Graduate Certificate of Disability and Inclusion

Start working in disability sooner or build on your current skills and experience with a Graduate Certificate of Disability and Inclusion. Complete your course in just one year, and graduate with a contemporary understanding of disability that prepares you for the exciting roles emerging within the sector.

Are you ready for a rewarding career in disability but not ready to commit to a Masters degree?

Flexible online delivery and a short study duration make this course a popular choice for busy students looking to progress their career, in the disability sector. Study four core units, which are consistent with core units from the Master of Disability and Inclusion, and feel confident about contributing to more inclusive, accessible communities once you graduate.

If, upon successful completion of the course, you want to dive deeper, you have the option to continue your studies by continuing on with the Master of Disability and Inclusion and completing eight more units including a major research project.

The course is deeply connected to people with disability, the disability industry, the organisations that work within it and the communities they serve. Many of our students have lived experience with disability - either their own or that of someone close to them. Our academics are embedded within the field, contributing to research of global significance. And our curriculum is responsive to contemporary international and national developments in disability legislation, policy, research and practice.

The topics you will cover are informed by leading disability theory and practice. In fact, the curriculum has been carefully designed to meet the needs of the contemporary disability sector you will be working in once you graduate. For example, you will gain an expert understanding of what underpins high quality individualised planning - a key feature of the NDIS in Australia, and used internationally to uphold the rights of people with disabilities embedded in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. (UNCRPD).

Projects are anchored to developments and policies within the sector. You might be challenged to critically analyse recent updates to legislation. You also have the option of basing your assessment tasks on your current practice, weekly context or lived experience. This allows you to apply your skills instantly to the communities and contexts in which you engage.

A highlight of the course is building relationships with your fellow students and the academic team. Students in the Graduate Certificate of Disability and Inclusion come from a range of disciplines and backgrounds, ensuring your learning experience is vibrant and engaging. Our academic staff are leading nationally and internationally recognised researchers, making them great mentors, as well as teachers. Additionally, our partnerships with key organisations such as the NDIS, and other peak government and non-

The disability sector in Australia is rapidly expanding and evolving. According to the most recent National Disability Services (NDS) report, *The NDIS will soon have 500,000 participants and, according to some estimates, the disability workforce will need to double in size in the next three years just to keep pace with increasing demand. According to this same report, the disability industry is feeling pressure to secure quality staff in a range of positions.

As a graduate of this course, you'll be perfectly suited for these positions, which include roles in policy and practice leadership.

In particular, the course was designed to align with areas of knowledge and skills identified in current disability position descriptions. These include:

• knowledge of disability systems including disability research, legislation and policy
• high-level communication skills for working with people with disability and their families
• self-directed approaches to service planning
• community-capacity building knowledge and skills.

In addition to these roles, there are a huge range of areas within the sector you can explore once you graduate, such as:

• policy and legislation
• education
• health and human services
• community development
• roles within state and federal government, government agencies, community organisations and disability service providers.

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To complete the Graduate Certificate of Disability and Inclusion students must attain 4 credit points. All four 1 credit point units are core units (these are compulsory).

All commencing Faculty of Health Undergraduate and Postgraduate course work students are required to complete DAI001 Academic Integrity Module (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first trimester of study.