Curtin University
Master of Advanced Practice (Wound, Ostomy and Continence Practice)
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 12 months
Strengthen your assessment, clinical decision-making and evidence-informed practice capabilities to support holistic care for people with wounds, ostomies and continence needs.
Course overview
Respond to the growing need for specialist wound, ostomy and continence services with Curtin University’s Master of Advanced Practice. Designed for experienced nurses, the course strengthens the advanced clinical and research capabilities required to support people with acute and chronic wounds, ostomies and continence needs.
You will explore the pathophysiological processes associated with relevant diseases and injuries while advancing your knowledge of assessment, management and healing. The course also develops your clinical decision-making, patient advocacy and ability to deliver holistic, evidence-informed specialty care.
Apply your learning through two weeks of specialty clinical practice focused on interprofessional learning and collaboration. You will also examine healthcare policy, research and evaluation methods before completing an applied research project related to your area of specialisation.
The course is delivered on campus at Curtin Perth. It requires one or two years of full-time-equivalent study, depending on your previous qualifications, while the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Practice specialisation is offered part-time and commences in Semester 1 only.
Key facts
What you will study
To earn the Master of Advanced Practice with a specialisation in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Practice, you must successfully complete units totalling 200 credit points, as detailed below. Unless otherwise noted, each course is worth 25 credit points.
Core units
- Evidence-Informed Clinical Practice
- Health Research Professional Project (50 credit points)
- Research and Evaluation in Health
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Practice specialisation
- Foundations of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing
- WOCP Specialty Clinical Practice 1
- Fundamentals of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing
- WOCP Specialty Clinical Practice 2
The specialisation includes two weeks of clinical practice in the specialty, focused on interprofessional learning and collaboration. It is offered part-time and commences in Semester 1 only.
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
To be eligible for this course, applicants must meet all of the following requirements:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree, a bachelor's honours degree, a graduate certificate or a graduate diploma in a related field.
- Have at least three years of relevant professional experience gained after completing a bachelor’s degree.
- Meet the course-specific professional registration requirements applicable to the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Practice specialisation.
Applicants entering with a bachelor’s degree generally complete four semesters of full-time-equivalent study. Applicants who hold a Graduate Certificate in the relevant specialisation generally complete two semesters of full-time-equivalent study.
A part-time study plan is required for specialisations linked to employment.
Supporting documents
Applicants must submit:
- A current CV outlining their employment history.
- Evidence of their current professional registration.
English language requirements
Applicants must provide evidence of at least one of the following:
- An IELTS Academic overall score of 6.5, with no individual band score below 6.0.
- An accepted equivalent English language test with the required scores.
- An eligible previous qualification or other accepted evidence of English language proficiency.
Contact the university for further information.
Recognition of Prior Learning
You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help reduce the number of units you need to study to finish your course. Contact the university for more information.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes
- Apply discipline knowledge, principles and concepts per relevant practice codes, standards and legislation.
- Apply critical thinking and reflective practice to clinical practice to generate innovative solutions.
- Access, evaluate and synthesise information relevant to clinical leadership and promoting optimal client outcomes.
- Communicate effectively and collaborate with clients, carers, families, communities, and the interdisciplinary health care team.
- Utilise technology safely and appropriately for the diagnosis and management of clients.
- Participate in research, critically appraise research findings and incorporate evidence-based knowledge into clinical practice.
- Relate policy, practices and standards to international trends.
- Demonstrate cultural competence in caring for all clients, families and communities.
- Demonstrate professional, legal and ethical accountability within the scope of practice for safe health care delivery.
Fees and FEE-HELP
Indicative annual fee in 2026: $29,330 (Full-fee paying place)
Indicative annual fees are based on your first year of study.
A student’s annual fee may vary by:
- The number of units studied.
- Choice of units.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
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 with the cost of a university course.
