Health services and support
What’s on offer for postgraduates?
Most postgraduate students in this field are doing coursework rather than research. Many programs are designed for those who are already qualified practitioners working in one of the many health professions. There are also some programs for graduates with qualifications and experience in other fields who need some knowledge about health and health services and support. These usually combine a focus on health science with studies in management, public policy, occupational health and safety, and the like. Alternative approaches to health care (e.g. acupuncture, naturopathy, herbal medicine, Chinese medicine) are making slower progress at the postgraduate than the undergraduate level.
Although many campuses offer programs in the health services and support field, the sub-divisions are so numerous that the range in a particular specialisation is sometimes more limited than you would expect at any one campus. However, if you can’t find what you want where you want it, a good number of programs
are now available through distance education. In fact, this field has one of the higher rates of external study.
If research is your ambition, you are likely to be better off looking at one of the established research institutions, not so much because the academics will be better, but because they will be better placed to open up the academic networks. You are also more likely to find a critical mass of research students and better access to resources and scholarships. But as always, check out the specifics, especially the strengths and weaknesses of possible supervisors.
The experience and rewards
Visit the University Ratings section for health services and support course ratings or to see how health services and support rates in the Fields of Study Compared table.
According to the national Course Experience Questionnaire survey, recent graduates of these programs are more than satisfied with their experience. Job prospects have skyrocketed in recent years, and salaries are also above average.
For more information
If you are interested in the health services and support field you should also look at the options in rehabilitation and perhaps some specialisations within nursing, the sciences, and sport and leisure studies.
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