Diploma of Health Science

The Diploma of Health Science at Torrens University Australia is a one-year qualification for people who want a grounding in health and public health before committing to a full degree, or who need a recognised credential to move into health promotion, community health or support work. It sits at the diploma level on the Australian Qualifications Framework, below a bachelor degree, and is delivered over two or three study periods depending on the campus and intake. You will study units in human biology, health and society, epidemiology and public health principles, communication for health professionals and research and academic skills. Assessment is a mix of exams, essays, group projects and practical work, and you will complete a set number of credit points to graduate.

What you actually study

The first study period builds your foundation in anatomy and physiology, the social determinants of health, and how the Australian health system is funded and organised. Later units cover health data and its limits, health promotion planning, and working with communities. You will learn to read a research paper critically, write a literature review, calculate basic health statistics and present a health message to a non-specialist audience. Teaching is face-to-face on campus with online support, and class sizes are small enough that tutors know your name.

How the diploma fits into further study

If you finish with the required grades, you can articulate into a bachelor degree at Torrens or another Australian university, usually with credit for the units you have passed. That means you may enter the second year of a Bachelor of Health Science or a related public health degree. Credit is granted unit by unit and depends on the receiving institution, so confirm the pathway with the admissions team before you enrol. The diploma also stands alone as a qualification for entry-level roles in community health, aged care and disability services, where employers look for a health-related diploma plus a police check and sometimes a first aid certificate.

Practical experience and who it suits

Work-integrated learning is built into the diploma through a community project or placement in a health or community organisation, where you apply what you have learned to a real brief. The diploma suits school leavers who did not get the ATAR they wanted, mature-age students returning to study, and people already working in health support who want a formal qualification to move into coordination or health promotion. It also suits international students who want an Australian qualification and a pathway to further study. International students on a Student visa can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while studying, and graduates may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream if they meet the requirements. English proficiency is required for admission; check the official Torrens University page for the exact IELTS or equivalent score and the current tuition fee on the CRICOS register (course code 099640E).

• Health promotion officer or assistant in local government, community health centres and non-government organisations
• Community health worker or support worker in aged care, disability services and Aboriginal community-controlled health organisations
• Public health project assistant in state health departments, primary health networks and research institutes
• Health information or intake officer in hospitals, general practices and allied health clinics
• Pathway to further study: bachelor degrees in health science, public health, nursing or health management, often with credit for completed units