Public health
Public health is a field of health practice that is interdisciplinary and holistic. Its focus is on populations, rather than individuals, and is primarily concerned with the promotion and maintenance of health and the prevention of illness.
It seeks to address the determinants of health, how these shape public and other health systems, and the important role of evidence in seeking solutions to public health problems. Public health includes heath interventions, policy development, the coordination and management of services and the design of appropriate public health interventions and strategies aimed at the protection and promotion of the health of the community. It is interested in sustainable health practices, the globalisation of health and recognises that social, environmental, political and economic issues can have direct and indirect effects on health. These multiple drivers add to the complexity of the discipline of public health.
Posgraduate study in public health prepares people for a broad range of careers including public health units, health centres, education (including academic institutions), non-government organisations, urban planning and community development.
Our Master of Public Health provides students with flexibility to obtain a strong foundation in public health principles and practice, select a range of elective units, or choose to specialise in a particular area of interest. Students who undertake the Master of Public Health (Advanced) study an extra four units to either undertake a public health placement or investigate a public health issue of major importance, either nationally or internationally, or undertake a research project in a topic of their choosing.
Health professionals who undertake the Master of Public Health include:
- Health professionals already working in a range of health fields, including nursing, physiotherapy, naturopathy, social work, medicine and those seeking a career change;
- Health professionals who are already working in public health and who are seeking higher level qualifications;
- Health managers who seek to move from the acute care sector to the public health sector; and
- Other professionals may wish to undertake studies in public health who are also seeking a career change.
Graduates may be employed in roles such as:
- Public health officers within State or Commonwealth Departments of Health
- Health education or health promotion officer
- Clinical research manager
- Health information research manager
- Health project manager
- Indigenous health systems professional
- Technical Officer
- Policy Development.
More Information
Updated: 29 October 2012