Why Study / Key Benefits

The Graduate Diploma of Forensic Behavioural Science at Swinburne University of Technology is designed for professionals who want advanced knowledge and skills for working with forensic populations and in forensic environments.

The programme develops knowledge of:

• Legal and correctional system functioning.
• Violence risk assessment and management.
• Mental health factors associated with offending behaviour.
• Forensic behavioural science concepts and practice.
• Identification and evaluation of evidence.
• Ethical and effective professional practice.
• Analysis and communication of complex forensic issues.
• Planning and implementing responses to challenging forensic issues.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The programme requires 100 credit points.

Core units:

• Core Skills in Forensic Practice – FBS80001 – 12.5 credit points
• Fundamentals of Criminal Law Process – FBS80002 – 12.5 credit points
• Principles of Violence Risk Assessment and Management – FBS80003 – 12.5 credit points

Elective units:

Students select five electives in total, including two Level 3 units as specified by the current course structure. The available elective subjects include:

• Advanced Violence Risk Assessment and Management – FBS80004
• Mental Disorder and Offending – FBS80005
• Working with Difficult Personalities in the Forensic Context – FBS80006
• Forensic Mental Health Nursing – FBS80008
• Trauma and Offending – FBS80009
• Development, Developmental Disability and Offending – FBS80015
• Understanding Interpersonal and Other Types of Violent Behaviours – FBS80011
• Problem Behaviours 2 – FBS80012
• Working in Corrections and Youth Justice – FBS80013
• Understanding Sexually Violent and Harassing Behaviours – FBS80017

Disciplines / Specialisations

The Graduate Diploma does not list separate formal specialisations.

Students can shape their studies through elective choices covering areas such as:

• Forensic behavioural science
• Violence risk assessment and management
• Criminal law processes
• Forensic mental health
• Mental disorder and offending
• Trauma and offending
• Developmental disability and offending
• Corrections and youth justice
• Interpersonal violence
• Sexually violent and harassing behaviours
• Difficult personalities in forensic contexts
• Forensic mental health nursing

Programme Highlights

• 100 credit points.
• Two-year part-time structure.
• Online delivery.
• Suitable for eligible international students studying from their home country.
• Advanced training in forensic behavioural science.
• Focus on legal and correctional systems.
• Training in violence risk assessment and management.
• Electives covering forensic mental health, offending, trauma, corrections, youth justice and violence.
• Nested pathway from Graduate Certificate to Graduate Diploma and potentially Master of Forensic Behavioural Science.
• Delivered through Swinburne's Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science in collaboration with Forensicare.

Career Outcomes

Swinburne identifies the following career opportunities:

• Forensic caseworker
• Forensic clinical specialist
• Clinical coordinator

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

The most important current requirement for international applicants is the course's online delivery restriction.

• International students studying from their home country can undertake the online programme.
• International students who are physically in Australia on a Student visa cannot undertake this entirely online qualification.
• An international student intending to live in Australia on a Student visa should therefore not treat this programme as an on-campus Australian study option.

Other important requirements include:

• 500-word Statement of Purpose.
• Relevant bachelor's degree or Graduate Certificate pathway.
• Advanced Standing assessment if seeking immediate progression to the master's.
• Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning are assessed case-by-case.
• Maximum academic credit is 50 credit points, normally four units.

International Student Visa Requirements

This programme requires particular care when considering visa arrangements.

For an international student remaining outside Australia:

• An Australian Student visa is not required simply to study the course online from the student's home country.
• Swinburne specifically states that the course is available to international students studying in their home country.

For an international student intending to study while physically in Australia:

• This entirely online course is not available to international students in Australia who hold a Student visa.
• Swinburne requires international Student visa holders to study full-time and on campus.
• Consequently, this Graduate Diploma should not be used as the basis for planning an Australian Student visa stay.