The Diploma of Health Sciences at La Trobe College Australia can give you the best possible head start to your career as a health professional. The Diploma of Health Sciences provides you with an introduction into a range of health services professions, and can help you discover your ideal role in this rapidly evolving sector.
You’ll be introduced to the anatomical organisation of the body, the basics of cell structure and function, and the fundamentals of the nervous and endocrine systems. You will also begin to learn how the particular characteristics and actions of a person can impact health and welfare, social and legal considerations of a professional in the health services industry, important aspects of biochemistry and body structure and how this can influence a person’s wellbeing.
There are also options to delve into the psychological aspects of an individual’s and society’s development, and options to explore the chemical building blocks of life.
Throughout your diploma, you will also develop your academic skills, including writing, verbal communication, active listening and proactive engagement skills, in addition to building strong independent learning skills that will begin your most successful journey through your learning journey.
WAM required: 70 - students must also achieve a minimum score of 70 in Human Biosciences A and Human Biosciences B.
Credits: 7
Progression Quota: Strict quotas apply – please contact the College for more information.
Duration: The degree will take 4 years to complete after finishing the Diploma of Health Sciences.
WAM required: 65
Credits: 8
Duration: The degree will take two years to complete after finishing the Diploma of Health Sciences.
Progression Quota: Strict quotas apply – please contact the College for more information.
Please note: Students must also meet AHPRA English Requirement. This course has a strict quota.
Students commencing the Diploma of Health Sciences in Trimester 1 must study a full-time study plan (4 units in each trimetser) if they wish to progress to the Bachelor of Nursing the following year.
The nursing stream is only offered in Trimester 1 and Trimester 3 of each year, there is no June intake.
WAM required: 75
Credits: 5
Progression Quota: Strict quotas apply – please contact the College for more information.
Duration: The degree will take four years to complete after finishing the Diploma of Health Sciences.
WAM required: 70
Credits: 5
Progression Quota: Strict quotas apply – please contact the College for more information.
Duration: The degree will take four years to complete after finishing the Diploma of Health Sciences.
WAM required: 70
Credits: 5
Progression Quota: Strict quotas apply – please contact the College for more information.
Duration: Students will receive credit towards their La Trobe University degree, the duration of the degree will still be standard, and students will have a less than full-time course load in their first year of the course.
WAM required: 80 - students must also achieve a minimum score of 75 in Human Biosciences A and Human Biosciences B.
Credits: 5
Progression Quota: Strict quotas apply – please contact the College for more information.
Duration: The degree will take four years to complete after finishing the Diploma of Health Sciences.
WAM required: 70
Credits: 5
Progression Quota: Strict quotas apply – please contact the College for more information.
Duration: The degree will take four years to complete after finishing the Diploma of Health Sciences.
WAM required: 80 - students must also achieve a minimum score of 75 in Human Biosciences A and Human Biosciences B.
Credits: 5
Progression Quota: Strict quotas apply – please contact the College for more information.
Duration: The degree will take four years to complete after finishing the Diploma of Health Sciences.
WAM required: 80
Credits: 6
Progression Quota: Strict quotas apply – please contact the College for more information.
Duration: The degree will take four years to complete after finishing the Diploma of Health Sciences.
Strict quotas and minimum weighted average mark (WAM) requirements apply for some programs at La Trobe University. Check the number of places available, WAM requirements and credits for these programs on the Transferring to La Trobe University page.
Please be aware that you may be required to take additional first year subjects when you transfer to La Trobe University.
Throughout your Diploma of Health Sciences, you’ll study six core units along with two electives, for a total of eight units before graduation.
HHLT1IPP Introduction to Professional Practice will introduce you to the health care system; as a consumer participant, as a health and human services practitioner and as part of a health care team.
This subject also offers you the opportunity to reflect on your own experiences within the health care system, and to use this to analyse and develop your understanding of health and human services.
Topics included in this subject:
- The structure and function of the Australian Health Care System
- Issues of access and equity in the Australian Health Care System
- Working in teams, as students and as health care practitioners
- Person and family centred care
- Clinical decision making
- Communication and Health Information
- Legal and ethical aspects of practice
Assessment: Autobiography (5%), Online Test (20%), Written Case Studies Report (25%), Extended Response Task (30%), Online Test (20%)
Requirement and availability for this subject is under review for 2024 and 2025
In this subject, students will be introduced to the anatomical organisation of the body and the basics of cell structure and function. The fundamentals of the nervous and endocrine systems will then be explored in the context of mechanisms of physiological control. This information will provide the foundation for the study of the major organ systems of the body, which include the respiratory, cardiovascular, renal, digestive, reproductive systems and metabolism. Underpinning these studies will be the concept of homeostasis and how it is maintained by integration of organ system functions. In addition, students are required to engage in guided, independent learning throughout the semester to extend their level of knowledge in the topic areas described above.
Assessment: Workshop Quiz Online x10 (10%), Online Tests x2 (50%), Final Exam A and B (40% total)
In this subject, students will develop the foundation knowledge for working with individuals in health and human services settings. Students will learn how particular characteristics and actions of an individual impact on health and welfare outcomes. Students will be:
(i) presented with frameworks, including a developmental perspective, for understanding how the characteristics and actions of individuals impact on health outcomes;
(ii) provided with foundation knowledge for understanding how individuals present in, and progress through, health settings; and
(iii) reviewing theoretical approaches to producing individual change in health and wellbeing settings.
Assessment: Quiz (5%), Enquiry 2 - Individual Conference Poster (35%), Enquiry 3 - Individual Reflection (30%), Exam (30%).
This subject is an introduction to the use of research-based evidence in professional health care practice. Working in interprofessional teams and using a range of case scenarios, students will develop research skills in areas relevant to their field of practice. Through online activities and workshops, students will learn about the role of evidence-based practice in health. Areas of study include systematic approaches to acquiring evidence, critical appraisal of the literature, interpretation of research design, descriptive and inferential statistics and assessment of research outcomes. Students will learn how an evidence-based approach in health informs clinical practice. Students will develop research skills to determine the most appropriate intervention techniques for application in a given clinical population, while understanding the complex interaction between social, economic and environmental influences that contribute to sustainability thinking in health research.
Assessment: 15 Minute Online Test x2 (10% total), 30 Minute Online Test x2 (20% total, Article Summary (15%), Academic Essay 1500 words (30%), Research Report 600 words (25%)
In this unit, students will continue with the study of anatomy & physiology and apply the concepts of human structure and function and homeostasis introduced in HHBS1HBA, to the musculoskeletal, nervous and endocrine systems. Anatomical principles and terminology will be applied to relevant body systems and the concept of integrated function of multiple systems in one body region will be introduced. Integrated whole body responses to homeostatic challenge will be included.
Assessment: Summarative Quizzes x5 (25% total), Enquiry 1 and 2: Team Report (20%), Enquiry 3 (30%), Exam (35%)
In this subject, you will develop a broad understanding of health and wellbeing, examining key theories that underpin concepts in contemporary health and wellbeing. You will investigate the complex range of interactions that influence the health and wellbeing of individuals, communities, and populations. As health is a dynamic concept, you will further examine the social, environmental, and biomedical determinants of health and wellbeing within an Australian and global context.
Assessment: Early assessment Piece (5%), 3 x Tests (30% = 10% each), Media Analysis (25%), Health and Wellbeing Plan Review (40%)
Recommended for students in the Nursing pathway
This subject introduces you to fundamental nursing knowledge, skills and reasoning that you will use every day of your nursing career. Through lectures, online activities, workshops and clinical skills laboratory sessions you will develop the capacity to practice nursing with the patient at the centre of care. This will require mastery of basic patient assessment, basic patient care and effective communication techniques with patients across their lifespan. You will progress towards the development of basic care planning for complex patients. This will be achieved by the integration of the patient assessment skills you learn with the application of clinical reasoning that is, thinking like a nurse to achieve the best for your patients. Within the 12 week trimester you will be expected to attend a range of face to face activities so you can achieve a level of basic nursing skills. This will also require practice of skills in your own time and with peers-practice that will inform your clinical decision making.
Assessment: Online Quizzes (15% total), Clinical Skills Assessment (50%), Written assessment (35%)
Requirement and availability for this subject is under review for 2024 and 2025
Required for students in the Food and Nutrition pathway
Chemistry Foundations is a subject designed for students who have no or little previous experience or study in chemistry. Students will learn concepts, knowledge and skills that will enable them to apply chemical principles and practice during their university degree and future employment.
Assessment: Workshop and Online Quizzes (25%), Laboratory Report (25%), Exam (50%)
Recommended for students in the Food and Nutrition pathway
Applications of Chemistry will continue exploring the core concepts in chemistry and build upon the knowledge from SCHE1CHF. Students will learn concepts, knowledge and skills that will enable them to apply chemical principles and practice during their university degree and future employment.
Assessment: Workshops Tests and Online Quizzes (25%), Laboratory Reports (25%), Exam (50%)
*** Please note students must enrol and pass SCHE1CHF Chemistry Foundations before enrolling in SCHE1APL Applications of Chemistry
In this subject you will discover how your brain works in creating your behaviour, how your brain and behaviour change across the lifespan, how, why and in what way you are different from other people. You will learn about how you sense the world and how you process and understand the information that arises from your senses.
Assessment: EAP Quiz (5%), Group Oral Presentations (15%), Individual Major Essay (30%), Online End-of-Trimester Exam (50%)
In this subject you will be introduced to key areas of psychology with a socio-cultural perspective. People share knowledge with others in society. The shared knowledge (i.e., culture) gives meanings to people’s lives as well as influencing their everyday behaviour, the sense of who they are, their personal relationships and psychological wellbeing. We will discuss psychology of individuals in diverse contexts to understand how personal experiences, including emotions, motivation, intimacy with others and health behaviours are shaped by cultural understanding and social expectations in those contexts.
Assessment: Self-Reflection Questionnaire (3%), Self-Reflection Video Assessment (12%), Major Essay (25%), Online Quizzes x3 (60% total)
In adherence with the “ANMAC Explanatory note for students studying outside Australia” due to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated travel restrictions, students that are currently offshore and have a package pathway assigned with La Trobe University in the Bachelor of Nursing program, are advised that they will only be able to complete four (4) theoretical subjects while outside Australia in their Diploma of Health Sciences course at LTCA. Students cannot undertake any professional experience placements while outside Australia and will have to complete them once the travel restrictions are lifted and students can come back onshore. For further details and information, please contact the College.
Availability and course requirement of HPHE1IDH, HNSG1ITN and HHLT1IPP are under review for 2024 and 2025.
The following programs have specific IELTS requirements to gain registration post-graduation and to practice in Australia.
To be eligible for a transfer into the Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) after successful completion of the Diploma of Health Sciences, students will need to achieve the required WAM and achieve an IELTS score of 7.0 (no band less than 7.0) to demonstrate adequate English language proficiency to enter these courses.
To be eligible for a transfer into the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) after successful completion of the Diploma of Health Sciences, students will need to achieve the required WAM and achieve an IELTS score of 7.0 (no band less than 7.0) to demonstrate adequate English language proficiency to enter these courses.
To be eligible for a transfer into the Bachelor of Podiatry (Honours) after successful completion of the Diploma of Health Sciences, students will need to achieve the required WAM and achieve an IELTS score of 7.0 (no band less than 7.0) to demonstrate adequate English language proficiency to enter these courses.
To be eligible for a transfer into the Bachelor of Paramedic Practice (Honours) after successful completion of the Diploma of Health Sciences, students will need to achieve the required WAM and achieve an IELTS score of 7.0 (no band less than 7.0) to demonstrate adequate English language proficiency to enter these courses.
To be eligible for a transfer into the Bachelor of Prosthetics and Orthotics (Honors) after successful completion of the Diploma of Health Sciences students must achieve the required WAM and achieve an IELTS score of 7.0 (no band less than 6.5) to demonstrate adequate English language proficiency to enter this course.
To be eligible for a transfer into the Bachelor of Orthoptics (Honours) after successful completion of the Diploma of Health Sciences students must achieve the required WAM and achieve an IELTS score of 6.5 (no band less than 6.0) to demonstrate adequate English language proficiency to enter these courses.
To be eligible for a transfer into the Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) after successful completion of the Diploma of Health Sciences students must achieve the required WAM and achieve an IELTS score of 7.5 (no band less than 7.0) to demonstrate adequate English language proficiency to enter this course.
International students applying for the Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours): Please note that to receive a package offer for a Diploma of Health Sciences leading to a Bachelor of Applied Science and Master of Speech Pathology, an IELTS of 7.5 (no band below 7.0) needs to be achieved before entering the Bachelor of Applied Science and Master of Speech Pathology.
Please note that a packaged offer for any of these programs is not a guarantee of entry to 2nd year. Students will need to meet the entry criteria of the WAM, the required IELTS and be successfully ranked in the quota system should there be more qualified students than the quota allows. Students planning to aim for specialisation should write their intended specialisation on the application form.
View entry requirements for domestic and international students.
Contact one of our representatives for further details about this Diploma, units, trimester structures and more.
Ready to apply for this Diploma? Follow the application process for La Trobe College Australia.