Health Services Management Courses

A health services management course is about learning to manage healthcare processes for the benefit of clients. Health services management is a similar field to health administration but with a greater emphasis on service delivery.

Health service management courses are for healthcare workers such as nurses, therapists and social workers. By doing a postgraduate course, such as a Master of Health Services Management, you gain skills and qualifications to elevate your job responsibilities.

A Graduate Certificate in Health Services Management is a relatively short course consisting of four subjects. You may want to do the online course to upgrade your health management qualifications or to test out an online masters program.

A Master of Health Services Management provides extended training in how to be an excellent service manager in a health or social care setting. You can earn your masters degree with a 100% online course from an Australian university. Graduates acquire both general and specialised skills for taking on senior health management roles.

An MBA with a major in Health Services Management is an alternative course to a masters in health services management. An advantage of an MBA program is that you receive a universally recognised and respected management qualification, one which carries weight in every industry. At the same time, your MBA specialisation demonstrates expertise within the healthcare realm.

What you study in a health services management course depends on the program and specialisation. Expect to explore general management and administration topics, especially in an MBA program. For a Master's in Health Service Management, you may do subjects on health service planning, achieving quality and safety in health services, and innovation in health services.

Here are course structures for 3 university qualifications.

Any health services management course should make you a better all-round manager. Plus, you'll gain greater insight into effectively managing the delivery of health services. Here are learning outcomes you can expect, especially from longer programs.

Leadership and management skills
Strong awareness of principles and strategies for effectively supervising individual staff, leading teams, and directing services.

Healthcare service organisation skills
Research, planning and evaluation skills, especially in relation to the safe and equitable delivery of health and social care services.

Management and use of digital health information
Ability to manage healthcare data processes to ensure health information can be used to meet clinical, strategic and operational requirements.

With ever-increasing demand for health services in Australia, career opportunities for managers in this sector are bountiful. Jobs for Health and Welfare Services Managers are projected to expand by 26.5% to 45,000 positions over the 5 years to 2027.

Some of the roles you would be more qualified to do after completing a health services management course include nurse unit manager, clients services manager, clinical operations manager, healthcare consultant, and practice director.

What exactly is a Health Service Manager?

The Australian Government defines a Health and Welfare Services Manager as someone who plans, organises, directs, controls and coordinates the "professional and administrative aspects of health and welfare programs and services".

Essentially, a health service manager is responsible for health and welfare services without necessarily delivering the services in person. According to health care consultant Jennifer Hinkel, "Health services managers are often looking at questions around efficiency, safety and improving the patient experience and satisfaction."

Health services management is a broad discipline that's open to people from different professional backgrounds. While entry requirements vary, you're generally able to access a program with a bachelor degree or comparable professional experience.

Here are examples of course admission requirements. Enquire for further details.