M6001 Master of Advanced Health Care Practice

The course is structured in two parts: Part A. Foundations for advanced health care practice and Part B. Advanced specialist study. 

Part A. Foundations for advanced health care practice
In this part you will have the opportunity to complete scholarly practical studies that develop and expand your professional expertise.

Part B. Advanced specialist study
This study will provide you with specialist professional knowledge and advanced skills in research or advanced professional practice in your chosen specialisation. Specialisations offer the choice of either a coursework focus or a research focus. The research focus may provide a pathway to a higher degree by research.

Master's entry points

Depending on prior qualifications you may receive entry level credit (a form of block credit) which determines your point of entry to the course:

• If you are admitted at entry level 1 you complete 72 credit points, comprising Part A and Part B.
• If you are admitted at entry level 2 you complete 48 credit points, comprising Part B.

• If you are eligible for credit for prior studies you may elect not to receive the credit and complete one of the higher credit-point options.

Course progression map

The course progression map provides guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

The course comprises 72 points structured into two parts: Part A. Foundations for advanced health care practice (24 points) and Part B. Advanced specialist study (48 points).

Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.

Part A. Foundations for advanced health care practice (24 points)

You must complete one of the specialisations listed below.

NOTES:
- Some of the elective units listed within the specialisations may require on-campus participation. Please check the unit’s handbook entry to ensure that it suits your preferred study mode. Units which have on-campus requirements are not suitable for students wishing to study fully online.

- Some of the units listed within the specialisations may be intensive online units delivered over 6 weeks. Please refer to the unit's handbook entry for expected workload requirements. Requirements for intensive unit may not align with units delivered over a standard academic semester.

Medical imaging

You must complete 24 points from the following:

• RAD5500 Multislice CT and clinical decision making 
• RAD4502 Foundations of x-ray image interpretation 
• RAD5503 Magnetic resonance imaging: Physical principles, MR safety and image optimisation
• RAD5504 Magnetic resonance imaging: Musculoskeletal system
• RAD5505 Magnetic resonance imaging: Head, spine, abdomen and pelvis
• RAD5506 Magnetic resonance imaging: Advanced imaging techniques
• MAP4200 Improving Indigenous equity in professional practice or MAP5200 Improving Indigenous equity in professional practice*

Occupational therapy

You must complete 24 points from the following:

• AHC5001 Communication in health and disability
• APG5136 Mindfulness for workplace wellbeing and productivity
• MAP4200 Improving Indigenous equity in professional practice or MAP5200 Improving Indigenous equity in professional practice*
• MPH5255 Health and human rights
• MPH5288 Public health fundamentals
• MPH5266 Clinical leadership and management
• SWM5122 The child in society: Promoting children’s well-being and responding to abuse and neglect

*Note: MAP4200 will be replaced by MAP5200 commencing in 2026. You are not permitted to complete both of these units.

Paediatric physiotherapy

You must complete 24 points from the following:

• AHC5001 Communication in health and disability
• APG5136 Mindfulness for workplace wellbeing and productivity
• MAP4200 Improving Indigenous equity in professional practice or MAP5200 Improving Indigenous equity in professional practice*
• SRH5001 Introduction to research methods for health
• SRH5032 Applied research for health
• SWM5122 The child in society: Promoting children’s well-being and responding to abuse and neglect

*MAP4200 will be replaced by MAP5200 commencing in 2026. You are not permitted to complete both of these units.

Paramedicine

You must complete the following units:

• MPH5020 Introduction to epidemiology and biostatistics
• PAR5401 Foundations of advanced paramedic practice (12 points)
• SRH5001 Introduction to research methods for health

Radiation Therapy

You must complete a total of 24 credit points from the following lists:

List 1. You must complete at least 12 credit points from the following units:

• RTP5101 Patient care and assessment in radiation therapy (12 points)
• RTP5102 Current issues in radiation therapy and oncology (12 points)
• RTP5104 Advanced imaging for radiation therapy (12 points)

List 2. You may complete up to 12 credit points from the following units:

• AHC5001 Communication in health and disability
• APG5136 Mindfulness for workplace wellbeing and productivity
• MAP4200 Improving Indigenous equity in professional practice or MAP5200 Improving Indigenous equity in professional practice*
• SRH5001 Introduction to research methods for health
• SRH5032 Applied research for health

*MAP4200 will be replaced by MAP5200 commencing in 2026. You are not permitted to complete both of these units.

Part B. Advanced specialist study (48 points)

You must complete either a. the Research stream or b. the Coursework stream as detailed below.

Note: 

• If you are enrolled in the Occupational therapy specialisation, you may choose either the coursework stream, or the research stream option 2 research project. Option 1 minor thesis is not available.
• If you are enrolled in the Paramedicine specialisation, the coursework stream is not available. You must complete the research stream option 1 minor thesis only. Option 2 research project is not available.

a. Research stream

You must complete either Option 1 - Minor thesis, or Option 2 - Research project.

Note: research topics will focus on the relevant specialisation. 

Option 1 - Minor thesis

You must complete:

• SRH5003 Designing and conducting health research (12 points) 
• MAP5000 Research in advanced health professional practice (12 points)
• MAP5001 Preparatory minor thesis (12 points)
• MAP5002 Minor thesis (12 points)

Option 2 - Research project

You must complete:

• MAP5003 Essentials of advanced health care practice (12 points)
• SRH5003 Designing and conducting health research (12 points)
• MAP5000 Research in advanced health professional practice (12 points)
• MAP5010 Advanced health practice research project (12 points)

b. Coursework stream

You must complete 48 credit points from one of the following specialisations (continuing the same specialisation as chosen in Part A).

NOTES:
- Some of the elective units listed within the specialisations may require on-campus participation. Please check the unit’s handbook entry to ensure that it suits your preferred study mode. Units which have on-campus requirements are not suitable for students wishing to study fully online.

- Some of the units listed within the specialisations may be intensive online units delivered over 6 weeks. Please refer to the unit's handbook entry for expected workload requirements. Requirements for intensive unit may not align with units delivered over a standard academic semester.

- You may complete approved assessed short courses in place of elective units and apply for unspecified credit towards the elective credit point allocation. Credit limits apply, you must contact the course coordinator before enrolling in short courses. A list of approved short courses is available at the following webpage: https://www.monash.edu/medicine/spahc/study/master-of-advanced-health-care-practice/_nocache

- If you are enrolled in the Paramedicine specialisation the coursework stream is not available, you must take the research stream option 1 minor thesis.

Medical imaging

You must complete a total of 48 credit points from the following units:

Core unit:

• MAP5003 Essentials of advanced health care practice (12 points)

Additional units:

You must complete at least 24 points (up to a maximum of 36 credit points) from the following:

• RAD5105 Pathology for imaging*
• RAD5108 Musculoskeletal x-ray image interpretation 1 
• RAD5109 Musculoskeletal x-ray image interpretation 2 
• RAD5110 Advanced CT and clinical decision-making 1 (12 points)
• RAD5111 Advanced CT and clinical decision-making 2
• RAD5114 X-ray image interpretation of the chest and abdomen
• RAD5500 Multislice CT and clinical decision making
• RAD5503 Magnetic resonance imaging: Physical principles, MR safety and Image optimisation
• RAD5504 Magnetic resonance imaging: Musculoskeletal system
• RAD5505 Magnetic resonance imaging: Head, spine, abdomen and pelvis 
• RAD5506 Magnetic resonance imaging: Advanced imaging techniques 

*Note: RAD5105 will not be offered in 2025.

Elective units:

You may take up to 12 credit points from the following elective units:

• AHC5001 Communication in health and disability
• APG5729 Clinical ethics 
• ASC5001 Fundamentals of Addiction Science and Addiction Policy (12cp)
• MPH5255 Health and human rights
• MPH5288 Public health fundamentals
• MPH5266 Clinical leadership and management
• MPH5220 Introductory health economics
• RTP5002 Advanced practice in allied health (12cp)
• SRH5001 Introduction to research methods for health
• SRH5032 Applied research for health

Occupational therapy

You must complete a total of 48 credit points from the following units

Core units 
You must complete the following units:

• MAP5003 Essentials of advanced health care practice (12 points)
• OCC5161 Human occupation and health*

NOTE: OCC5161 is offered every second year.

Elective units

You must complete 30 credit points from the following:

• OCC5163 Advanced paediatric allied health practice for young children and their families*
• RTP5002 Advanced practice in allied health (12cp)
• AHC5001 Communication in health and disability
• APG5729 Clinical ethics
• ASC5001 Fundamentals of Addiction Science and Addiction Policy (12cp)
• MPH5255 Health and human rights
• MPH5288 Public health fundamentals
• MPH5266 Clinical leadership and management
• MPH5220 Introductory health economics
• SRH5001 Introduction to research methods for health
• SRH5032 Applied research for health
• SWM5122 The child in society: Promoting children’s well-being and responding to abuse and neglect

Paediatric physiotherapy

You must complete a total of 48 credit points from the following units

Core units

You must complete the following units:

• MAP5003 Essentials of advanced health care practice (12 points)
• PTY5105 Advanced paediatric clinical skills and project (12 points)

Additional units

You must complete at least 18 points (up to a maximum of 24 credit points) from the following:

• PTY5100 Enhancing skills in paediatric physiotherapy 
• PTY5101 Advancing skills in paediatric physiotherapy: Cerebral palsy
• PTY5102 Advancing skills in paediatric physiotherapy: Neonates and infants 
• PTY5104 Advancing skills in paediatric physiotherapy: Complex and chronic conditions 

Elective units

You may complete up to 6 points from the following units with approval by the course coordinator:

• OCC5163 Advanced paediatric allied health practice for young children and their families*
• AHC5001 Communication in health and disability
• APG5136 Mindfulness for workplace wellbeing and productivity
• MPH5255 Health and human rights
• MPH5288 Public health fundamentals
• SWM5122 The child in society: Promoting children’s well-being and responding to abuse and neglect

*NOTE: OCC5163 will not be offered in 2025

Radiation therapy

You must complete a total of 48 credit points from the following units

Core unit

You must complete:

• MAP5003 Essentials of advanced health care practice (12 points)

Radiation therapy practice units

You must complete at least 24 points (up to a maximum of 36 credit points) from the following:

• RTP5101 Patient care and assessment in radiation therapy (12 points)
• RTP5102 Current issues in radiation therapy and oncology (12 points)
• RTP5104 Advanced imaging for radiation therapy (12 points)
• RTP5105 Principles of adaptive radiation therapy (12 points)
• RTP5002 Advanced practice in allied health (12 credit points)

Elective units

You may complete up to 12 points from the following units with approval by the course coordinator:

• AHC5001 Communication in health and disability
• APG5729 Clinical ethics 
• APG5136 Mindfulness for workplace wellbeing and productivity
• MPH5020 Introduction to epidemiology and biostatistics
• MPH5255 Health and human rights
• MPH5288 Public health fundamentals
• MPH5220 Introductory health economics
• SRH5001 Introduction to research methods for health
• SRH5032 Applied research for health
• SWM5122 The child in society: Promoting children’s well-being and responding to abuse and neglect