Are you thinking about studying a Master of Healthcare Leadership? At SCU, we’re cultivating the leaders of tomorrow, today, right in our very own backyard. We aim to provide an exceptional education experience through our unique learning model and innovative online platform. We’re committed to lifelong learning and providing equal access to education for everyone, regardless of background or location. As one of the top universities in the world at only 25 years young, we’re pioneers in online education and have been doing so since 2015. We’re a rising, dynamic university that is proud to be a game changer and leader in education. That’s the SCU Online difference and why you should study a Master of Healthcare Leadership online with us.
Own your educational journey by having the flexibility to manage your study, work and life commitments, without impacting your overall course progress.
Build interdisciplinary leadership skills you can apply in any health setting, including public hospital, private practice and aged care.
Apply your advanced/expert leadership skills and knowledge of the latest technologies in the strategic planning, response and effective management of change in an evolving industry.
Find the ideal balance between work, life and study through our unique seven-week study units. Apply the knowledge and skills you learn immediately to real-world situations.
At SCU Online, we stand for our community. We’re committed to offering a vibrant teaching, learning, research and cultural environment to help you achieve your career goals.
Receive academic and non-academic support to assist with your study from enrolment through to graduation. Have full access to SCU campuses, including the library and other facilities.
What will you be studying for the Master of Healthcare Management degree with SCU Online?
Students studying the Master of Healthcare Leadership online will study 11 core units and choose one elective unit. Learn more about the units you will study as part of the Master of Healthcare Leadership 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
As a Master of Healthcare Leadership graduate, you’ll be equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to become a true leader in healthcare, leveraging emerging opportunities and making a positive impact in a rapidly evolving healthcare industry. Here’s a quick preview of potential career options and their corresponding salary outcomes:
Nurse Manager, typical annual salary: $120,000
Nurse Unit Manager, typical annual salary: $128,000
Clinical Lead, typical annual salary: $110,000
Clinical Manager, typical annual salary: $115,000
Consultant Manager, typical annual salary: $165,000
Care Director, typical annual salary: $130,000
Wellbeing Manager, typical annual salary: $125,000
*Salary outcomes captured by Seek.com.au, accurate as of September 2023.
Lead change and innovation within health and social care contexts by developing innovative solutions using the latest evidence-based theories in health practice.
Develop a range of interpersonal and practical skills you can apply to formulate, implement and evaluate effective strategies in health service management/settings.
Learn contemporary theory and the latest relevant technologies, comparing health systems, practices and policies to improve quality and efficiencies of services.
Dr Sarah Tillott is a mother, a researcher and a teacher, and she has university qualifications in the areas of health and education. With ten years of teaching at university, Sarah built the University of Wollongong's (UOW) Academic Resilience Framework, and has received several outstanding teaching and learning awards. By utilising her experience and expertise, Sarah is available to assist SCU Online Master of Healthcare Leadership students through:
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
Intakes: Jan, Mar, May, July, Aug, Oct
Duration: 8 months part-time
Intakes: Jan, Mar, May, July, Aug, Oct
Duration: 2 years part-time
Intakes: Jan, Mar, May, July, Aug, Oct
Duration: 2 years part-time
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.
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.
Advanced standing focuses primarily on receiving credit from previous academic study, such as an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, while RPL encompasses a wider range of learning experiences as well as professional work experience. Both processes provide the opportunity for you to have your prior learning recognised, thereby reducing the amount of time and effort required to complete the Master of Healthcare Leadership online.
