This minor is subject to quota availability.

Project Management minor

Effective project management is crucial in the health sector to ensure the successful execution of complex initiatives. This minor will introduce you to fundamental project management principles, provide skills in planning and managing project scope, risk and quality and an understanding of the project life cycle including initiation, planning, implementation, and project closing phases.

Psychology for Health minor

In this minor, you will be introduced to the social and cultural bases of human behaviour and the theory behind the skills and interventions that are commonly implemented with clients in applied health and sports settings. You will examine human lifespan development, including cognitive and social development, and investigate social psychology as well as abnormal psychology. Additionally, you will analyse individual and societal attitudes to psychoactive drug use by exploring the history of its use, drug policy, public health responses and current media representations.

Public Health minor

Public health is a dynamic field dedicated to safeguarding and enhancing the health of entire populations. The discipline of public health involves the study and application of various strategies to identify health-related concerns, prevent diseases, prolong life, and promote health on a community and global level. Within this minor, you will examine social determinants of health on both community and global scales. You will be introduced to different types of community assets and needs assessments, and apply fundamental health promotion concepts that can be applied in communities. You will also explore prominent public health issues that arise during and after disasters and compare and contrast traditional and contemporary community-based disaster management frameworks.

Strategic Communications minor

Strategic communication involves using contemporary communication approaches to reach diverse audiences. In the context of health, this may involve translating complex health information to diverse population groups. In this minor, you will become a critical consumer of information and learn how information is created, distorted, and shared in contemporary (online) environments. You will examine crisis management from a communications perspective, learn the processes involved in a successful communications campaign, and develop the skills required to create impact with individuals, organisations and the wider population. 

Eight-Unit Majors

Human and Community Wellbeing major

With an ageing population and an increase in services for people with disability, there is an unprecedented opportunity for professionals to work within the human service sector in Australia. With a focus on social justice, inclusivity and person-centred support, this major will provide you with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills required to communicate, engage and work with diverse population groups in your community. You will gain an understanding of social justice, inequality and disadvantage in Australia and how these principles underpin work in human services in Australia. You will gain practical skills in active listening, cross-cultural communication, case management and evidence-based practice. You will critically analyse different contexts for community work and develop strategic responses to a range of differing community contexts. This major will prepare you for employment within the human service sector and/or for future postgraduate studies.

Public Health major

Public health is a dynamic field dedicated to safeguarding and enhancing the health of entire populations. The discipline of public health involves the study and application of various strategies to identify health-related concerns, prevent diseases, prolong life, and promote health on a community and global level. Within this major, you will examine social determinants of health on both community and global scales and identify risk factors for lifestyle-related chronic conditions. You will be introduced to different types of community assets and needs assessments, and apply fundamental health promotion concepts that can be applied in communities. You will also appraise evidence from epidemiological investigations to understand the distribution of health outcomes in diverse populations and understand influential factors that determine this distribution.

Strategic Communications major

Strategic communication involves using contemporary communication approaches to reach diverse audiences. In the context of health, this may involve translating complex health information to diverse population groups. In this major, you will become a critical consumer of information and learn how information is created, distorted, and shared in contemporary (online) environments, and develop a critical awareness of new communication technologies and their impact on a global scale. You will learn the processes involved in a successful strategic communications campaign and work on real-world scenarios, enabling you to develop clear knowledge about how to communicate effectively, devise and implement strategies, and maintain relationships with stakeholders. You will examine crisis management from a communications perspective and develop skills for managing intense media scrutiny. The major will prepare you for employment within the health-related strategic communications sector.