Step towards becoming a Credentialled Diabetes Educator
Longest-running degree of its kind in Australia
Australian Diabetes Educators Association-accredited pathway
Why choose diabetes education at Deakin
Take the first step towards becoming a Credentialled Diabetes Educator with Deakin’s Graduate Certificate of Diabetes Education, the longest-running course of its kind in Australia. Designed for a range of health professionals, this course builds the specialist knowledge and skills to support people living with diabetes in diverse clinical settings.
Diabetes is one of the fastest growing chronic conditions, affecting millions worldwide and more than 1.7 million Australians. This creates growing demand for health professionals who can deliver effective, evidence-based diabetes education and care.
You will explore the causes and progression of diabetes, along with its social and psychological impacts, and develop practical approaches to prevention and management through lifestyle, medication and education strategies. Accredited by the Australian Diabetes Educators Association, this course is the first step towards supervised practice and professional recognition as a diabetes educator.
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Nationally accredited pathway
This course is accredited by the Australian Diabetes Educators Association and is the first step towards becoming a Credentialled Diabetes Educator through a recognised national pathway.
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Designed for health professionals
Study alongside nurses, dietitians, pharmacists and other clinicians, building skills that translate across a range of healthcare settings and scopes of practice.
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Specialist, evidence-based learning
Develop advanced knowledge in diabetes prevention, diagnosis and management, including lifestyle, medication and education strategies grounded in current clinical practice.
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Supported pathway to credentialling
After graduation, you can pursue credentialling with support from Deakin, including guidance on supervised practice, mentoring and clinical experience requirements.
Connected to industry
Deakin’s strong industry connections help shape your learning. Build practical experience in real workplace contexts through work-integrated learning, mentoring and networking opportunities. Industry advisory boards also help shape our degrees, which means what you study is current, relevant and aligned to what your future employers need.
Deakin puts employability first
Career outcomes
Learn to apply specialist diabetes education knowledge in healthcare roles – supporting prevention, management and person-centred care.
Diabetes educator
Support people living with diabetes to understand, manage and monitor their condition through education and personalised care planning.
- 13.5%
Projected job growth in 5 years
- $110K
Typical annual salary in Australia
Workplace settings
- Hospitals and health services
- Community health centres
- Primary care and general practice
- Allied health practices
- Aged care services
- Government and non-government organisations
Key dates
Direct applications
Trimester 1 2027 applications close 7 February 2027
FAQs
In Australia, Credentialled Diabetes Educators (CDEs) must hold an eligible health professional qualification (such as nursing, dietetics, pharmacy or physiotherapy) and complete an Australian Diabetes Educators Association (ADEA) accredited graduate certificate, like Deakin's Graduate Certificate of Diabetes. You will also need to complete other requirements set by the ADEA including a minimum of 500 hours of diabetes education practice and a six-month mentoring program with an ADEA-approved CDE. Check the ADEA website for the complete requirements.
A diabetes educator supports people living with diabetes to manage their condition effectively – through education, behaviour change coaching, medication management guidance and care coordination. They work in hospitals, community health centres, GP practices, endocrinology clinics and specialist diabetes services. Credentialled Diabetes Educators are registered health professionals with specialist postgraduate training and are in high demand as diabetes prevalence continues to rise globally.
The Graduate Certificate of Diabetes Education is delivered online, making it possible to fit study around work and other commitments. If you want to pursue credentialling through the Australian Diabetes Educators Association (ADEA) you'll need to complete a 40-hour clinical placement while enrolled in the course. These placements are organised by academic staff and, subject to availability, may be undertaken in specialist diabetes services and other healthcare settings.
Beyond pursuing direct clinical practice through a Credentialled Diabetes Educator pathway, the graduate certificate supports roles in chronic disease management, health education, community health, aged care, clinical research and pharmaceutical industry education. The skills in behaviour change, health coaching and chronic disease management transfer broadly across other long-term condition management contexts, including cardiovascular disease, obesity and metabolic syndrome.
*Deakin references data from a range of government, higher education and reputable media sources. Learn more about our achievements on our University rankings page, or explore our sources page for supporting references.
What will I study in the Graduate Certificate of Diabetes Education?
The Graduate Certificate of Diabetes Education develops your specialist knowledge in diabetes care while building the communication and education skills needed to support people living with this complex condition.
Specialist diabetes education practice
Understand diabetes and its diagnosis
Explore causes, progression and diagnostic measures. Learn to interpret clinical indicators, identify pre-diabetes and diabetes, and recognise short- and long-term complications.
Develop management strategies
Examine evidence-based approaches including lifestyle, medication and monitoring. Understand how treatment decisions are made and applied across diverse clinical settings.
Support education and behaviour change
Build communication skills to deliver tailored diabetes education, support self-management and address the emotional and social impacts of living with diabetes.
Course structure
To complete the Graduate Certificate of Diabetes Education, you must pass 4 credit points.
Most units are equal to one credit point.
Are you a current student? For course information that applies to the year you started your degree, visit the handbook.
All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements
Units
Each unit below is delivered online, allowing you the freedom to fit learning around your work, family and lifestyle. These units are broken down into easily-manageable weekly activities and takes approximately 10 weeks to complete in addition to assessment tasks.
Trimester 1
Trimester 2
Professional recognition
This course is accredited by the Australian Diabetes Educators Association (ADEA) and is the first step on the path towards becoming a Credentialed Diabetes Educator.
What to expect while studying
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing clinical requirements.
Students undertaking clinical placement require a police check, working with children check and evidence of immunisations.
As a student in an online course in the Faculty of Health you will be expected to spend 10-15 hours every week studying for each unit in your course, undertaking various learning tasks, interacting with others and completing assessment tasks. An optional three day workshop is scheduled during Trimester 2 and is delivered on campus at Burwood (Melbourne).
The units of the Graduate Certificate of Diabetes Education are delivered online. A three day on-campus workshop is optional. Students seeking credentialling with the ADEA must complete a 40-hour clinical placement while enrolled in the course.
Australian students seeking ADEA credentialing must successfully complete a 40 hour clinical practicum (while enrolled in the course), organised by academic staff.
Placements are optional and subject to availability.
International students are advised to refer to the professional bodies in their home country and are not able to seek credentialing with the ADEA or undertake clinical placement in Australia.
At Deakin, we're committed to ensuring an inclusive environment that supports all students to belong, thrive and succeed. We work closely with students, where needed, to identify potential barriers to participation and where possible, provide tailored support so students can engage with learning and assessment activities.
If you are neurodivergent, have a disability, health condition or mental health condition that may impact your study or participation in university life, and want to know how Deakin could support you, contact our Domestic students (opens in a new window) or International students (opens in a new window) or Disability Resource Centre (opens email client) teams for a collaborative and confidential discussion. This discussion is to support you to make plans for your studies and future career and will not have any bearing on your application to the course.
When can I start?
When you study depends on your course, location and available intakes. Check the table to see when you can start and how study is offered throughout the year.
Your course learning outcomes describe the knowledge, skills and capabilities you’ll develop and be able to demonstrate by the time you graduate. Built into your course through your units and assessments, they provide a clear picture of what you’ll be equipped to know, understand and do – preparing you to apply your learning with confidence beyond university.
| Course Learning Outcomes |
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| Apply diabetes-specific knowledge and understanding of evidence-based practice to diverse clients, populations and clinical setting. |
| Communicate complex knowledge and ideas to clients and their families, health professionals, and the wider diabetes community, demonstrating understanding of person-centred care, empathy, appropriate language and methods to promote active engagement and empowerment. |
| Utilise and evaluate digital technologies to facilitate learning and teaching and support diabetes self-management. |
| Critically identify, analyse, evaluate and apply research knowledge and skills for all aspects of diabetes education and care. |
| Apply diabetes-specific knowledge and skills to adapt diabetes education and management plans to specific client needs and in varied contexts. |
| Demonstrate autonomy, well-developed judgement, adaptability and responsibility as a learner and diabetes educator within their scope of practice. |
| Apply the principles of collaborative, interdisciplinary practice for working in partnership with health professionals and clients to achieve mutually agreeable outcomes. |
| Demonstrate understanding and respect for all cultures, diverse populations and perspectives and promote inclusivity and equity. |
- Award granted
- Graduate Certificate of Diabetes Education
- Year
2027 course information
- Deakin code
- H520
- Level
- Postgraduate (Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma)
- Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition
The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8
Fees
Estimated tuition fee
$14,400
- Full-fee paying place
The estimated tuition fee above is based on a typical enrolment of 4 credit points undertaken within the same academic year and is provided as a guide only. Your tuition fees are determined by your course and unit enrolment. Your tuition fees will vary depending on your study load, the course duration, and any approved recognition of prior learning. You may also be eligible for a FEE-HELP loan to defer payment of all or part of your tuition fees.
Scholarships
We want to help you excel at Deakin. Our scholarships recognise your dedication and achievements, providing financial support that can ease the cost of living and studying. With less pressure, you'll have more freedom to focus on what matters most – your education and future success.
Applications for 2027 are open
Ready to take the next step? Apply now to start your journey at Deakin and get ready for what’s next.
Key dates
Direct applications
Trimester 1 2027 applications close 7 February 2027
Apply now
Apply direct
Simply create an account in the Deakin Application Portal, enter your personal and educational details, upload your supporting documents and submit your application.
Recognition of prior learning
We value your previous study and experience. Recognition of prior learning enables you to get credit for what you've already achieved. When you apply, we'll consider your previous study and experience for recognition of prior learning.
The University aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations. Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University, or four credit points, whichever is the greater. In the case of certificates, including graduate certificates, a minimum of two credit points within the course must be completed at Deakin.
You can also refer to the recognition of prior learning (RPL) system which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree and how to apply for credit. Graduates of the course may progress to another Deakin postgraduate level courses as appropriate to their level of knowledge and skills. Students may elect to apply and request credit transfer for their studies into a Graduate Diploma or Masters in their relevant professional areas, for example, Graduate Diploma of Human Nutrition, Master of Public Health Nutrition, Graduate Diploma in Health Promotion or Master of Health Science (Health Promotion) or Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology providing that the entry criteria are met.
Recognition of prior learning arrangements are also available in recognition of an applicants' prior studies and to facilitate educational progress and professional development. Normal University regulation and guidelines pertain to students applying for Recognition of prior learning within this program. In all cases credit will need to be determined on a case-by-case basis with maximum credit granted being consistent with university policy. Recognition of prior learning is not usually provided for HND701 The Pathophysiology of Diabetes, HND732 Diabetes in Social and Psychological Contexts or HND702 Management of Diabetes due to the specificity of the course content. The Advance Diabetes Management Modules (PDU) DO NOT confer Recognition of prior learning for this course or the units within this course. Please obtain further clarification by contacting a Student Adviser in Student Central enquire.
Pathways
This course provides a pathway to higher degree by research courses and other postgraduate coursework programs. Students may elect to apply and request credit transfer for their studies into a Graduate Diploma or Masters in their relevant professional areas, providing the entry criteria are met.