| Am I eligible to apply for the course? |
If you are a health professional currently involved in teaching, supervision or educational development with a degree (of minimum three years duration) you are eligible. |
| What if I don’t have a degree (min 3 years duration)? |
You should contact the Course Coordinator to discuss equivalence possibilities. Consideration is given to your educational experience and the requirements of your current position. |
| Why should I choose this course over other graduate certificates? |
The GCHPE is specifically designed for you as a health professions teacher. The course covers the practical aspects of planning and implementing teaching, supervising learners, assessing learning and planning courses in clinical and non-clinical settings. The GCHPE program focuses upon clinical and health care settings, so it is more relevant to you as a health professional. Without doubt the most highly valued course characteristic identified by course participants every year is the opportunity to learn collaboratively with group members from a wide range of health professions. |
| How long does the course take |
The course is only available on a part-time study basis with the majority of Melbourne participants completing it in one year (2 semesters). It is also possible to complete the course in two years (4 semesters) and this is the preferred arrangement for Northern Territory and Nth West Victorian participants. |
| Is this a face-to-face or distance education course? |
The course is based on face-to-face attendance at Study Days for all but the Elective subjects. The number of Study Days varies between two and four days per subject, depending on the subject and location. Further details can be found on the study days page |
| Is credit or Recognition of Prior Learning available? |
Yes, we can provide up to 12 credit points (50% of the course) of RPL for suitable studies in teaching and learning. |
| How much does the course cost? |
The whole course costs domestic Australian students $8,020 in 2009. Course fees are tax-deductible and fee assistance is available for eligible applicants. Further details can be found on the GCHPE fees page |
| Do I have to pay for the entire course up front? |
No. If you are a full-fee paying candidate you will only have to pay for subjects on a semester-by-semester basis, so roughly $2000 per subject, which is consistent with this level of postgraduate study around the country. |
| How will the course benefit me? |
Graduates' feedback has clearly identified the course's value in building confidence and expertise in all aspects of teaching and supervision. The qualification is widely recognised in health professional education as a basis for development as an educational leader. The course is overseen by a committee representing the health professions, so course content is constantly reviewed for relevance to each profession. |
| Who will I be completing the course with? |
In 2009 the course is offered in Melbourne, Bendigo (North Western Victoria) and the Northern Territory with almost 60 course participants in total from the professions of dietetics, psychology, nursing, medicine, medical imaging, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and emergency health. Everyone learns in a small group comprised of course participants from a range of health professions. On average, about 40% of the participants are doctors, 35% nurses and 25% from allied health and probationary faculty staff members. |
| What time commitment will the course require? |
A course participant who completes the course in one year will on average spend approximately five hours per week on course-related work in addition to the Study Day attendances. |
| What sorts of learning and assessment activities does the course involve? |
The Study Days are based on small group activities supplemented with expert input. Assessment activities include peer-teaching, preparation of teaching plans, written papers that focus on practical aspects of your teaching and the planning and implementation of clinical skills teaching and assessment activities relevant to each participant's own needs. So you can start using what you are studying in your workplace straight away. |
| Will I have to sit any exams? |
No. This course is not assessed by examination |
| I haven’t studied in a long time. Will I be able to write at an appropriate level for this course? |
This concern is not unusual. If you haven't written an essay for quite a while, we provide academic writing support for candidates just like you, to ensure you are able to write effectively for this course. |
| What if I find the course is difficult to balance with everything else in my life? |
The Course Coordinator and teaching team members are genuinely sensitive to the needs of busy health professionals attempting to balance work and family commitments with course requirements and will provide supportive and confidential advice that will help you complete the course. Our primary concern is participants' wellbeing and we routinely support them in competing course activities in a balanced way. |
| Does the course lead to any other qualifications? |
The GCHPE is a Masters-level course of study and articulates directly to the Monash University Master of Health Professional Education. The GCHPE is fully recognised as RPL towards the MHPE and, in most cases, is the first stage of the MHPE program. |
| Is the course recognised outside Australia? |
The course is recognised nationally and internationally as an appropriate qualification in health professional education. |
