Contemporary Issues in Ageing
PostgraduateMUR-SHP5022026
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- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 15 weeks
- Start dates
- 23 Feb 2026,
- 27 July 2026
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Contemporary Issues in Ageing
About this subject
On successful completion of the subject you should be able to:
- Analyse the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that interact to determine healthy ageing in the 21st century, considering biological, psychosocial, cognitive, and spiritual influences.
- Discuss the legal and ethical aspects of care for older people from diverse backgrounds demonstrating cultural responsiveness, advocacy, and support during life transitions.
- Explain the impact of physical and social environments on the capacity of the older person to age well in contemporary society, taking a life-course perspective and considering the person-environment fit.
- Evaluate evidence-based approaches, and their application to interprofessional practice, in the support of older people and family caregivers to navigate the continuum of contemporary healthcare.
- Identify and apply strengths-based strategies to promote healthy ageing by leveraging the unique strengths, abilities, and resources of older people to enhance their well-being and quality of life.
- Biological theories of ageing; psychosocial, cognitive, and spiritual aspects of ageing; and holistic perspectives of healthy ageing to emphasise strengths, resilience, capabilities; disease prevention, and minimisation of disability.
- Diversity and transitions in older age including cultural and linguistic diversity, sexuality, gender diversity, elder abuse, grand-parenting, retirement, widowhood, moving to supported living.
- Legal and ethical aspects of older person’s health care, including health disparities and impaired decision-making capacity.
- The healthcare system (primary care, acute care, residential aged care, home-based community care; funding; practice standards; fragmentation).
- Partnering with older people and family caregivers to navigate the continuum of care: health literacy; transitional care; rehabilitation.
- Implications of the Covid-19 pandemic for older people living in the community and aged care facilities, informing aged care policy and practice in regard to infection control, end of life care, and future preparedness.
This foundational subject is designed to foster knowledge and critical inquiry into current issues in aged care across a range of healthcare settings. Students will apply theoretical approaches to understand ageing in the 21st century, strengths-based approaches to promote healthy ageing, the provision of ethical care for older people from diverse backgrounds, and support for older people during major life transitions. Additionally, students will explore the complexity of the contemporary Australian healthcare system, the influence of health literacy, and the support of older people and caregivers to navigate the continuum of care.
Please Note:All students studying at Murdoch University will need to complete the compulsory unit, Murdoch Academic Passport (MAP100), which only takes 2-3 hours to complete online. Find out more: http://goto.murdoch.edu.au/MurdochAcademicPassport.
- Infographic presentation (30%)
- Portfolio (40%)
- Portfolio (30%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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Entry requirements
Part of a degree
To enrol in this subject you must be accepted into one of the following degrees:
Core
- MUR-GHC-GCE-2026 - Graduate Certificate in Gerontological Healthcare
Elective
- MUR-HCM-MAS-2026 - Master of Health Care Management
Others
Enrolment in a Graduate degree.
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
Related degrees
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
Graduate Certificate in Gerontological Healthcare
PostgraduateMUR-GHC-GCE
Master of Health Care Management
PostgraduateMUR-HCM-MAS