Health And Rehabilitation Courses In Australia: Explained

Health services and rehabilitation are leading programs in Australia that prepare students for various health professions.

If you want to make a difference in someone's life, studying health services and rehabilitation courses in Australia can be a perfect option.

The healthcare industry in Australia is vast, which increases the number of opportunities in different healthcare sectors. If you are interested in this field, you could also consider studying other courses like veterinary science, social work, nursing, dentistry, and medicine.

This post will teach you about Australia's health services and rehabilitation qualifications.

There Are Three Qualification Levels:

1. VET (Vocational Education and Training) level

2. Undergraduate level

3. Postgraduate level

1. VET Study In Health Services And Rehabilitation

VET (Vocational Education and Training) health services and rehabilitation courses in Australia offer abundant practical learning experiences. 

You can select various VET specialisations and health services courses, including nail technology, retail cosmetic services, remedial massage, counselling, herbal medicine, optical dispensing, aged care work, nursing, and home and community care.

The area you choose may require you to study at a degree level and might further improve your employment prospects. 

On the other hand, only a small number of universities in Australia provide vocational rehabilitation courses like pharmacy or medicine. VET rehabilitation courses may also cover occupational and safety assistance and audiometry. 

Overall, VET-level qualifications offer a more practical approach than higher education-level degrees. They provide a pathway to students into undergraduate-level health services and rehabilitation degrees. 

Where To Study VET Health Services And Rehabilitation Courses?

Several private VET providers and TAFE institutions offer VET health services and rehabilitation courses in Australia. Hence, you'll have no trouble finding a suitable course in Australia. 

To continue with an undergraduate-level health program, you must obtain information from your university about the pathway schemes. 

2. Undergraduate Study In Health Services And Rehabilitation

At the undergraduate level, health services and rehabilitation courses are gaining much popularity in Australia. More than 45,000 students study this course across the country, which says much about reputation.  

Primary health services include the following: radiography, ambulance services, disability studies, health promotion, environmental health, oral health, natural medicine, community health, osteopathy, nutrition, and dietetics. 

In contrast, the following are rehabilitation courses: speech pathology, audiology, occupational therapy, podiatry, optometry, physiotherapy, chiropractic, and orthoptics.

In addition to the health service courses, you can choose other disciplines like acupuncture, homeopathy or naturopathy. These fields act as a substitute for western methods. 

Remember, health services courses prepare students for a specific profession. Hence, you must ensure that your chosen study area suits your interest.

Rehabilitation courses are highly regulated in Australia and involve four years of full-time study. To gain hands-on experience in this field, you may need to spend a lot of time in a clinical setting. 

A new degree structure was created for some of Australia's rehabilitation fields, allowing undergraduate students to enter a general degree. In science or applied science, then move to a postgraduate degree in health services and rehabilitation.

Where To Study Undergraduate Health Services And Rehabilitation Courses?

Private providers and universities throughout Australia offer health services assistant courses. You must remember that most health professionals, including osteopaths and medical imaging technologists, require professional registration to gain practice approval. 

So, before you apply to any institution, ensure that your course fulfils all the requirements of your chosen profession. Health services programs may even include rare courses like paramedics. Getting into such courses is especially difficult. 

Whilst, rehabilitation is a broad field of study that only a few institutions in Australia offer. The course availability depends on where you live and whether you are willing to travel afar to study the course you wish to pursue.

As the demand for rehabilitation courses is high, it might be tough for you to enrol on the course of your choice.

When choosing health services or rehabilitation courses in a particular institute, ensure the institute provides excellent faculty, online technologies, clinical facilities, and practical training.

3. Postgraduate Study In Health Services And Rehabilitation

Postgraduate-level health services programs are available for health professionals and graduates of general health courses who wish to specialise in a specific field of study like optometry.

Also, a few courses are available for qualified graduates who have experience in other fields and want to acquire knowledge about health services. They can combine health science courses with other study areas like occupational health and safety, management, and public policy. 

Many postgraduate students in the health and services field choose practical courses rather than research-related programs. But if you plan to focus on research, you should look for a well-established research institute.  

On the other hand, postgraduate rehabilitation courses are for experienced workers or graduates in the same field that may include physiotherapists, osteopaths, speech pathologists and podiatrists. 

You can find some courses under diploma in rehabilitation studies and graduate certificate qualifications. Still, you'll get more practical experience at the master's level. 

Where To Study Postgraduate Health Services And Rehabilitation Courses?

Many campuses and universities in Australia offer postgraduate health services courses. However, only a selected number of universities offer rehabilitation courses. Also, some Australian institutions provide highly specialised health services courses like gerontology.

The course you choose to study depends on your area of interest within the field, your qualifications, and your work experience. And if you are planning to take up a research program, make sure to choose an institution that is well-renowned and has expertise in your chosen field of study. 

At the postgraduate level, work experience in health services and rehabilitation is crucial. You need to be sure that your postgraduate institution in Australia provides you with ample practical experience. Also, look for universities with appropriate equipment and facilities for your field of study. 

Career Opportunities For Students Pursuing Health Services And Rehabilitation Courses

Students in health services and rehabilitation find many career opportunities in private and public healthcare organisations.

You may work in healthcare sectors like fitness centres, hospitals, rehabilitation centres, schools, community health clinics, sports clinics and aged-care facilities. 

Depending on the qualification level you may achieve, graduates can work as pathology workers, podiatrists, and ambulance officers. Also, you can utilise the skills gained through the health services degree for occupations related to administration and management. 

There are ample opportunities available for health services and rehabilitation graduates. Around 86% of graduates successfully find work after graduating in the health services and rehabilitation fields. Their salaries may range between AUD 59,603 and AUD 92,547.

Useful Links to Explore: 

• English Language Requirements for Australia
• Cultural differences you may experience in Australia
• How to find Part-Time work as a Student in Australia
• Seven Tips for Students on a Budget in Australia
• How to get a Scholarship to Study in Australia
• Driving in Australia as an International Student
• How to change your Course or Institute in Australia
• The Benefits of a Professional Year Program (PYP)
• A Complete Guide to Study in Australia
• Types of Education in Australia 
• What to Study in Australia?