Bachelor of Dementia Care

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Dementia Care, offered by the Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, is Australia's first degree in dementia care. This fully online program provides specialized knowledge and skills to individuals seeking to make a difference in the lives of people living with dementia. With no exams or face-to-face study, the program offers flexibility and support through dedicated Student Advisers. Graduates are well-equipped for careers in aged care, health sectors, and research, addressing the growing need for qualified professionals in dementia care.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Bachelor of Dementia Care, delivered by the Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, will help you develop specialised knowledge so that you can make a difference to the lives of people living with dementia. The Dementia Care Program offers Australia's first degree in dementia care and sets a high standard for the value and knowledge graduates will bring to the aged care and health sectors. It is available to domestic and international students, from carers to health professionals and anyone with an interest in studying dementia. With the rise in prevalence in dementia and the need to provide quality care in the community, health care centres and hospitals, and in residential care, it is becoming essential that health care workers in aged care develop specialised knowledge in this field so that you can make a difference to the lives of people living with dementia. This course has been developed by the Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, global leaders in dementia education with a mission to transform the understanding of dementia worldwide. This is a fully online course with no exams, face to face study, or workplace assessment component. Dedicated Student Advisers are on-hand throughout the course, providing support and guidance throughout your studies. Our program can be studied full-time or part-time, offering you a choice to graduate with a: Diploma (8 units, completed over a maximum of 3 years) Associate Degree (16 units, completed over a maximum of 5 years) Bachelor Degree (24 units, completed over a maximum of 7 years) Students may study part-time (1-2 units) or full-time (3-4 units) per semester. Students are advised to approximately 10 hours of study per week per unit of study. There are no formal examinations, all assessments occur throughout the semester. Assessments may include assessed discussion boards, quizzes, essays or reports, presentations.

Outline:

Year 1

Core units Neurospeak Online Introduction to Ageing, the Brain and Dementia Principles of Supportive Care for People With Dementia Health Services for an Ageing Population Introduction to Therapeutic Approaches for Dementia Effective Communication for Dementia Care Elective units Choose 2 units from any College or discipline area

Year 2

Core units The Neurobiology of Dementia Therapeutic Approaches for Dementia Principles of Palliative Care Nutrition, Dysphagia and Dementia Individual and Community Approaches to Dementia Prevention Dementia Policy and Care Coordination Elective units Choose 2 units from any College or discipline area

Year 3

Core units Qualitative Research in Aged and Dementia Care Advanced Topics in Dementia Care Translating Evidence into Dementia Care Dementia Friendly Societies Elective units Choose 4 units from any College or discipline area

Assessment:

All assessments occur throughout the semester and may include: Assessed discussion boards Quizzes Essays or reports Presentations

Teaching:

This is a fully online course with no exams, face to face study, or workplace assessment component. Dedicated Student Advisers are on-hand throughout the course, providing support and guidance throughout your studies.

Careers:

Over 400,000 Australians are currently living with dementia; this number increases every year. The impact on communities, families, governments and health professionals will be significant as these numbers increase. Our workforce is currently ill equipped to help care for such large numbers of people living with dementia – by 2050, it is estimated that there will be over 900,000 people in Australia living with dementia. Graduates from this course may find work in a range of career paths such as in the aged care industry in both the public and private sectors, or as a pathway to undertaking further study in graduate health programs. In March 2021, Australia’s Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety released its final report (Pagone & Briggs, 2021). “We are deeply concerned that so many aged care providers do not seem to have the skills and capacity required to care adequately for people living with dementia” (Pagone & Briggs, 2021, p. 69). Care, dignity, and respect: Executive Summary and Final report (Volumes 1-5). Australian Government Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. Individuals with backgrounds in healthcare, community service and allied health professionals, may find study in this course advantageous – and opportunities for Recognition of Prior Learning (or credit) are available. There are a growing number of leadership and case management positions in dementia care, which require qualifications higher than aged care certificates. Leadership roles, and specialist positions in the aged care sector are increasingly calling for tertiary level qualifications such as the Dementia Care Program. The Diploma and Associate Degrees are particularly relevant to aged care workers and health professionals wishing to develop their skills and knowledge in dementia. The Bachelor Degree offers additional learning about research and the understanding of how evidence may be translated into clinical care practice. To support the development of a career structure for aged care workers in the future we will continually evaluate the course and make representations to government and industry. We know that workers with greater knowledge and skills in dementia care will be critical in delivering enhanced capacity to a sector which is facing an enormous challenge both now and into the future.