Bachelor of Dementia Care

What is the Dementia Care Degree Program?

The Dementia Care Program is Australia's first degree specifically focused on dementia. It is available to domestic or international students, from carers to health professionals and anyone with an interest in learning more about dementia. With the rise in prevalence in dementia and the need to provide quality care in the community, health care centres and hospitals, and in residential care, it is becoming essential that health care workers in aged care develop specialised knowledge in this field so that you can make a difference to the lives of people living with dementia.

This is a fully online course with no face to face or workplace assessment component. It can be studied full-time or part-time, offering you a choice to graduate with a:

• Diploma (8 units, completed over a maximum of 3 years)
• Associate Degree (16 units, completed over a maximum of 5 years)
• Bachelor Degree (24 units, completed over a maximum of 7 years)

The Diploma and Associate degrees are particularly relevant to those wishing to develop their skills and knowledge in dementia, and the full Bachelor Program includes an additional year focused on research and how evidence is used to translate into clinical and care practice. Students may study part-time (1-2 units) or full-time (3-4 units) per semester. Students are advised to allocate 8 hours of study per week per unit of study. There are no formal examinations, all assessments occur throughout the semester.

Assessments can be:

• quizzes
• assessed discussion boards
• essays or reports
• presentations

Why study Dementia - Career Opportunities

The Dementia Care Program is the first of its kind and will set benchmarks for the value of the skills and knowledge graduates will bring to the aged care sector and other healthcare environments.

Dementia is a condition that affects hundreds of thousands of people across the globe- one that poses significant challenges to their quality of life as well as that of their families and communities.

Career Opportunities in Dementia Care

Graduates from this course may find work in a range of career paths such as in the aged care industry in both the public and private sectors, or as a pathway to undertaking further study in graduate health programs. Individuals with backgrounds in healthcare, community service and allied health professionals, may find study in this course useful to broaden your knowledge base and scope of practice. Graduates may provide an excellent standard of care and advice, provide care directives and peer to peer training, in varied roles within the community, health care centres and hospitals, and in residential care.

Healthcare workers and professionals with greater knowledge and skills in dementia care will be critical in delivering enhanced capacity to a sector which is facing an enormous challenge both now and into the future with the increasing prevalence of dementia. The Associate Degree or Diploma may be a particularly advantageous qualification for the growing number of healthcare positions that include a dementia focus, as well as leadership in care organisations. Read some of our graduate stories.

Did You Know?

There are almost 450,000 people in Australia who are living with dementia. Without a medical breakthrough, the number is forecast to rise to almost 1 million by 2050. (Dementia Australia 2018)

Course Structure

All students will need to initially enrol in the Bachelor of Dementia Care course. Depending on how much you may wish to study and the skills and knowledge that you wish to develop, you will have three options to graduate with a:

• Diploma (8 units, completed over a maximum of 3 years)
• Associate Degree (16 units, completed over a maximum of 5 years)
• Bachelor Degree (24 units, completed over a maximum of 7 years)

To help you decide what units to study part time, we have created an Example Learning Pathway in Dementia Care

To enrol in the Dementia Care Program

• You must be willing to devote approximately 8 - 10 hours per week for each unit of study
• You must be able to access a computer, current software and a reliable connection to the internet

Entry Requirements for all students

Applications are considered on a case by case basis. We consider applicants from a broad range of life experiences and backgrounds, those with professional learning or formal study qualifications and skills and those entering University study as a mature age student with little previous formal qualifications and/ or experience in this field.

There are no formal pre-requisites, however a good level of computer competency and willingness to engage in online learning is highly recommended.

Additional requirements for international students

• You may need to provide evidence of your English language ability if you live in a country where English is NOT the official language.
• There are no formal pre-requisites, however a good level of computer competency, your own computer, a reliable internet connection and willingness to engage in online learning is highly recommended.

Completed a Wicking Centre Dementia MOOC?

If you have successfully completed the Understanding Dementia MOOC and/or the Preventing Dementia MOOC we are pleased to advise that (domestic students ie Australian citizens or Permanent Residents), you are eligible for a full HECS Scholarship for our Diploma of Dementia Care, and a 50% HECS Scholarship should you wish to continue your studies to an Associate Degree in Dementia Care or Bachelor of Dementia Care. See our Fees Page.

This is a great opportunity to gain a formal university qualification in an award-winning, fully online and flexible course, which will assist you in becoming a specialist in this key public health issue.

Our Dementia Care Degree Program offers you the option to increase and formalise your dementia knowledge, and offers graduation points at a Diploma (after 8 units), Associate Degree (after 16 units) and Bachelor of Dementia Care (after 24 units).

If you have completed the Understanding Dementia MOOC you may wish to choose Negotiated Study in Understanding Dementia CAD110 as one of your first units. This unit is largely based on content you will have already covered in the MOOC, and provides you with the opportunity to reflect upon what you have learnt during the Understanding Dementia MOOC. A number of other units are also available for you to study. Please view our course and unit structure.

What to expect as a Bachelor of Dementia Care student versus a MOOC participant

For international students and students residing in New Zealand who have successfully completed a Dementia MOOC.

We are pleased to offer you significantly discounted fees. Please see our Fees Page.

HOW TO APPLY

• Apply for domestic applications.
• Apply for international applications.

Please note - All applicants initially apply for the Bachelor of Dementia Care. Once you have completed 8 units you can choose to graduate with a Diploma, or after 16 units with an Associate Degree, or after 24 units you can complete the full Bachelor Degree.

If you have further enquiries about the Dementia Care Degree Program, including how to apply for advanced standing (Recognition of Prior Learning) if you have already completed tertiary qualifications, please contact Dementia.Care@utas.edu.au or 1800 982 600.