Master of Adolescent Health & Wellbeing

The Master of Adolescent Health & Wellbeing program will provide a unique learning opportunity for students to develop in-depth knowledge and advanced skills in the specialist discipline of adolescent health and well being. The research component (subject and thesis) will require students to propose a research question, choose and design a methodology for a relevant adolescent health issue. They then conduct the investigation under the guidance of a supervisor and apply what is learnt to their own workplace and practice. This research cycle, from conception to implementation and adaptation, serves as a rigorous exercise in academic excellence.

• Further develop and apply critically reflective, evidence-informed approaches to adolescent health and wellbeing practice, program development and policy analysis;
• Analyse and critically evaluate contemporary theories of adolescence and adolescent development (including historical and cultural contexts), to enhance own practice in working with young people, families, communities and agencies;
• identify national and international adolescent health issues and trends and relate these to the broader socio-environmental contexts impacting on the health and wellbeing of young people;
• identify the principles associated with 'micro' and 'macro' approaches to practice and use these to develop enhanced prevention and intervention strategies when working with young people, families, communities and agencies;
• analyse, evaluate and apply ecological models of resiliency, risk and protection in adolescent health;
• engage young people, families and other professionals in the development and implementation of strategies to promote adolescent health and wellbeing;
• Demonstrate a commitment to critical enquiry and evidence-based practice so as to maintain currency with contemporary debates and continuously inform practice;
• Analyse and reflect on national and international adolescent health issues and trends as they relate to particular communities and professional practice settings;
• Further develop and apply principles associated with 'micro' and 'macro' approaches to practice in adolescent health and welbeing;
• Plan, implement and evaluate effective prevention, early intervention and intervention strategies relevant to work with young people.

Six core subjects and eight electives from lists below. Students have the option of exiting at a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma level.

Core Subjects

Electives Group 1

Choose 4 subjects (50 credit points) from the following list of electives.

Electives Group 2

Choose 4 subjects (50 credit points) from the following list of electives.

1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:
• either
– an undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline such as Education, Health Science, Social Work or related discipline, or equivalent, or
– an undergraduate degree in any discipline, or equivalent, and at least two years of documented relevant work experience, or
– at least five years of documented relevant work experience, including clear evidence of career development, of professional writing, and generally of professional achievement or practice comparable to that expected of undergraduate degree holders;
and
• a curriculum vitae in a form prescribed by the Selection Committee.
Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.

2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:
• prior academic performance and/or work experience.

3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.

4. Applicants are required to satisfy the university’s English language requirements for postgraduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 6.5 is required.

Note.
• Students who complete the Graduate Diploma in Adolescent Health and Wellbeing with a weighted average mark of at least H2B (75%) will be permitted to transfer into the Master of Adolescent Health and Wellbeing with 100 points of credit.
• Students who enter directly into the Master of Adolescent Health and Wellbeing program (having not previously completed the Graduate Diploma) are required to achieve with a weighted average mark of at least H2B (75%) in the Graduate Diploma level subjects in order to progress to the final 100 credit points of the Master of Adolescent Health and Wellbeing. Students who fail to achieve a 75% average in the Graduate Diploma level subjects are eligible to receive the Graduate Diploma as an exit award if all relevant subjects have been passed.

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Objectives, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

A Knowledge

Graduates of the Master of Adolescent Health & Wellbeing Degree will have acquired:

1. a body of knowledge that includes the understanding of recent developments in a discipline and/or area of professional practice in the discipline of Adolescent Health & Wellbeing
2. knowledge of research principles and methods applicable to a field of work or learning in the discipline of Adolescent Health & Wellbeing

B Skills

Graduates of the Master of Adolescent Health & Wellbeing Degree will have developed:

1. cognitive skills to demonstrate mastery of theoretical knowledge and to (eflect critically on theory and professional practice or scholarship
2. cognitive, technical and creative skills to investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories and to apply established theories to dif erent bodies of knowledge or practice
3. cognitive, technical and creative skills to generate and evaluate com pie ideas concepts at an abstract level
4. communication and technical research skills to justify and interpret theoretical propositions, methodologies, conclusions and professional decisions to specialist and non-specialist audiences
5. technical and communication skills to design, evaluate, implement, analyse, theorise about developments that contribute to professional practice or scholarship teconical and communication skills to design, evaluate, implement, analyse, theorise about developments that contribute to scientific professional practice or scholarship

C Application of knowledge and skills

Graduates of the Master of Adolescent Health & Wellbeing Degree will demonstrate the application of knowledge & skills:

1. with creativity and initiative to new situations in professional practice artuor for further learning with high level personal autonomy and accountability
2. to plan and execute a substantial research-based project, capstone experience and/or piece of scholarship with creativity and initiative to new situations in professional scientific' practice and/or for further learning