Prospective postgraduate students
The Centre for Adolescent Health, through the Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at the University
of Melbourne, offers online postgraduate courses that integrate knowledge from
a range of disciplines (including medicine, psychology, sociology, social work,
youth work, public health and health promotion), and examine the different
theoretical frameworks and professional approaches these disciplines bring
to working with young people.
The courses are:
Our students come from a wide range
of professions including:
- Health: doctors, nurses, psychologists,
allied health professionals
- Education: teachers, student wellbeing/pastoral
care workers, principals, year level coordinators
- Social Services: program managers, social
workers, youth workers, counsellors, outreach workers, chaplains
- Justice: police, court workers, youth
detention officers
- Community: Not for profit, local
government
Hear more from our students in
our graduate interview series - the impact of studying adolescent health and
wellbeing.
Online learning
The postgraduate courses are offered fully online,
making your study accessible anywhere in the world. This supports 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 phone. 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, tutorials are conducted
online at least 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 at the time.
A two-day orientation is run online in late
February and late July. The orientation is an important opportunity to
engage with your learning, meet subject coordinators and get to know the other
students. The program includes lectures on adolescence and adolescent
health, subject introductions, and workshops on the LMS, research skills and
academic writing, as well as tips from students and recent graduates about how
they managed the workload alongside their day-job.
Course Structure
The course is modular and you can build on earlier
years
- The Graduate Certificate involves four
foundation subjects and is offered part-time over one year.
- The Graduate Diploma adds four electives
to the foundation subject, and s offered full-time over one year and
part-time over two years.
- The Masters is offered part-time over
four years. Course work and independent learning will take approximately
10 hours per week, per subject.
A downloadable file about the postgraduate courses
is available here - AHW course outline 24.
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 100 word statement about how this course will support their work, a
curriculum vitae describing their work experience, and tertiary and other
qualifications, along with academic transcripts to their online application.
International Enrolments
International enrolments are welcome. is the
courses are 100% online and can be undertaken from anywhere in the world.
A tuition fee deposit of $5000
has been approved for this course due to the usual semester fees being less
than the standard deposit. Students must check their statement of liability and
make arrangements to pay the required balance once enrolled.
Please visit the international graduate coursework on the University of Melbourne Future
Students website.
Fees & Scholarships
Fees
In 2026, the course fees (Australian fee
place) for domestic and international graduate students are:
- $ $12,992 AUD, for the Graduate
Certificate
- $ $25,984 AUD, for the Graduate Diploma AUD$25,984
- $ $52,000 AUD, (approximately depending
on years taken to complete) for the Masters Fees are reviewed annually by
the University and vary depending on subjects.
More information about fees for:
Scholarships
If you are an international student or a domestic
student, you may be eligible for a range of scholarships or grants. Please
visit the University’s website for further information. Specifically for our
postgraduate courses in adolescent health wellbeing, these are a number of
targeted scholarships that might help.
Scholarships for community
sector and education
The Robbie Mitchell Scholarships are funded by
contributing Rotary Clubs of Victoria, and are available to applicants working
with young people in remote, Indigenous or disadvantaged populations /
communities. The scholarship amount varies from time to time depending on the
financial status of the successful applicant. Available for Graduate
Certificate, Diploma and Masters of Adolescent Health and Wellbeing.
To apply, email Phil Wheatley . For further information email Dr Ani Wierenga
Scholarships for Nurses
There is an ongoing relationship between the course
and the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, through the Kelpie Ward
(Adolescent Ward). Two nurses at the Royal Children’s Hospital were
sponsored into the Graduate Certificate in 2019. If you would like support to
talk to your employing organisation about a scholarship, contact the course
coordinator, Dr Ani Wierenga:
Scholarships for Police
The Melbourne Central Rotary Club offers a 50%
scholarship to one member of the Victoria Police to study the Graduate
Diploma in Adolescent Health and Wellbeing, in honour of the memory of Senior
Constable Rod Miller and Sergeant Gary Silk. For further information or to
apply, contact Helen D’Cruz, .
Scholarships for School Nurses
The Department of Education & Early Childhood
Development (DEET) offers a 50% Mary-Ann Hope scholarship
to a Victorian Secondary School Nurse to study the Graduate Diploma in
Adolescent Health and Wellbeing. Additionally available are five Single Subject
Grants for school nurses to undertake a single subject.
For further information or to apply, contact Helen D’Cruz, .If you would like support to talk to your
employing organisation about a scholarship, contact the course coordinator,
Dr Ani Wierenga: .
Scholarship for an Indigenous
Practitioner
The Department of Paediatrics at the Melbourne
Medical School, University of Melbourne will offer a year-long $5000
scholarship to an Indigenous practitioner or professional in any field related
to adolescent health and wellbeing.
For further information or to apply, contact Helen D’Cruz, .
Scholarships for Adolescent
& Young Adult (AYA) Oncology Professionals
For the Oncology stream, scholarships are offered
in Victoria and Queensland. Selection criteria include a commitment to working
in the field of adolescent & young adult cancer care or a demonstrated
interest in working in this field and commitment to disseminating the knowledge
learnt in the course.
For further information or to apply, contact Helen D’Cruz, Additional information available
here: https://www.petermac.org/education/adolecsent-young-adults-aya-oncology-education.
Scholarships for not-for-profit
staff (Starlight Children’s Foundation)
Starlight Foundation offers a 50% scholarship
to Starlight Foundation staff members to undertake the Graduate Certificate in
Adolescent Health and Wellbeing. If you would like support to talk to your
employing organisation about a scholarship, contact the course coordinator,
Dr Ani Wierenga: .
Commonwealth supported places:
Master of Adolescent Health and Wellbeing
The Commonwealth Government has supported up to
five places for students who apply for the course during first round offers
(typically by end November). These have been awarded on a merit basis.
For further information, contact Helen D’Cruz,
Apply now
Mid-year intake is now open, with
applications due by 18 July 2025. Apply here.
Contact
For further enquiries, please contact:
Dr Ani Wierenga
Academic Coordinator, Adolescent Health and Wellbeing
Centre for Adolescent Health
E
wierenga@unimelb.edu.au