Course Overview
In this course you will explore the history, development and practical applications of positive psychology for enhancing the wellbeing and resilience of individuals, groups, communities and organisations. This exploration, combined with contemporary theory, will provide you with an understanding of the multidimensional nature of wellbeing with relation to individual and collective flourishing. The course will draw from a range of positive psychology models, together with other elements of wellbeing such as resilience and optimism, and environmental, physical and ecological considerations. You will examine and evaluate system and behavioural change drivers and tools used to initiate, motivate, and sustain positive change. Drawing on evidence-based theories, tools, and approaches, you will research, design and develop positive psychology interventions suitable for a range of settings.
Career Information
It is expected that graduates of positive psychology from CQUniversity will have access to a range of career options. Graduates will be equipped to develop and implement positive interventions aimed at improving the mental health of the population in a range of settings including:
· Clinical settings
· Teaching and education
· Coaching
· Consulting
· Health care settings
· Communities
· Organisations
| 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) | GradCertPosPsych |
| 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 2 - 2027
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Term 1 - 2027
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Term 2 - 2026
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Term 1 - 2026
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Term 2 - 2025
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Term 1 - 2025
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Term 2 - 2024
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Term 1 - 2024
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Term 2 - 2023
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Term 1 - 2023
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Term 2 - 2022
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Term 1 - 2022
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Term 2 - 2021
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Term 1 - 2021
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Term 2 - 2020
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Term 1 - 2020
International Availability
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Term 2 - 2027
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Term 1 - 2027
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Term 2 - 2026
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Term 1 - 2026
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Term 2 - 2025
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Term 1 - 2025
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Term 2 - 2024
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Term 1 - 2024
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Term 2 - 2023
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Term 1 - 2023
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Term 2 - 2022
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Term 1 - 2022
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Term 2 - 2021
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Term 1 - 2021
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Term 2 - 2020
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Term 1 - 2020
To be eligible for entry into this course, applicants must hold one of the following:
- A completed Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) equivalent Bachelor degree, or higher equivalent qualification; or
- A completed AQF Diploma with two years relevant employment experience*, or
- Five years relevant employment experience*
*Relevant employment experience can include employment within health care, teaching and education, coaching, social work, counselling, community services.
Employment experience must be shown in 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.
English Language Proficiency Requirements:
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 and 12, or equivalent), or
- An Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) diploma level qualification, or
- Bachelor level qualification study for a period of at least 2 years fulltime with a minimum overall GPA 4.0
Completed within Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, South Africa, Ireland, or United States of America, which will meet the English proficiency.
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) - Requires 550 or better overall & minimum TWE score of 4.5 (Paper Based Test), or 75 or better overall and no score less than 17 (Internet Based Test); 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.
International Students should visit http://www.cqu.edu.au/international for further information.
Each student will be assessed individually.
No recommended study.
Awards and Accreditation
| Interim Awards | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Exit Awards | Not applicable |
| Accreditation |
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Residential School Requirements
No Residential School for this course.
Practicum/Work Placement
| Not applicable |
Previous and Current Enrolments
| Year | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 39 |
| 2024 | 37 |
| 2023 | 37 |
| 2022 | 44 |
| 2021 | 53 |
Please note that in some instances there may be similarities between course, entry and inherent requirements.
If you experience difficulties meeting these requirements, reasonable adjustments may be made upon contacting accessibility@cqu.edu.au. Adjustment must not compromise the academic integrity of the degree or course chosen at CQUniversity or the legal requirements of field education.
Examples are:
- Complying with academic and non-academic misconduct policies and procedures such as CQUniversity’s Student Conduct Policy and Procedure and the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
- Treating personal information obtained as private and confidential.
- Respecting an individual’s/group’s diversity by demonstrating sensitivity to religious, cultural and individual differences.
- Demonstrating an ability to reflect on ethical dilemmas and issues and use an ethical decision-making model to take responsibility to ethically resolve dilemmas.
- If undertaking research, preparing an application for the university ethics committee to conduct a research study.
Examples are:
- Being reflective with personal behaviours appropriate for professional performance and being positive and receptive to processing constructive supervisor/lecturer feedback or criticism.
- Interacting with people from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures in a calm and composed manner in difficult to deal with situations.
- Successfully processing your own emotions and behaviour in a wide range of learning environments.
- Maintaining behavioural stability through successfully distinguishing your own personal behaviours, experiences and emotions from those of others (e.g., fellow students, colleagues, clients, research participants).
Examples are:
- Complying with the policies and practices of organisations in which you may be placed or find employment.
- Complying with university and workplace policy around the use of social media, online discussion forums, email and other electronic forms of communication.
- If undertaking research, complying with the legal stipulations contained within an approved ethics application when conducting research with humans or animals.
Examples are:
- Verbally communicating your positive psychology practice knowledge and skills with accuracy, appropriateness and effectiveness in a wide variety of contexts.
- Using language that is appropriate to the context of the individual, group or workplace.
- Framing and leading discussion with clients and/or research participants to collect information and provide instruction.
- Using appropriate facial expressions, eye contact, being mindful of personal space boundaries, and a range of body movements and gestures.
- Competently and appropriately producing written assessment work in a logical, coherent manner, and with correct grammar, punctuation and correct referencing to the required academic standards.
- Expressing complex and detailed information and knowledge into a logical and legible report, in a timely manner that clearly communicates the intended message.
- Where part of your course, preparing a document based on a body of research conducted under the supervision of an academic staff member.
- Competently using a desktop operating system (e.g., Microsoft Windows or Mac OS X).
- Accessing a computer and having sufficient computer skills to engage in online learning, reading and responding as required to emails, and completing relevant assessments for the course.
- Regularly accessing the Internet for research, and email for communication with peers and lecturers.
- Using a variety of computer programs to analyse, manipulate and display scientific information applicable to your course of study.
Examples are:
- Conceptualising and using appropriate knowledge in response to academic assessment items.
- Completing academic learning activities and assessment tasks, and performing professional skills within reasonable set timeframes.
- Where part of your course, successfully conducting an independent research project that incorporates the cognitive knowledge and skills gained from the course and is appropriate for a psychology graduate.
- Paraphrasing, summarising and referencing in accordance with appropriate academic conventions associated with the referencing format used by the School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences (e.g., American Psychological Association [APA]).
- Producing contextually appropriate text which meets professional and legal requirements.
- Reading and accurately interpreting information related to clients and/or research participants, as well as convey a spoken message accurately and effectively in a professional setting.
- Demonstrating competency in applying accurate mathematical knowledge and skills to score and interpret psychological test data.
- Applying research methodologies in a variety of research contexts.
- Conducting and interpreting statistical analysis using software such as SPSS, Excel, Nvivo, or R.
Examples are:
- Rapidly building rapport with people from all walks of life, well as with fellow students, teaching staff, colleagues, and/or research participants and/or clients in the professional context.
- Maintaining positive working relationships when under stressful circumstances.
- Maintaining confidentiality in all contexts.
Examples are:
- Reflecting critically on topics taught during the course.
- Identifying when your practice may be negatively affected by personal experience and/or reactions, outside one's scope or expertise, and be able to reflect and learn from this experience.
- Reflecting on situations that may be difficult and sensitive.
- Identifying, reflecting and learning from successful situations as well as opportunities for improvement.
Examples are:
- Maintaining the appropriate level of commitment to coursework tasks, and actively participating in activities related to the course, including group work.
- Undertaking examinations and on-line quizzes with adequate, sustained levels of physical energy and concentration.
- Remaining focused and performing consistently during tasks.
- Being aware of and managing your own workloads and personal commitments outside of university to ensure sustainable performance of course requirements.
- Being aware of and managing your own stress and/or anxieties so that sustainable performance can be ensured within course requirements.
- 1. Explain the history and development of wellbeing and resilience theories and interventions, from positive psychology and multi-discipline perspectives
- 2. Utilise evidence-based theories and approaches to plan, deliver and evaluate wellbeing and resilience interventions for individuals and/or groups
- 3. Design and conduct wellbeing and resilience interventions for individuals and groups within a culturally sensitive, ethical, and inclusive framework
- 4. Evaluate and reflect on your development as a professional practitioner in the positive psychology, wellbeing and resilience domain.
| Course Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 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
- Complete electives
| Number of units: 4 | Total credit points: 24 |
|---|
The Graduate Certificate in Positive Psychology comprises four units, chosen from the options below.
| Available units | ||
|---|---|---|
| Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
| PSYC20037 | Introduction to Positive Psychology: Perspectives on Wellbeing | |
| Available units | ||
|---|---|---|
| Students must complete 1 from the following units: | ||
| PSYC29003 | Coaching Individuals for Positive Change | |
| PSYC29001 | Applied Positive Psychology | |
Students may complete either Applied Positive Psychology or Coaching Individuals for Positive Change, but cannot complete both units as part of the Graduate Certificate.
| Available units | ||
|---|---|---|
| Students must complete 2 from the following units: | ||
| PSYC20041 | Group Facilitation Skills | |
| PSYC20042 | Building Wellbeing and Resilience: Interconnected Factors | |
| PSYC20039 | Inter-disciplinary and Cross-cultural Approaches to Wellbeing | |
| PSYC20038 | Positive Psychology: Research Methods | |
| PSYC20040 | Wellbeing Initiatives: Local and Global Scales | |