Diploma in Allied Health Assistance
The Diploma in Allied Health Assistance is a one-year qualification providing foundational skills to work as an allied health assistant or in related fields. It also will introduce you to different allied health professions and provide a pathway to other allied health programs at UniSC and substantial course credit. The Diploma of Allied Health Assistance is offered at multiple campuses at UniSC and online or blended delivery options are available for most courses within the program. There are mandatory attendance requirements for clinical placement near to your home campus and for 3 weeks of intensive teaching and assessment on the Sunshine Coast campus for all students.
Allied Health Assistants support allied health professionals such as occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech pathologists, nutritionists, dietitians, exercise physiologists and prosthetists and orthotists. Under the supervision of an allied health professional, allied health assistants conduct screening assessments, assist clients to mobilise and perform activities of daily living, and support individual and group therapy and exercise sessions. Allied Health Assistants work with people with diverse health conditions across the lifespan and in acute, rehabilitation and community settings. They also support the day-to-day running of health care services, managing aspects such as bookings, therapy spaces, equipment and clinical documentation.
Allied Health Assistants are in high demand across Australia, especially in regional, rural and remote areas, in aged care and disability, and where there is increased population growth. Completion of this program will enable students to work as an Allied Health Assistant in a variety of workplace settings. The Diploma of Allied Health Assistance will also provide early clinical experience for students looking to study or currently are studying an Allied Health program at UniSC and enhance your employability as a student and graduate.
Location
Entry threshold
ATAR/RankDuration
Full-time or equivalent part-time Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.Indicative fees
Indicative 2025 fees (A$)
CSPQTAC code
Start
- Trimester 1
- Session 5
- Trimester 1
- Session 5
- Trimester 1
- Session 5
- Trimester 1
- Session 5
- Trimester 1
- Session 5
Career opportunities
- Allied health assistants working under supervison of allied health professionals
- Support day-to-day running of practice
- Start
-
- Trimester 1
- Session 5
- Trimester 1
- Session 5
- Trimester 1
- Session 5
- Trimester 1
- Session 5
- Trimester 1
- Session 5
- Delivery mode
-
- Blended Learning
- Total courses
- 8
- Total units
- 96
- Duration
- 1 year 1 year
- UniSC program code
- SC108
- Program coordinator
Introductory courses (6) 72 units
HLT100 Anatomy and Physiology
HLT106 Allied Health Assistant Clinical Placement
HLT107 Allied Health Assistance B
HLT111 Allied Health Assistance A
HLT140 Think Health
HLT150 Indigenous Wellbeing Foundations
Required courses from a specified list
24 units
Select a total of 24 units from a specified list
LFS103 Introductory Bioscience
NUT101 Introduction to Nutrition
NUT102 Food in Society
PSY100 Introduction to Psychology A
PSY101 Introduction to Psychology B
PUB112 Public Health Foundations
SPX100 Physical Activity and Health
SPX101 Introduction to Sport and Exercise Science
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 96 units as outlined in the Program Structure
- All students across all campus locations must attend UniSC Sunshine Coast campus for 3 weeks of intensive teaching and assessment (HLT107 and HLT111)
Program notes
- The Diploma in Allied Health Assistance is offered at multiple campuses (Caboolture, Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay, Gympie and Fraser Coast). Online or blended delivery options are available for most courses within the program. This Program is not available to international students or students on a Visa.
- Please note, there is approximately 3 weeks of intensive teaching and assessment scheduled on the Sunshine Coast campus as part of Allied Health Assistant Courses (HLT111 and HLT107). Attendance at on-campus classes and practical assessments on the Sunshine Coast is mandatory for all students, regardless of home campus of program enrolment. The timing of these intensive classes will be confirmed via CANVAS upon course and program enrolment.
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per trimester (normally 4 courses) and following the recommended study sequence
- It is each students responsibility to enrol correctly according to your course requisites, program rules and requirements and be aware of the academic calendar dates
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations. Not all courses will necessarily include all methods
- Refer to the Managing your progression page for help in understanding your program structure, reviewing your progress and planning remaining courses.
WIL notes
- This program also contains a mandatory requirement for completion of 120 hours of Work Integrated Learning (WIL) or clinical placement as part of the final Allied Health Assistant Course (HLT106). Wherever possible students will be allocated a placement nearby or within the campus footprint of their home campus of enrolment in this Program. To progress to this clinical placement students will need to achieve 50% on their practical objective structured clinical examination within HLT107 Allied Health Assistance B. This is to ensure students have sufficient competency to provide safe and effective care for patients under the supervision of an allied health professional.
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Students will also need to purchase a UniSC polo shirt and follow uniform requirements when on clinical placement and during on campus practical assessments. Details regarding "Fit for Placement" and uniform requirements will be shared via Canvas and SONIA online.
- It is no longer a requirement that students in Diploma in Allied Health Assistance are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. However, please note that some placement host organisations have chosen to continue requiring COVID-19 vaccination. If you are not fully vaccinated, it is important to know that placement opportunities in your program may be limited and may result in a delay to your placement. UniSC still strongly recommends that all students undertaking placement are fully vaccinated and provide evidence of this vaccination status to the University.
- It is a Queensland Government requirement that students undertaking a placement within a clinical setting are fit tested annually for an approved respirator. Clinical settings include hospitals, residential aged care facilities, residential disability care facilities, prison health services, youth detention health services, community health care settings, and vaccination clinics). If the Fit Testing requirement applies to placement activity within your Program it will appear in your mandatory checks on Sonia Online. In accordance with Australian Standards, you must be clean shaven for your fit test. Facial hair that lies along the sealing surface of a tight-fitting respirator prevents an effective seal. Therefore, it is a requirement that there is no hair growth between the skin and the facepiece sealing surface in order to achieve a fit. At this stage, there is no exemption in Queensland to this requirement for religious or other reasons and UniSC is unable to waive this requirement.
Credit precedents
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On successful completion of the Diploma of Allied Health Assistance, you may receive direct entry and up to 48 units* of credit towards UniSC's Bachelor of Health Science.
Course credits may also be available for a range of other Allied Health programs at UniSC. -
On successful completion of the Diploma of Allied Health, you may receive direct entry and up to 36 units* of credit (HLT140 and student must select PSY100& LFS103) towards UniSC's Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Hons)
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On successful completion of the Diploma of Allied Health, you may receive direct entry and up to 48 units* of credit towards UniSC's Bachelor of Behavioural Science
(Psychology).* The credit indicated is the maximum credit available under the current program structures.
This study sequence reflects the current program structure. Continuing students must follow their commencing structure, which can be found in the previous student handbooks.
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| Applicant background | No. of students | % of all students |
|---|---|---|
Notes
<5 - the number of students is less than 5
N/A - Students not accepted in this category
N/P - Not published: the number is hidden to prevent calculation of numbers in cells with less than five students.
Adjusted ATARs are a calculation of a student's ATAR + eligible adjustment factors and are used to determine admission. The raw ATAR is the student's rank before any adjustments are applied.
Minimum entry threshold
Applicants must meet the minimum ATAR/Rank.
| Location | ATAR/Rank |
|---|---|
| Sunshine Coast | 50.00 |
| Fraser Coast | 50.00 |
| Caboolture | 50.00 |
| Gympie | 50.00 |
| Moreton Bay | 50.00 |
- Recommended prior study
- English
Prospective students must consider the Inherent Academic Requirements before applying to study this program.
UniSC strongly supports the rights of all people to pursue studies. The University embraces diversity and endeavours to accommodate all students.
What are Inherent Academic Requirements (IARs)?
The IARs of a program are those fundamental skills, capabilities and knowledge that students must be able to demonstrate in order to achieve the essential learning outcomes of the program, while maintaining the academic integrity of that program.
Students with a disability or chronic health condition may be able to have reasonable adjustments made to enable them to meet these requirements.
UniSC is committed to making reasonable adjustments to teaching and learning, assessment, placement and other activities to enable students to participate in their program.
Reasonable adjustments must not fundamentally change the nature of the IAR.
Consideration is given to a student's cultural and religious background/beliefs, which may impact on participation in their program or course. For further information contact Student Support.
Why are Inherent Academic Requirements (IARs) important?
IARs ensure the academic integrity of a program is maintained and preserves the University's learning, assessment and accreditation processes. They must be met by all students.
How does this affect you?
To successfully complete a program at UniSC, you need to be able to meet all the Inherent Academic Requirements.
If you are applying for a program, you should read the IAR statement carefully to ensure you are able to meet them.
If you have a disability or chronic health condition, contact a UniSC Disability Advisor to talk about the adjustments that may be put in place so you can meet the requirements.
Headstart Program - Years 10 to 12
The Headstart program lets you study uni subjects while you’re still in high school. If you successfully complete two Headstart courses, you’ll get a selection rank that you could use to get into uni.
Early Offer Guarantee scheme - Year 12
The Early Offer Guarantee scheme enables Year 12 students to be offered a place at UniSC on the basis of their Principal's recommendation.
Prior study or work experience
If you:
- have completed Year 12 (no matter how long ago)
- have a TAFE/VET qualification
- have relevant work experience, or
- have studied at university before (even if you didn’t complete your studies)
You may be eligible for a selection rank, which can help you get into uni. For more detailed information selection ranks and how applications are assessed, visit Admissions explained.
Tertiary Preparation Pathway
If you don’t have qualifications or experience that will give you a selection rank, you can complete the Tertiary Preparation Pathway as a stepping stone into most degrees. You can also use TPP to complete subject prerequisites.
If you haven’t studied in a while, TPP is also a great way to brush up on essential study skills like critical reading, assignment writing and referencing.
It can also build your knowledge and confidence in the subject areas you’ll need for your degree, like science or maths. TPP courses are fee-free for eligible domestic students.
Indigenous Direct Entry and Access Scheme (IDEAS)
You may be eligible for direct entry into a UniSC degree based on your potential to succeed, under UniSC’s Indigenous Direct Entry and Access Scheme (IDEAS). All you have to do is complete an online application through our website.
High-school leavers completing year 12 are not eligible, and must apply through QTAC.
- CSP estimate
- A$11,232 - 2025 Fees
Additional student costs
UniSC Clinical Uniform; Meeting "Fit for Placement" requirements
Commonwealth supported places
Commonwealth supported places are substantially subsidised by the Australian Government so that students only pay 'student contribution" amounts. The student contribution amount will vary depending on the course you are studying and how much funding the Government provides.
If you accept a Commonwealth supported place you are a Commonwealth supported student. As a Commonwealth supported student you must make a contribution towards the cost of your education (unless you are enrolled in Enabling or Tertiary Preparation Pathway courses) with the majority of the cost met by the Commonwealth Government.
Commonwealth supported places are only available to domestic students. As a domestic student you are entitled to a Commonwealth supported place in an eligible program if you:
- meet the citizenship and residency requirements
- complete an electronic Commonwealth Assistance Form (eCAF)
- meet the University's entry requirements for your chosen program.
Domestic applicants apply for admission through the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC). Some applicants may be eligible to apply direct to UniSC if they meet certain criteria.
Find out about how to apply and key application closing dates.
QTAC code
| Location | QTAC code |
|---|---|
| Sunshine Coast | 013132 |
| Fraser Coast | 019703 |
| Caboolture | 018632 |
| Gympie | 013520 |
| Moreton Bay | 014395 |
Student story
“UniSC opened my world to many possibilities, new knowledge and new ways of thinking. It has completely changed me as a person.”
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