Fellowship Diploma in Applied Health Services Research (FDipRes)
Advanced management capability for leaders responsible for people, services and organisational performance.
The Fellowship Diploma in Applied Health Services Research is an advanced professional qualification for practitioners, managers and leaders who want to develop the capability to undertake rigorous, independent research into important problems within healthcare, human services and related fields.
Unlike a conventional taught qualification, the Fellowship Diploma combines structured preparation in research methodology with a substantial independent research project. Learners first complete four comprehensive research modules designed to build the knowledge and practical capability required to design, conduct, analyse and communicate a credible research study.
Following this preparation, learners undertake an independent research project or study addressing an approved topic relevant to their professional field or area of interest. The research may investigate a workplace or sector problem, evaluate practice, examine an emerging issue, test or develop an idea, or contribute new knowledge to professional practice.
The Fellowship culminates in the preparation of one or more substantial research papers totalling at least 7,000 words, excluding references. The final work must demonstrate appropriate research design, critical engagement with relevant literature, systematic analysis, defensible conclusions and scholarly communication of a standard suitable for consideration for professional or academic publication.
This course is suitable for established:
Service Managers • Operations Managers • Regional Managers • Practice Managers • Program Managers • Clinical and Allied Health Leaders • Quality and Compliance Managers • Workforce Leaders • Senior Practitioners • General Managers • Executives • Founders and Business Owners
Fellowship Diploma in Applied Health Services Research
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8-12 months depending on how you progress through the self-directed study and your independent research project/study.
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4 comprehensive online modules designed to enhance your skills and knowledge in research methodologies, strategies, tools and analysis approaches. These may be waived if you have previous, verifiable experience as a published researcher or if you have completed a university research degree (or a coursework degree with at least 1-2 research courses within it).
These modules contain multiple pre-recorded lectures, seminars, presentation, case-based videos and formative question/answer scenarios, readings and supplementary videos/audio recordings that use microlearning principles to speed your learning up!
Direct supervision by an established, skilled senior researcher-practitioner who will support you to frame your project from the beginning, and assist you to finalise it before submission for assessment. Please note, that your supervisors will not act as a significant editor for your assessable output.
Structured, easy-to-follow case-based assessments that you’ll complete under collaborative guidance from experienced instructors/lecturers.
Multiple opportunities to receive detailed feedback on progress.
Weekly virtual ‘open door’ with a Teaching Fellow where you can ask any questions about the program materials or your assessments.
All learners also receive 12 months’ access to any CHI webinars at no cost (expires 12 months after date of enrolment).
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Delivered 100% online.
Language: English.
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You can enrol and start this course anytime, year round.
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Minimum 18 years of age.
Competent English speaking and writing communication skills.
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This program is fully inclusive. In 2025, the total cost is $2,200 (GST inclusive).
Fees paid prior to commencement.
Ready to get started?
Module 1 — Research Foundations, Questions and Literature
Develop the foundations required to undertake rigorous research, including identifying researchable problems, developing research questions and objectives, locating and critically evaluating literature, establishing the significance of a study and positioning a research project within existing knowledge.
Module 2 — Research Design and Methodology
Examine major quantitative, qualitative and mixed-method research approaches and learn how to select and justify a methodology appropriate to the research question. Learners consider research design, sampling, data collection, validity, reliability, rigour, limitations and the relationship between methodology and the claims that research can reasonably support.
Module 3 — Research Ethics, Data and Analysis
Develop practical capability in responsible research practice, research ethics, participant considerations, data management and appropriate approaches to analysing and interpreting research evidence. Particular attention is given to conducting research responsibly within healthcare and human services environments.
Module 4 — Scholarly Writing, Publication and Research Communication
Learn how to transform research into a coherent scholarly paper, construct and defend an argument, present findings appropriately, discuss results in relation to existing knowledge and communicate limitations and implications. Learners also examine scholarly publishing, journal selection, peer review, authorship, research integrity and responding to reviewer feedback.
Independent Research Project
Following successful completion of the four research preparation modules, learners progress to the major component of the Fellowship: an independent research project or study.
Working within an approved research area, learners develop and execute a research project that demonstrates their ability to apply appropriate research methods to a substantive question within their professional field.
Research topics may arise from professional practice, organisational or sector challenges, service delivery, workforce issues, leadership and management, quality and safety, policy, professional practice or other areas relevant to healthcare and human services.
The project is intended to produce more than an academic exercise. Learners are expected to undertake research capable of making a meaningful contribution to professional knowledge, practice or understanding.
Research Paper Requirement
To successfully complete the Fellowship Diploma in Applied Health Services Research, learners must produce one or more research papers with a combined minimum length of 7,000 words, excluding references.
Research papers must demonstrate:
A clearly defined and significant research problem or question.
Appropriate engagement with relevant scholarly and professional literature.
A research methodology appropriate to the question being investigated.
Appropriate consideration of research ethics and integrity.
Systematic collection, analysis or synthesis of evidence.
Critical interpretation and discussion of findings.
Conclusions that are supported by the research undertaken.
Appropriate recognition of limitations and implications for research or practice.
Clear, coherent and professional scholarly writing.
Accurate and consistent citation and referencing.
Learners may use any widely accepted scholarly referencing system, including APA 7th edition, Harvard, Vancouver or another appropriate style, provided the selected system is applied accurately and consistently throughout the submitted work.
Where appropriate, learners may structure their final submission as a single substantial research paper or multiple related papers that collectively satisfy the requirements of the Fellowship.
From Practitioner to Practitioner-Researcher
Professionals working within healthcare and human services encounter important questions every day.
Why does one approach produce better outcomes than another? How effective is an existing service model? What does the evidence tell us about a persistent workforce problem? Could an established practice be improved? What can be learned from an innovative approach? Where does accepted professional practice lack sufficient evidence?
Research provides a systematic way to investigate these questions.
The Fellowship Diploma by Research is designed to help experienced professionals move beyond relying solely on existing knowledge and develop the capability to critically examine, generate and communicate evidence themselves.
Learners develop research literacy alongside the practical capability to investigate problems arising from their own disciplines, organisations and sectors.
Why undertake a Fellowship Diploma by Research?
Research capability is valuable far beyond universities.
Healthcare and human services organisations increasingly rely on evidence to improve practice, evaluate services, understand outcomes, develop policy, manage quality and make significant organisational decisions. Professionals who can critically evaluate existing research and undertake rigorous investigations of their own can make a distinctive contribution to their organisations and fields.
The Fellowship Diploma by Research provides a structured pathway for professionals who want to develop advanced research capability without undertaking a conventional research degree.
It is particularly suited to experienced practitioners, managers, executives, consultants and other professionals who have identified an important question within their field and want to investigate it rigorously and communicate what they discover.
Publication-Focused Research
The Fellowship is designed to encourage research that extends beyond assessment.
Learners are supported to develop their final research paper to a standard suitable for consideration for submission to an appropriate peer-reviewed journal, professional publication or other credible research outlet.
Publication cannot be guaranteed and ultimately remains subject to the independent editorial and peer-review processes of the selected publication. However, the Fellowship encourages learners to approach their research from the outset with publication quality, research integrity and contribution to knowledge in mind.
Where a project generates multiple distinct contributions, learners may develop more than one publication from their research, subject to appropriate scholarly and publication practices.
Professional Recognition
Graduates who successfully complete all learning, research and assessment requirements are awarded the:
Fellowship Diploma in Applied Health Services Research
and may use the associated CHI post-nominal following certification: FDipRes