Bachelor of Health Science (Public Health)

This degree is a great choice for those interested in pursuing a non-clinical health career, shaping the health and wellbeing of our society and the environments in which we live, work and play.

The impact of public health is far reaching - from vaccines that prevent disease, campaigns and laws that reduce the impacts of tobacco and drug use, access to prenatal services for healthy babies and mums, media that raises awareness of mental health issues and services, to safety advances like seatbelt laws that have saved millions of lives, and access to contraception and education to prevent sexually transmitted disease.

With a key focus on practical learning, you will gain exposure to the evolving health sector from your first year, where you will hear from graduates and experienced professionals working in diverse roles. You will also be encouraged and supported to take up volunteering experiences with relevant organisations.

In second year, you will work alongside industry professionals where you will consult and apply public health knowledge to an area of practice, by developing an industry-based project proposal for an organisation in the health sector.

Finally, in your third year you will complete a Public Health and Wellbeing practice-based placement in a real-world organisation, demonstrating your career-readiness as a public health practitioner. You will also have the opportunity to incorporate international health experience into your studies by undertaking an overseas study tour. You will then have the opportunity to consolidate your learning and experiences in a final-year capstone project.

You'll be taught by industry-experienced academics and researchers who are leaders in their field.

Through a combination of theoretical and practical learning, you will become equipped with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to contribute as a dynamic and forward-thinking generalist Public Health Practitioner.

During your first year you will develop foundational knowledge in core areas of practice and in your second year you will focus on the application of that knowledge. In final year, there will be an emphasis on becoming a public health practitioner and your transition into the workforce, driving your career development.

Graduates of this degree will meet industry-relevant public health competencies in six key areas including:

• Health Monitoring and Surveillance
• Disease Prevention and Control
• Health Protection
• Health Promotion
• Health Policy, Planning and Management
• Evidence-based Professional Population Health Practice.

Benefit from the opportunity to study either one Minor or choose from four elective courses. Your Minor can be made up from the University's wide list of Majors and Minors, allowing you to develop a unique combination of knowledge and skills to your interest and future career, becoming ready to work in either industry or research. On the other hand, your four elective courses can be selected from a specific list of courses related to the degree. For more information please see the Program Structure section.

You can gain an extra qualification and broaden your career prospects by completing a Diploma in Languages.

Careers in health are on the rise. In fact, the Australian Government National Health and Medical Industry Growth Plan is a $1.3 billion investment aimed at driving a new era of better health care and fuel growth in new firms and industries through research.1

Public Health Practitioners can work in the following areas of public health practice within the health sector in Australia and overseas, and roles include:

• Public health research officer: Source, analyse and report on research data and information to inform public health policies or health promotion programs; collaborate with other researchers to develop research methods and interview techniques; possess extensive knowledge of local population and health trends; contribute to the delivery of research planning, policy, reporting and quality management processes in an organisation.
• Health promotion officer: Plan and develop policies, strategies and projects that promote health at a local, regional or national level; develop the health awareness of individuals, groups and organisations; run community training courses and workshops; write and produce leaflets, posters, videos and brochures to aid health promotion in different environments; and ensure work is underpinned by up-to-date knowledge of health promotion theory.
• Epidemiologist / Data analyst: Research, monitor and analyse infectious diseases; collect and analyse health data using a variety of statistical software; educate policy makers, healthcare workers and the community to contain or prevent disease outbreaks.
• Wellness and lifestyle coordinator: Design, evaluate and execute lifestyle programs; contribute to the social and emotional life of populations; establish relationships and networks to promote a healthier life.
• Community development officer: Deliver innovative programs and community engagement plans; identify and leverage funding opportunities; develop consultation activities; engage with stakeholders to deliver activities aimed at improving community health outcomes.
• Women's health officer: Address the social, political and environmental causes of gender inequities impacting the health and wellbeing of women through research and advocacy for systemic change; deliver training and education programs on women's health issues and gender awareness; raise awareness of health and wellbeing issues experienced by women.
• Aboriginal health officer: Deliver high quality, comprehensive and culturally appropriate primary health care services in urban, regional, rural and remote locations across Australia; develop tailored educational resources and training for community organisations and non-Aboriginal organisations; advocate for culturally respectful and needs based approaches to improving health and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• Clinical trials coordinator: Conduct and implement clinical trials through site set up, ongoing liaison and data monitoring for quality control, project management and monitoring of participants.
• Health Policy analyst: Research, report and manage healthcare policies and programs, with a focus on evaluating and improving current policies that consider the health of the public.
• Public health manager: Maintain healthcare standards, manage finances, coordinate treatment programs, and provide an efficient healthcare operation; responsible for human resources within a healthcare system and marketing and promotion of new treatments and healthcare policies to the public.

Depending on your results, you may also be eligible to proceed to postgraduate study. You could take your career to the next level with postgraduate coursework in Master of Occupational Therapy (Graduate Entry), or by undertaking research studies with a Masters by Research.Graduates are also eligible for membership with the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) and other relevant professional bodies.

1Australian Government Department of Health 2018.

Where can my interest in health take me?

View our guide on Active Careers for more information.