Course Overview
The Graduate Certificate in Counter-Terrorism and Operational Medicine, will equip you with specialised knowledge and skills to manage trauma in high-threat environments. The course is designed to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of counter-terrorism and operational medicine. You'll gain critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills necessary for success in dynamic and high-pressure situations. You will learn to apply these skills in a range of situations, including counter-terrorism operations and other high-risk scenarios.
The course combines theoretical knowledge, practical exercises, and hands-on training to equip you with new clinical knowledge, skills, and interventions to manage trauma effectively in the field. You will learn how to assess, plan, prepare, and implement strategies for successful operations in civilian tactical environments, as well as how to operate in direct, indirect, high-threat, and prolonged field care environments.
By completing this course, you will be better equipped to handle the unique challenges of trauma care in dynamic and high-threat environments while maintaining a focus on clinical excellence and adherence to best practices in operational medicine.
Ultimately, the course aims to contribute to public safety and security by providing you, as a medical professional, with the tools you need to operate successfully in high-risk environments.
Career Information
The Graduate Certificate in Counter-Terrorism and Operational Medicine course supports graduates to operate and manage trauma in high-threat environments. This qualification provides a pathway for current operators in this environment to formalise their knowledge, or for those holding relevant background qualifications, the underpinning knowledge and skills to enter the operational tactical medicine environment.
| Duration | 0.5 years full-time or 1 years part-time |
|---|---|
| Credit Points that Must be Earned | 24 |
| Number of Units Required | CQUniversity uses the concept of credits to express the amount of study required for a particular course and individual units. The number of units varies between courses. Units in postgraduate courses normally consist of 6 points of credit or multiples thereof (e.g. 12, 18, 24). |
| Expected Hours of Study | One point of credit is equivalent to an expectation of approximately two hours of student work per week in a term. |
| Course Type | Postgraduate Award |
| Qualification (post nominal) | GradCertCTOMed |
| AQF Level | Level 8: Graduate Certificate |
| Course Fees |
Indicative Year - 2026
Indicative Year - 2025
Indicative Year - 2024
Indicative Year - 2023
Indicative Year - 2022
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Admission Codes
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Domestic Students Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes |
Not Applicable |
|---|---|
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International Students CRICOS Codes |
Not Applicable |
Units offered via MIX mode are delivered online and require compulsory attendance of site-specific learning activities such as on-campus residential schools, placements and/or work integrated learning. See Course Features tab for further information. Online units are delivered using online resources only.
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Domestic Availability
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Term 1 - 2027
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Term 1 - 2026
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Term 1 - 2025
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Term 1 - 2024
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Term 1 - 2023
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Term 1 - 2022
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Term 1 - 2021
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Term 1 - 2020
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Term 1 - 2019
International Availability
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Term 1 - 2027
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Term 1 - 2026
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Term 1 - 2025
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Term 1 - 2024
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Term 1 - 2023
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Term 1 - 2022
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Term 1 - 2021
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Term 1 - 2020
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Term 1 - 2019
Entry requirements:
To be eligible for entry into this course, applicants must demonstrate one of the following
- A completed Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) equivalent Bachelor of Paramedic Science, or equivalent; or
- A completed AQF equivalent Bachelor of Nursing or equivalent;
- A completed AQF equivalent Diploma in Paramedic Science; or
- Current or past employment as an Australian Defence Force (ADF) Combat Medic (with an approved medic qualification, not including combat lifesaver CLS) or Police Medic; or
- Current employment in a relevant field* and evidence of a completed short course in Tactical Medicine.
*Relevant fields include employment in Military Medicine (including the Reserve), Law Enforcement and Police Medicine, Fire and Rescue Services Medicine, Search and Rescue Medicine, Disaster Response Medicine, Private Military Companies (PMC) medical support contractors, Expedition and austere environment medicine, Critical Care Medicine, Trauma Surgery, Anaesthesiology and Pain Management, Wilderness Medicine, Global Health including non-government organisations (NGO) support to refugees, Public Health and Epidemiology, Biomedical Research and Development, NGO medical support services.
Employment and clinical experience must be demonstrated by providing a letter of employment which is presented on a company letterhead as well as signed and dated by a delegated authority. The letter must contain your full name, position title, duties performed and length of service.
Applicants applying based on employment and clinical experience will be referred to the Head of Course for consideration.
English Language Proficiency Requirement:
If you were not born in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa or United States of America you are required to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements set by the University. Applicants are required to provide evidence of completion of:
- A secondary qualification (Year 11 or 12, or equivalent), or
- Tertiary diploma level qualification, or
- Bachelor level qualification study for a period of at least 2 years full-time with a minimum overall GPA 4.0
Completed within Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, South Africa, Ireland, or United States of America.
If you do not satisfy any of the above, you will need to undertake an English language proficiency test and achieve the following scores as below:
- An International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic) overall band score of at least 6.0 overall with a minimum 5.5 in each subset; or
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBt - 75 or better overall and no score less than 17; or
- Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) - Requires an overall score of 54 with no sub-score less than 46; or
- An Occupational English Test with Grades A or B only in each of the four components.
English test results remain valid for no more than two years between final examination date and the date of commencement of study and must appear on a single result certificate.
Each student will be assessed individually.
There is no recommended pre-study required for entry into this course.
Awards and Accreditation
| Interim Awards | Not applicable |
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| Exit Awards | Not applicable |
| Accreditation |
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Residential School Requirements
| Compulsory Residential School | Some units in this course will require compulsory attendance at residential schools. |
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| Click here to view all Residential Schools | |
Practicum/Work Placement
| Not applicable |
Previous and Current Enrolments
| Year | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 20 |
| 2025 | 20 |
| 2024 | 17 |
| 2023 | 12 |
| 2022 | 16 |
- 1. Assess, plan, prepare and implement strategies for successful operation in the tactical medicine environment
- 2. Integrate current evidence-based practice into the management of patients in the tactical environment
- 3. Analyse and interpret clinical trends and research findings to enhance tactical medicine practice
- 4. Demonstrate situational awareness by using critical thinking, problem-solving and decision making skills in the tactical environment
- 5. Exhibit interpersonal, leadership, communication and teamwork skills to ensure team safety in the tactical environment
- 6. Apply ethical principles within operational medicine practice.
| Course Learning Outcomes | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 1. KNOWLEDGE Have specialised knowledge within a systematic and coherent body of knowledge that may include the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills in a new or existing discipline or professional area | ||||||
| 2. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to review,analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge and identify and provide solutions to complex problems | ||||||
| 3. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to think critically and to generate and evaluate complex ideas | ||||||
| 4. SKILLS Have specialised technical and creative skills in a field of highly skilled and/or professional practice | ||||||
| 5. SKILLS Have communication skills to demonstrate an understanding of theoretical concepts | ||||||
| 6. SKILLS Have communication skills to transfer complex knowledge and ideas to a variety of audiences | ||||||
| 7. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to make high level, independent judgements in a range of technical or management functions in varied specialised contexts | ||||||
| 8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to initiate, plan, implement and evaluate broad functions within varied specialised technical and/or creative contexts | ||||||
| 9. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILL Be responsible and accountable for personal outputs and all aspects of the work or function of others within broad parameters | ||||||
| 10. FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE sufficient to undertake qualifications | ||||||
| 11. ACQUISITION AND APPLICATION of knowledge in new or existing disciplines or professional areas drawn from higher education units | ||||||
| 12. FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS sufficient to undertake qualifications | ||||||
| 13. ACQUISITION AND APPLICATION of skills in new or existing disciplines or professional areas drawn from higher education units | ||||||
| 14. Course content drawn from higher education units | ||||||
- Complete the core structure
| Number of units: 4 | Total credit points: 24 |
|---|
| Available units | ||
|---|---|---|
| Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
| PMSC20016 | Direct Threat Care | |
| PMSC20017 | Indirect Threat Care | |
| PMSC28004 | Fundamentals of Counter-terrorism and Operational Medicine | |
| PMSC20018 | Prolonged Field Care and Casualty Evacuation | |
RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS
Students studying this course will be required to attend
compulsory residential schools for some units.