Graduate Certificate in First Nations Public Health

Duration
0.5 years full-time, 1 year part-time
Location
Online
Next start term
Term 2, 2026
Study mode
On Campus, Online
Course code
CM05
First-year fee
$6,800 (2026 Indicative) (CSP)
$18,000 (2026 Indicative) (FFP)
Commonwealth Supported Places available, offering significant fee savings.

Overview

Ideal for health professionals, the Graduate Certificate in First Nations Public Health is designed to deepen your understanding of public health, systems thinking, and culturally responsive practice across the health and social service sectors.

With a strong emphasis on Indigenous knowledge systems, relational ethics, and community-led approaches, the course fosters the development of respectful, reflective, and effective practitioners who can navigate complex health landscapes with cultural humility and integrity.

You will critically engage with the historical and contemporary determinants of health affecting First Nations peoples, while exploring frameworks that privilege Indigenous voices, leadership, and lived experience. The course encourages systems-level thinking and ethical responsiveness, preparing you to contribute meaningfully to equitable and culturally safe health outcomes.

Study Experience

Discover more about your postgraduate First Nations public health degree, offering flexible study options and significant fee savings for eligible students. Click 'Explore Study Experience' for more information.

Career Opportunities

This Graduate Certificate is designed to deepen health professionals’ understanding of public health, systems thinking, and culturally responsive practice across the health and social service sectors. With a strong emphasis on Indigenous knowledge systems, relational ethics, and community-led approaches, the course fosters the development of respectful, reflective, and effective practitioners who can navigate complex health landscapes with cultural humility and integrity.

Structure & Availability

The course structure and available locations can change depending on when you want to study. 

You can choose the intake that best suits you in the drop-down menu below. Visit the Academic Calendars webpage for key dates relevant to your chosen intake.

Available Locations

Your Course

You must complete four units (24 credits):

  1. 1
    The core structure (4 units)

Unit Details

The units you'll study are listed below. Click on a unit to learn more.

Course Planner

To help you plan your studies and see which unit comes first, if one unit should be completed before another and the term you will study each unit, check out our course planners.

Browse course planners

Additional Information

If you have prior experience or have studied previously, you may be eligible for credit or recognition of prior learning (RPL), which can help reduce your study load and the time it takes to complete your degree.

Learn more about credit and RPL, including application timelines and the overall process.

This course does permit you to defer your offer and commence at a later date.

Learn more about the offer process.

Requirements

To Be Eligible

For your application to be considered, you must meet the following entry requirements. 

During Your Study

While not needed to apply, you'll need to meet the following requirements throughout your studies. 

Fees & Scholarships

Indicative First-Year Fee

The Indicative First-Year Fee is the approximate cost of enrolling in this course for one academic year depending on the type of place you are offered, for example, a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) or Full Fee Paying (FFP) Place. For a graduate certificate, this is usually four units studied full-time over one term or part-time over two terms. The indicative fee should be used as a guide only. Your actual fees may vary depending on the units you select to study and your study load. Check the Cost per Unit spreadsheet available on our Understanding Course Fees webpage

Fees are reviewed each year and are subject to change. Fee estimates for the following year are expected to be available in September each year.

Commonwealth Supported Places

With Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) available for this course in 2026, you may be eligible for significant fee savings, provided you meet CSP eligibility requirements. CSPs are subsidised by the Australian Government, meaning you are only required to pay the student contribution rather than full tuition fees.

If you are not eligible for a CSP or if CSPs are full, you will be required to pay full fees.

Important

If you are a new student and are offered a CSP, you must submit an eCAF (electronic Commonwealth Assistance Form) with the Australian Government to confirm your place, even if you are ineligible for or don’t intend to use a HECS-HELP Loan.

This is a Government requirement, and if you don’t submit before your commencing census date, your enrolment for the term will be cancelled.

HECS-HELP

You may be eligible for a HECS-HELP government loan if you are offered a CSP. HECS-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme that assists you in paying your student contributions. Provided you meet the HECS-HELP eligibility criteria, you may use HECS-HELP to defer part or all of your student contribution fees. 

Learn more about paying for university.

Part of your course costs will include Student Services and Amenities Fees (SSAF). SSAF is charged in addition to your student contribution or tuition fees and is used to help enhance your study experience. There may also be other costs as part of your studies, such as textbooks, technology expenses, travel expenses, professional certifications, uniforms, or vaccinations. 

Explore other study costs.

How to Apply

How to Apply

Check what you need to do to apply to study this course. 

Your Application Options

Extra Admission Information

Learn about the assessment of applications and everything you need to know about receiving and accepting an offer to study with CQU.

Start Your Application

Use the Apply button below to access our Apply Online portal and start your application.