Family Studies

Family Studies is a new discipline in the School of Health Sciences that draws on the research and practice expertise, in the provision of family programs and policy advocacy, of the University's internationally renowned Family Action Centre.  The theoretical and practical education programs are postgraduate and will equip graduates for leading roles in family work positions or for the application of Family Studies in other professional roles in fields where understandings of families are important.

What will I study?

Our innovative Graduate Certificate and Master Program in Family Studies are offered online via Gradschool.com.au.  These programs combine core and directed courses relevant to a range of professions working with families with four areas of specialisation:

Family Dispute Resolution, Relationship Counselling, Working with men and fathers International Family Studies

The Graduate Certificate (Grad. Cert. FAMS) and Master programs (M. FAMS) are the first in Australia to cater to the needs of people transitioning from a generalist qualification into professional roles, those already working as practitioners and/or managers in family services, or those looking to build careers in policy or practice in the field of Family Studies.  The M. FAMS provides students with comprehensive multi-disciplinary knowledge and skills to undertake policy development and service delivery directed towards strengthening families.  Students benefit from the expertise of academic staff from the Family Action Centre, Interrelate, and International Universities with highly regarded reputations in the field of Family Studies, including the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA, and Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, India.  Through these partnerships, students have opportunities to undertake a tailored program of study with acclaimed national and international leaders in the academic and practice fields.

If you would like to know more about these programs, please click on the links below:

• Graduate Certificate in Family Studies
• Master in Family Studies

Career Opportunities

Your advanced skills and knowledge will increase your employment potential in the social and human services, domestically or internationally in universities, schools, non-profit organisations, hospitals, home health and long-term care agencies and in government. You will be able to leverage your career by taking on roles including:

• family service manager
• family program coordinator
• research and policy officer
• international development worker specialising in family policy or programs
• family and relationship services practitioner
• specialist family work roles in nursing, allied health, youth work, drug and alcohol, mental health, early childhood, education, law.

With your internationally recognised Master of Family Studies or Graduate Certificate in Family Studies under your belt, you will be able to pursue a career that enables you to make a real difference in people’s lives no matter where you are in the world.

Academic Staff in Family Studies

To view more information about a staff member, including research interests, please select the "web" option to visit that staff member's profile.