Victoria University
Master of Nursing (Chronic Disease and Ageing)
- Delivery: Online
- Commitment: 15 - 20 hours/week
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 24 months
Equips registered nurses with advanced, person-centred strategies to lead innovative care models for older adults with complex health needs—all delivered flexibly through VU’s award-winning online Block Model.
Course overview
VU Online’s Master of Nursing, specialising in Chronic Disease and Ageing, is designed for registered nurses to transform the delivery of healthcare services in Australia. Across eight core units of study – from Promoting Cultural Competence and Community Health to Nursing Informatics – and four specialised units in Chronic Disease and Ageing, students will acquire skills that are in demand for senior nurse leaders.
The Chronic Disease and Ageing specialisation provides registered nurses with a fundamental knowledge base to devise innovative care interventions and models for residents, patients, families and carers. Graduates with a Master of Nursing (Chronic Disease and Ageing) will acquire person-centred strategies to plan, assess, implement, evaluate, support and care for older individuals with complex comorbidities or chronic health conditions.
The course is delivered 100% online, allowing students to fit study around their busy personal and professional lives. VU Online takes a personalised 1:1 approach to online learning, which makes learning highly interactive and supported.
Key facts
16th March, 2026
11th May, 2026
6th July, 2026
31st August, 2026
26th October, 2026
What you will study
To attain the Master of Nursing (Chronic Disease and Aging), students must complete 12 units.
Core units
- Promoting Cultural Competence and Community Health
- Care Coordination in Practice
- Leading Improvement and Innovation
- Evidence and Research for Practice
- Complex Care Coordination
- Nursing Informatics
- Professional Development in Practice
- Mental Health Nursing
Specialisation units
- Innovation in Aged Care Practice
- Ageing and Chronic Disease
- Health and Wellbeing for the Older Person
- Research Project: Chronic Disease and Ageing
Entry requirements
Applicants are required to have the following:
- Completed an AQF Level 7 Bachelor of Nursing, or equivalent qualification.
- Current Registration as a Registered Nurse (Division 1) with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
- Applicants without an AQF 7 Bachelor's Degree of Nursing or equivalent qualification who hold a current Registered Nurse (Division 1) Registration with the Australian Practitioner Regulation Agency (APHRA) will be considered for the Graduate Certificate in Nursing. Upon completing the Graduate Certificate, applicants will be eligible for admission to the Master's in Nursing with credit granted for completed units.
Recognition of Prior Learning
You may be eligible to enter the master's with credit for past skills and/or study, known as advanced standing.
You may be eligible for advanced standing if you've already completed any of the units in the course you are enrolling in, or their equivalent.
For more information, contact the university or visit its website.
Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Assess and apply current WHO and Australian Health priorities and cultural competency principles to promote community health.
- Formulate and lead quality and safety innovations for improved patient outcomes.
- Assume leadership for complex care coordination for clients.
- Provide leadership in informatics and its applications to digital healthcare.
- Contribute to advancing nursing knowledge, practice and design through research evaluation.
- Develop, implement and assess professional development programs for clinical settings.
- Lead or influence nursing care in a chosen speciality area.
- Design and undertake primary research in a specialist area.
Fees and FEE-HELP
Cost per unit in 2025: $2,950 (domestic full-fee paying place)
Total cost for 12 units in 2025: $35,400 (domestic full-fee paying place)
The total cost of completing your degree at Victoria University (VU) Online depends on the number of units you study and the amount of advanced standing you receive, which is assessed after you apply.
A student’s fee may vary depending on:
- The number of units studied per term.
- The choice of major or specialisation.
- Choice of units.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
You may also need to pay the student services and amenities fee.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students.
