A “unique” new course will give graduates the ability to work better in governance around visual disability, whether it’s in the government or private sector.
The University of New South Wales (UNSW) is launching the Graduate Certificate in Vision Impairment, which starts in Term 1, 2025.
The postgraduate course will provide students with knowledge and expertise in vision impairment to help them in service roles to profoundly enhance the lives of people living with low vision or blindness.
The certificate has completely unrestricted bachelor’s entry pre-requisites to cater for students from any educational background.
Program lead, Associate Professor Juno Kim, said: “The Graduate Certificate in Vision Impairment is purposefully constructed to provide students from diverse industry backgrounds with the ability to upskill and enhance their knowledge and expertise in vision impairment as well as vision rehabilitation.”
A media release said the program would provide foundational coursework study in a flexible online learning environment, where students would gain an understanding of the causes of vision impairment, and how they impact disability, diversity and social inclusion.
Students would also learn about the fundamental principles of vision rehabilitation as part of their core learning.
However, students can also tailor their qualification to their interests with elective coursework, including assistive technology and rehabilitation engineering (offered face-to-face), as well as online study options in public health for enhancing health promotion or effectively navigating the ethical and legal considerations when developing public health policy.
“The program provides graduates the ability to engage more effectively to work better in governance around visual disability, whether it’s in the government or private sector,” A/Prof Kim said.
This multidisciplinary qualification can also be completed full-time or part-time, so students can balance their studies with work while gaining valuable, practical skills.
Developed with Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, this qualification equips students with evidence-based skills that prepare them to address real-world challenges in the field.
“This is a very unique program – there is nothing else like it in Australia,” he said.
To find more information about this program (commencing in Term 1, 2025) and the Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) available, people can visit the following link: https://www.unsw.edu.au/study/postgraduate/graduate-certificate-in-vision-impairment
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