Program Coordinator on +61 7 4930 9839 or Program Administrator on +61 7 4930 9511 or email papg-inf-fbi@cqu.edu.au.

NOTE: CQU is an academic institutional member of the International Medical Informatics Association (I.M.I.A.).

Entry requirements
A bachelor degree in one of the health sciences from an Australian university, or equivalent; or another field plus relevant experience in healthcare.

Preference will be given to applicants with at least one year professional work experience in addition to the above.

Consideration will be given on an individual basis to applicants with:

• basic health professional preparation (non-degree) and who have had at least two years work experience at a middle or higher management level; or
• a similar background in business administration with at least two years relevant work experience in the healthcare sector.

Places for special entry are limited.

Advanced entry is available directly into term 2 for students who can demonstrate that they have attained the required foundation informatics knowledge. These students will undertake three courses to complete the program.  To be granted advanced entry a student must:

• have a bachelor degree; and
• be able to demonstrate they have the required knowledge (based on the content of COIS20024, COIS20025 and COIT29222 or ECOM20001); and

Either:

• have two years relevant work experience; or
• have one year other postgraduate education; or
• have attained a final year GPA of 4.7 in their undergraduate degree at an Australian university or equivalent.

Program objectives
To prepare health professionals currently in the workforce who have (or wish to prepare for) positions in health service management, nursing or e-health where the use of informatics is a requirement.

The major emphasis in these programs is to prepare individuals working anywhere in the health industry to make optimal use of health information, information and telecommunication technologies to support their practice including health information support and development within healthcare organisations.

Graduates from the program are expected to be able to:

• understand the organisation of the Australian health system and view the healthcare industry from a business systems perspective;
• discuss the health industry's information needs and apply the concepts learned to solve problems;
• document, retrieve, process, analyse, review, evaluate, interpret and communicate a plethora of information and data to make good and ethical use of available information to support their area of practice; and
• analyse clinical management, workflow and various e-health issues associated with the introduction of electronic health records.

Computer equipment requirements
Students are required to have access to a personal computer with software enabling the student to run word processing, a database application, spreadsheet and communications software.  An Internet service provider is also required so students are able to gain experience with using this technology, and to communicate with their lecturer and other students.

Transitional arrangements for continuing students
The changes are such that continuing students will be able to continue to undertake their studies as originally planned or make some modifications to suit the new structure without penalty.