Innovative and Authentic Learning Experiences - The Associate Degree in Applied Health and Community Support

University College at UTAS was established with the mandate to ‘do things differently’. With this in mind, a new Associate Degree in Applied Health and Community Support (AHCS) was designed in collaboration with the health and community services sectors. Offered for the first time in February 2019, the course has more than 80 students across 4 campuses, including the West Coast. The AHCS course design was underpinned by the following key objectives: • To fill a multitude of gaps in skills and knowledge identified by industry • To develop and deliver an authentic curriculum • To engage and support a diverse cohort of non-traditional students • To produce industry-ready graduates with a broad and flexible skill-set To achieve this, the curriculum was designed with authenticity and industry-relevance at its core. This presentation will focus on our learning and teaching approach and the way that students are supported to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to meet industry and community needs now and into the future.