Choose the ideal health management course for you. Here are 7 online courses for a career as a health manager.
Health management courses give you skills and qualifications for managing health and social care services. You may study topics such as Australia's healthcare system, using health data, managing people, patient safety, and service quality assurance.
Courses in health management are postgraduate, meaning they're open to university graduates. In some cases, you may need a health-related degree or experience in health or social care services.
The shortest health management postgraduate course is a Graduate Certificate in Health Management. The grad cert consists of four subjects from a masters program. You may have subject choice or a set list of introductory units.
The qualification also goes by names such as Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Leadership and Graduate Certificate in Health Services Management.
You can normally finish over 8 months of part-time, online study – while working full-time if you want. You may then continue on for a graduate diploma (8 units) or masters degree (12 units)... READ MORE
A Master of Health Management is a versatile course that prepares students for management roles in healthcare. Earning the masters qualifies you for health manager jobs.
You can finish a 12-unit online program in 2 years of part-time study. That assumes accelerated (year-round) study, completing a subject every 2 months.
Topics depend on the program and your choice of electives. Common subjects are the Australian healthcare system, using health data for decision making, organisational management, appraising evidence, teaching and supervising, and service quality control... READ MORE
A Master of Health Administration is similar to a Master of Health Management. Both health management courses prepare students for leadership and managerial positions within the healthcare industry.
Health administrators may focus on day-to-day operations whereas health managers may be more involved with business strategy. Differences between the roles are nuanced, however, and often ignored.
The health administration masters featured on this site are online courses orientated towards service delivery and business administration... READ MORE
Health services management courses concentrate on the delivery of services to patients and clients. You learn a customer-centric approach to health administration. Issues such as safety, efficiency, and patient experience and satisfaction may be relatively prominent.
Health services management courses are, nonetheless, hard to distinguish from other health manager programs. Every health manager should be trained to look at a wide breadth of administration issues, including customer experience.
Online courses featured in this category generally have "Health Services Management" in the title... READ MORE
5. Health MBA
You can specialise in Health Management or Health Services Management as part of an online Master of Business Administration (MBA) program.
A Health MBA may become available when a university allows students to choose units from across both health masters and MBA programs.
The MBA is the world's most popular and well recognised management degree. By completing an MBA, you learn administration and leadership skills than can be applied in any business setting. Adding health units helps tailor the program for a healthcare career... READ MORE
For many nurses, the ideal health management course is a masters in nursing. You can major in Leadership and Management (or similar) in an online Master of Nursing.
A nursing masters may be a good option if your goal is to manage in a clinical setting, such as where you supervise other nurses and healthcare workers.
The course allows for general professional development while you also gain management skills and qualifications. Subject examples: finance for a healthcare manager, conflict resolution in healthcare, leading and managing in health, and health management ethics... READ MORE
An online Master of Business Administration may be the best way to gain skills for your next health management position.
An advantage of doing a straight MBA, without a health management specialisation, is that you have more program choice. The degree may also better equip you to transition to a career removed from clinical health practice.
MBA skills are general and can be applied to any business role, including across the many healthcare sectors. Online MBA courses are run similarly to healthcare masters. They usually consist of 12 subjects and have graduate certificate and diploma components... READ MORE
What You'll Study (Course Structure)
Health management courses tend to be principles-based, developing knowledge and skills that can be applied in diverse health settings. Topics commonly covered include the Australian healthcare system, leadership and organisational management, using evidence and data, and strategic management.
In general, not counting advanced standing for previous study, you need to complete 4 subjects for a graduate certificate, 8 subjects for a graduate diploma, and 12 subjects for a master's degree.
Here are example subject lists from health management master's programs. The lists are non-exhaustive; other core subjects and electives may be offered.
UTS Health Services Management
- Foundations of the Australian Healthcare System
- Using Health Care Data for Decision Making
- Organisational Management in Health Care
- Managing Quality, Risk and Cost in Health Care
- Policy, Power and Politics in Health Care
- Fundamentals of Epidemiology
- Planning and Evaluating Health Services
- Improving Safety and Quality in Healthcare
UoA Health Management MBA
- Doing Business in Health
- Management Challenges in Health
- Research for Managers
- Leadership and Influencing
- Accounting and Financial Management
- Managing People and Organisations
- Innovation Management
- Marketing for Managers
Learning Outcomes
Health management courses explore the responsibilities for health managers in Australia. You'll graduate with improved awareness of health service issues and be armed with management strategies. In a good course, expect to achieve these kinds of learning outcomes.
Healthcare knowledge
Knowledge of contemporary healthcare practices, policy and research, coupled with the ability to connect concepts with practice to deliver efficient, high-quality services.
Attitudes and values
Ethical approaches to health administration to achieve sustainable, equitable improvements in healthcare service delivery.
Healthcare leadership skills
Awareness of leadership approaches and sensitivity to the issues affecting the industry, healthcare professionals and consumers. The confidence to assume leadership roles based on competence, strategic knowledge and communication skills.
Career Opportunities
Career opportunities in health management are diverse to say the least. Across all health sectors, there is demand for experienced professionals to fill roles to do with administration, service delivery, project management, team management, strategy, policy, and leadership.
In Australia, employment of Health and Welfare Services Managers is projected to surge by 26.5% over 5 years to 45,000 jobs by late 2026.
Here are job ad summaries to give you an idea of the sorts of jobs available.
Snippets from jobs ads. Random sample. Positions may be closed.
Endoscopy Project Officer – Gastroenterological Society
You will be primarily responsible for coordinating the day-to-day operation of the Conjoint Committee for the Recognition of Training in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and the National Colonoscopy Recertification Committee. Must have a relevant qualification such as a Bachelor of Nursing or Master of Health Administration, and must have nursing experience in endoscopy or gastroenterology.
Health Clerk – Department of Defence
This position within Robertson Health Centre is responsible for the oversight, supervision and training of all subordinate Health Clerks within ROBHC to ensure that all customer needs are met with regards to Defence policy, Medical and Staff-In-Confidence and Commercial-In-Confidence standards. The successful applicant will provide advice and support to other Defence Health Centres in the Darwin area and assist the Health Centre Manager with tasks associated with the day to day health administration management.
Manager Integrated Mental Health Team – SA Health
The Manager is responsible for the management of the Integrated Mental Health Team, working closely with the Clinical Lead Psychiatrist and Hospital management. Responsibilities include leading and managing the activities of the Multidisciplinary Teams, practices and procedures, management of human resources in matters including recruitment, performance management and for supporting the training and professional development of clinical staff across Nursing, Allied Health, OPS support workers and Administration Officer staff.
Medical Practice Manager – Comprehensive Family HealthCare
Responsibilities of the Practice Manager Role include ensuring that the medical centre is delivering excellent health care and customer service, overseeing day-to-day practice operations, working closely with all staff and ensuring that the practice remains financially viable. A Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Business or Health Management will be an advantage.
Clinic Coordinator – Wurli-Wurlinjang Health Service
The Clinic Coordinator will be responsible for the delivery of a high quality primary/acute care clinical program to the Binjari Community. The role is responsible for coordinating the delivery of client services. In addition to this, the Clinic Coordinator is required to supervise other clinical and support staff in their program area, ensuring planning and supervision of their daily duties. We are looking for a Registered Aboriginal Health Worker or Registered Nurse who has a minimum of 5 years’ clinical experience and preferably previous experience with supervising / leading a small team.
Health Practice Manager – Department of Defence
If you are a highly motivated, outcomes-focused administrator with the ability to work autonomously to get the most out of a varied team of clinicians and support staff, and to achieve the best health outcomes for members of Australia’s military, then this position would suit you. This position is responsible for the effective operation of Duntroon Health Centre which includes Duntroon Clinic.
Health Service Manager – Far West Local Health District
You will be managing operational nursing and midwifery service delivery, culture and service improvements to achieve quality patient outcomes, sustainable access and collaboration in health care. The position requires a current nursing registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Appropriate qualifications in management from Postgraduate to tertiary (Masters level) with five years full time equivalent post qualification experience.
Primary Health Care Manager – Sunrise Health Service
The manager will play an integral role in the delivery of unique primary health care services to the Sunrise communities. A skilled and experienced leader, they will inspire a team of health professionals including Aboriginal Health Practitioners, nurses, GPs and visiting allied health professionals. Responsibilities include coordinating and helping to provide quality, comprehensive primary health care to the community and providing quality supervision, guidance, training and support for all staff.
Mental Health NDIS Project Officer – Alfred Health
The Mental Health NDIS Project Officer will work closely with Alfred Health Carer Services Disability, Mental Health and Young Carer team and Alfred Health Mental and Addictions Services to support carers and the person they care for to successfully transition to the NDIS and to support staff with information and skill building. Preferred candidates will have a Tertiary qualification in Health, Behavioural Sciences, or Social Sciences and experience working with carers, families and people with a mental illness.
Entry Requirements
The entry requirements for a health management course can be summed as: You need a bachelor degree OR relevant experience. The courses are postgraduate generally speaking, meaning that a bachelor degree is the standard academic requirement. If you lack this, you can potentially be admitted based on multiple years of experience in healthcare or social services.
But course admission requirements vary. For example, your bachelor degree (or equivalent or higher qualification) may have to be in a healthcare field. And some programs require a combination of qualifications and experience. If unsure if you're eligible, check individual course requirements.