Bachelor of Public Health

As a public health practitioner, you have the potential to truly make a difference to the world around you. From vaccines that prevent disease, laws that reduce the impacts of tobacco and drug use and prenatal services for babies and parents - the impact of public health is far reaching.

The teaching and learning activities and assessments in your degree have been designed to emulate activities public health practitioners are required to perform in their jobs on a regular basis. Your assessments will contribute to an industry-standard portfolio of work that you can present to future employers.

You'll be taught by passionate academics and researchers who have decades of experience in public health. We've also consulted industry representatives to ensure our course curriculum embeds the skills employers in the public health sector look for.

As a graduate, you'll meet the six areas of practice outlined in the national competency framework, which has been produced by the Council of Academic Public Health Institutions of Australia (CAPHIA). These competencies are a minimum prerequisite that can be expected of any Australian public health graduate in the industry. These areas include:

• Health Monitoring and Surveillance

• Disease Prevention and Control

• Health Protection

• Health Promotion

• Health Policy, Planning and Management

• Evidence-based Professional Population Health Practice

Courses within your first year will develop your foundational knowledge in core areas of public health practice. Your second year focuses on applying your knowledge to simulated real-world scenarios and case studies. In your final year, you'll gain critical employment skills to develop your career as a leading-edge public health practitioner.

Your public health degree applies a multidisciplinary approach, exploring areas such as health promotion, health law and ethics, human biology, epidemiology, as well as Aboriginal, national and global health issues. Throughout your degree, you'll learn about policy development, data analysis and reporting, media and advocacy, public events, and community-based education and interventions, and how these strategies can be used to improve the health of populations.

Practical, real-world learning is at the heart of your degree. As a student, you're encouraged to think just as a public health practitioner would. You'll evaluate current health services, programs or policies and develop recommendations that take into account Australia's policy environment and political landscape. In your research project, you'll also use epidemiological data to investigate how the environment impacts health and specific population groups.

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

Public Health practitioners can work in the following areas of public health practice within the health sector in Australia and overseas:

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.
• 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.

*Australian Government Department of Health 2018.