Foundations of Business Management

Build human services leadership and management skills for a career in social care 

Strong leadership and effective management are essential to delivering high-quality care and community services. The Foundations of Business Management major within our Bachelor of Applied Social Care prepares you to understand how organisations operate while developing the practical leadership, communication and decision-making skills valued across today’s growing care and human services sectors. 

Throughout your business management course, you’ll explore key areas including management, accounting, human resources and entrepreneurship. You’ll learn how organisations lead people, manage projects and allocate resources while examining how ethical, sustainable and people-centred approaches shape effective leadership and service delivery. 

Through collaborative projects and case-based learning, you’ll develop skills in teamwork, communication, organisational analysis and problem solving. You’ll also learn how to apply evidence-based approaches to improve organisational performance and design innovative solutions for complex workplace challenges. 

Pair this course with other majors in your applied social care degree, such as Human Rights or Child and Family Studies, to expand your understanding of advocacy, community wellbeing and people-centred care leadership across diverse organisational settings. 

By the time you graduate, you’ll be prepared for a rewarding care sector career leading teams and supporting service delivery across community, government and not-for-profit organisations. 

3 reasons to study business management at Murdoch University 

• Develop practical leadership and management skills designed specifically for the evolving needs of the care and human services sectors. 
• Study at the university ranked #1 in Western Australia for full-time employment, median salary and student support in Humanities and Social Sciences (Good Universities Guide 2026). 
• Learn at a university rated five stars for student support at both undergraduate and postgraduate level (Good Universities Guide 2026). 

What you’ll learn 

• Understand key business management concepts including leadership, accounting, human resources and entrepreneurship. 
• Apply evidence-based approaches to improve organisational performance and service delivery. 
• Analyse organisational, financial and ethical challenges using professional judgement and critical thinking. 
• Develop communication and teamwork skills for collaborative and multidisciplinary work environments. 
• Design sustainable, people-centred initiatives that support organisational and community outcomes. 
• Build reflective, adaptable and professional capabilities for contemporary management environments. 

Your future career in social care leadership 

With our Foundations of Business Management major, you’ll develop leadership, organisational and communication skills for a care sector career across community organisations, human services, government agencies and not-for-profit settings. 

Potential roles include: 

• Community services coordinator 
• Program support officer 
• Team leader 
• Service delivery coordinator 
• Human services administrator 
• Project support officer 
• Operations coordinator 
• Community program officer 

For more details about our Foundations of Business Management major, download our information pack. 

Professional accreditation

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Professional recognition

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