Enhance your capabilities to improve young people’s health and wellbeing. Study online, your way and in your time, in conjunction with one of the world’s pre-eminent centres for adolescent health. Taught by The University of Melbourne and the Centre for Adolescent Health, the Centres professional affiliations with the Royal Children’s Hospital, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute guarantee best practices in working with young people, research excellence and a passion for teaching.
About Us
Australia's only postgraduate course in Adolescent Health and Wellbeing is delivered online by the Centre for Adolescent Health at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne. Adolescence is the foundational period in the lives of individuals and for the health of our community. Investments in adolescent health maximise human capabilities that play out across the course of life and into the next generation.
Of all age groups in Australia, young people are the only group whose health has not improved over the past three decades. To improve young people's health and wellbeing, we need to build the knowledge and capabilities of all those who work with young people, including teachers, nurses, social workers, doctors, youth workers, community workers, and others.
During this course you will:
- Gain the skills to communicate effectively with young people from different sectors, families, cultural and community backgrounds
- Build a repertoire of professional, legal and ethical capabilities for implementing effective programs and practices in the settings where young people live, work, learn and play
- Engage with some of the world’s experts in adolescent health research and practice.
Online learning
The postgraduate courses are offered fully online, making it accessible no matter where you live. It also allows you to study at times of the day that suit you, around your personal and professional commitments. Each subject has a dedicated webpage on the University of Melbourne's Learning Management System, or LMS, providing ready access to subject outlines, content notes, recorded lectures, readings and resources, and online discussions. You can even access the LMS on your mobile. Each subject coordinator keeps regular contact with you via the LMS, and is also available for individual support via phone, email and face-to-face meetings.
During each semester, webinars are conducted three or four times, providing students with the opportunity for face-to-face discussions with their lecturers and peers. These webinars are also recorded for those who are unable to attend in person or online.
A two-day orientation is run in late February and late July. The program includes lectures on adolescence and adolescent health, subject introductions, and workshops on the LMS, research skills and academic writing. The on-campus orientation is an important opportunity to engage with your learning, meet subject coordinators and get to know the other students.
Course Structure
You can enrol in the course as a part-time or full-time student.
- The Graduate Certificate is only offered part-time over one year.
- The Graduate Diploma is offered full-time over one year and part-time over two years.
- The Masters is offered part-time over four years with an option to compress the first two years into one.
Selection Criteria
- An undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline such as Education, Health Science, Social Work or related discipline; or
- An undergraduate degree in any discipline, or equivalent, and at least 2 years of documented relevant work experience; or
- At least 5 years of documented relevant work experience, including clear evidence of career development, of professional writing, and generally of professional achievement or practice comparable to that expected of undergraduate degree holders in cognate disciplines.
All applicants are required to attach a curriculum vitae describing their work experience, and tertiary and other qualifications, along with their academic transcript to their online application.
Fees and Scholarships
Australian Fee Places
When you apply, you will automatically be considered for an Australian fee place if you meet course entry requirements.
You’ll pay tuition fees for each year that you are enrolled. Tuition fees are calculated according to your course and study load each semester. You may defer payment of your fees via the Australian Government’s FEE-HELP loan scheme if you are eligible.
If your course is relevant to your current employment, you may be able to claim fees as a work-related tax deduction.
Tuition fees may be adjusted each year.
FEE-help
FEE-HELP can cover all or part of your tuition fees. The Australian Government pays the amount of the loan direct to the University. You’ll make repayments through the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) whenever your income is above the threshold, or you can make voluntary repayments to the ATO at any time.
FEE-HELP is not means tested and there is no loan fee for graduate study. If you already have a HECS-HELP loan from your undergraduate studies, you can still access a FEE-HELP loan. No interest is charged on your FEE-HELP loan, however, it is indexed each year with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in line with the cost of living.
The Government’s Study Assist website provides more information about FEE-HELP.
Postgraduate Studies in Adolescent Health and Wellbeing scholarships
Melbourne has one of the most generous scholarship programs in Australia. Scholarships, prizes, bursaries and grants can propel you to new heights and help you explore new opportunities. With over 1200 scholarships and prizes available for new and current students, it’s more than likely there is one that you’re eligible for either when you start your course or during your studies.
Postgraduate-studies-in-Adolescent-Health-and-Wellbeing-Scholarships-for-2025.pdf
Have a question?
Please contact Adolescent Health and Wellbeing Academic Course Coordinator, Dr Ani Wierenga at wierenga@unimelb.edu.au