Aged care

Graduate Certificate in Clinical Pharmacy (Aged care)

This course is designed to enable you to advance your knowledge and skills in evidence based practice and the provision of clinical pharmacy services in aged care. You will also hone your skills in professional communication, critical analysis and problem solving to improve clinical practice and patient outcomes.

There are limited Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) available for this course.

About the program

This course will provide you with the knowledge and skills to implement evidence-based principles into the care of older people.

Up to 95% of residents of aged care homes experience one or more medication-related problems. The recent Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety has highlighted the need for pharmacists to work collaboratively with other health professionals to improve medication management. A 2020 report from the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia outlines that new approaches are needed to improve medicine use in aged care. This new graduate certificate aims to equip registered pharmacists to develop and implement new pharmacy services in this rapidly expanding and rewarding area of practice.

In addition to enhancing your clinical knowledge, this off-campus, part time course also provides in-depth knowledge of the aged care sector, enabling students to enhance their careers while addressing a national health priority area.

More information about the program is available here, and the course handbook is available here.

You need to satisfy the following entrance requirements to be considered for entry to this course.

Qualifications

  • An Australian bachelors degree or equivalent in Pharmacy.
  • Registration as a pharmacist in country of residence.
  • Employment as a pharmacist in country of residence.

The off campus offering is available to:

  • Domestic students
  • International students living and studying offshore
  • Holders of an Australia temporary visa (other than a student visa) that has a full study entitlement

The off campus offering is NOT available to International Students currently in Australia on a Student Visa.

Please note that this course is taught online.

English requirements

IELTS (Academic): 7.0 Overall score, with minimum band scores: Listening 7.0, Reading 7.0, Writing 7.0 and Speaking 7.0Pearson Test of English (Academic): 65 Overall score, with minimum scores: Listening 65, Reading 65, Speaking 65 and Writing 65TOEFL Internet-based test: 98 Overall score, with minimum scores: Reading 24, Listening 24, Speaking 23 and Writing 27Equivalent approved English test

University entrance requirements

Minimum entrance requirements for admission to Monash University Australia.

This course comprises 24 points structured into two parts: Part A. Core studies and Part B. Elective studies.

Part A. Core studies Part B. Elective studies
In this part of the course you will gain an understanding of evidence-based practice and develop the skills for incorporating evidence into patient care. You will also develop knowledge and skills in pharmacy practice and disease state management relating to older people. In this part of the course you will select from a list of units relevant to care of older patients.

Please upload and submit the following documents when lodging your course application:

  • Proof of identity and residency (e.g. passport, visa)
  • Final academic transcript for Australian bachelor degree or equivalent in Pharmacy.
    • Please also provide final transcripts for any completed postgraduate qualifications.
  • Proof of registration as pharmacist
  • Proof of employment
    • On official letterhead, issued by Human Resources or line manager or Director of Pharmacy stating current position title, type of employment (full time/part time, permanent/fixed term/casual), start date and end date (if applicable).
    • Please note that contracts, pay slips and offer of employment letters are not acceptable.
    • Proof of employment documents must list business address of employer and/or location of practice.
  • Proof of professional accreditation to perform Medicare funded medication review (if applicable).
  • Curriculum vitae (CV) listing comprehensive and current employment history, including clinical experience and two referees, who can be contacted over the application period.
  • Personal statement (250-500 words) outlining purpose and goals for applying for the course, including relevant experience in the aged care sector, if any.

Full fee 

Course offers for this course will be for full fee paying places. If you are eligible, you can apply for FEE-HELP, a Government loan scheme.

Commonwealth Supported Place

There may be a limited number of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) available for 2025. A ranking of all domestic applicants will take place approximately two weeks before the start of each intake. Selection and allocation of CSP will be based on academic merit (based on final course average in bachelor degree or equivalent in Pharmacy; achievement in relevant postgraduate studies may also be considered).

Successful CSP recipients will be notified before the start of semester and transferred over to a Commonwealth Supported Place. All required supporting documentation must be provided by application closing date in order for you to be considered for a CSP in your intake if CSPs are available.