Lead positive change with the ability to research and present solutions to key stakeholders using the latest evidence-based theories in health practice.
Further, develop the interpersonal skills needed for effective healthcare leadership, from social and emotional competence, leading effective learning and development of strategy.
Learn contemporary theory, compare health systems, practices and policies to improve quality and efficiencies of services by taking advantage of the latest technology.
The online Master of Healthcare Leadership has 11 core units and one elective unit. Learn more about the units you need to study as part of your online healthcare leadership degree below.
This unit introduces you to an evidence-based approach to health practice.
This unit broadens and deepens your understanding of literature analysis and research design in relation to an area relevant to professional practice.
In this unit, you will design and produce a research proposal for future work opportunities.
Evaluate and critically reflect on leadership, applying this knowledge to drive change and innovation.
Examine health service management from a strategic and planning perspective.
This unit explores health systems, policies and practices.
Analyse the role of accountability, as well as evaluate the concepts of professional accountability within organisations.
Extend your theoretical knowledge in addition to your social and emotional skills to improve communication, teamwork and client safety.
This unit focuses on developing problem-solving skills that inform clinical practice.
In this unit, you will reflect on your own professional practice and learning, planning strategies to collect, select and reflect on evidence to include in a professional portfolio.
Hone your leadership skills in a clinical learning environment.
This unit will expose you to critical exploration and practical application of the core contexts of mental health within the Australian healthcare system.
This unit emphasises the life stage and bio-psycho-social contexts specifically related to providing effective engagement and interventions.
Explore the roles of a mental health professional in the 21st century, within the context of mental health outside of, but articulating with tertiary services.
Explore the experiences of people with complex mental health presentations, co-morbidity and risk behaviours.
Ensure patient physical health needs are being addressed within holistic mental health assessment, diagnosis and interventions.
In this unit, you will cover behaviour change as a construct, neurophysiology, motivational interviewing and the influences of mental health on behaviour.
In this unit, you will study organisations and the individual, interpersonal and group processes and the organisational system.
In the Data Management unit, you will gain an overall understanding of database concepts and theory.
Explore a diverse range of leadership styles, preparing you for a bright future in leadership or management.
This unit looks at the aims and goals of HR and its role in business.
We know that plans change, which is why we’ve built flexible completion options into this course. If you need to exit early, you could still receive a graduate diploma or Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Leadership.
Or continue studying
Or continue studying
The skills I have developed in this course have contributed to changes in my practice which have then been passed on to my staff and the organisation. No knowledge gained from this course has or will ever be wasted.
Kamala Skinner
Master of Healthcare Leadership Graduate
The course is challenging yet rewarding and relevant to healthcare professionals working in the complex environments of the Australian healthcare system. Some of the advantages of learning online is that you choose the times when you study to suit your lifestyle and being able to meet and learn with other healthcare professionals from around Australia and overseas.
Carolyn Baker
Master of Healthcare Leadership Graduate
My learnings have enabled me to expand my knowledge of critical thinking and with this in mind, I feel I have developed better ways to problem solve. I have also focussed more on reflective practice and self-reflection.
Dave Levings
Graduate Certificate in Health and Human Sciences
As a mother of two children, and working as a Clinical Coordinator at St Vincent's Private Hospital, studying a MHL at SCU Online has provided flexibility for study time, family life and work committments.
Donna Kelly
Master of Healthcare Leadership Graduate and Clinical Coordinator at St Vincents Private Hospital
Current SCU Online Master of Healthcare Leadership students and graduates work across many roles in the healthcare industry. Below is a snapshot of some of these roles and jobs.
The online Master of Healthcare Leadership is designed to give you a broad, interdisciplinary perspective on the changing face of healthcare. You might be a registered nurse with many years of experience and want to move out of direct care, or you might be from an allied health background, such as physiotherapy, osteopathy, counselling or optometry, wanting to start your own practice. Whatever your health background, completing a Master of Healthcare Leadership online gives you more flexibility, more opportunities, and more transferable skills you can take with you into the future.
This degree focuses on building interdisciplinary leadership skills. Whatever your health background, completing a Master of Healthcare Leadership gives you more flexibility, more opportunities and more transferable skills you can take with you into the future.
SCU Online's Master of Healthcare Leadership (MHL) aims to develop the interpersonal skills needed for effective healthcare leadership, from social and emotional competence to leading effective learning and development of strategy.
MHL graduate Jayne Parish says, "The practicality of the course allowed me to demonstrate theory in practice immediately and I use the skills learned in this course every single day. My managers have noticed the changes, and even the CEO recently commented that my growth as a leader in the past few years has been considerable."
She continues, "the breadth and width of the course provided a complete package of skills. Learning how to lead change in an organisation, understanding strategic health management, being able to critically review literature, integrating principles and practice of clinical accountability in service delivery, developing better teaching and supervision skills for a clinical settings, practicing clinical accountability, being able to create a pitch proposal – these are all huge components of leadership."
To qualify for entry into the Master of Healthcare Leadership, all applicants must:
Find out more about Rules Relating to Awards and Specific Award Rules.
The Southern Cross University Online Master of Healthcare Leadership requires you to complete 12 units. With six study periods a year, you could complete those 12 units in two years when studying part-time.
To gain your Master of Healthcare Leadership you will complete eleven core units and one (1) elective unit.
Below are some of the key learning outcomes of our Master of Healthcare Leadership.
Use contemporary theory to drive change:
Become a strategic healthcare leader:
Adapt to changing healthcare systems:
We may recognise and grant credit for past education, qualifications and/or work experience in a process called advanced standing. If you're eligible for advanced standing, this can impact the number of units you need to study, reducing the time and cost of your overall degree.
Find out more about applying for advanced standing.
