A postgraduate public health specialisation provides the practical skills and outlook needed to make a meaningful difference in healthcare at home and abroad.
At the University of Sydney, we offer a wide range of postgraduate degrees that will help you to expand your knowledge and to improve health globally. Through these degrees, you鈥檒l acquire versatile skills that are valuable in both clinical and non-clinical roles, as well as in research and policymaking.
高清福利片 options include:
Students in these programs are taught to think deeply about the world around them. 鈥淥ur students are taught critical reflection and analysis of contemporary ethical concerns and dilemmas that underlie the current global health issues,鈥 says Dr听听from the听School of Public Health.
This is an assertion also supported by planetary health researcher Dr听.
"We enable students to recognise the risks present and the opportunities to act within the interconnected systems of our biosphere," says Dr Jenkins.
鈥淭hese range from the global climate system to the environmental and social contexts, residential settings, and individual behaviours, to organs, unicellular organisms, and even the genetic elements that work together to regulate health."
Practical fieldwork, internships and volunteer opportunities provide relevant and practical experience, preparing graduates to tackle specific health issues with a hands-on approach. This in-turn allows for the creation of sustainable, positive health outcomes across communities and countries.
Real world experiences are essential in providing the best possible education.
鈥淥ur students know the breadth of possibilities available to make a difference. Seeing former students move in to roles 鈥 both in and outside government 鈥 that directly shape the public health policy landscape, is inspiring,鈥 mentions Associate Professor听听from the听School of Public Health.
You鈥檒l learn how to utilise evidence-based practice to design and evaluate interventions that are rooted in scientific evidence. Research skills will allow you to deep-dive into global health issues and formulate strategies to help solve them.
Academics across the听School of Public Health听are interested in a range of topics including: health communication, ecosystems, vaccination rates, ethical concepts, health economics and back pain.
鈥淎s part of our research, we talk to individuals, communities, healthcare services, and examine policies to promote vaccination as a vital part of public health,鈥 says Professor听听from the School of Public Health.
Professor Leask also stresses the importance of checking data sources to prevent misinformation, as well as communicating effectively to promote trust, especially when dealing with contentious issues.
鈥淰accines are essential in saving lives and preventing severe illnesses worldwide. Despite their effectiveness, some people remain unvaccinated. To address this challenge, the Social and Behavioural Insights in Immunisation research group focuses on understanding why people don't vaccinate and finding solutions,鈥 says Professor Leask.
听is a Senior Research Officer and PhD in the School of Public Health. She undertakes research to co-create solutions with affected communities that are contextually relevant, culturally sensitive and address the real needs of young people.
As a public health researcher committed to co-design and participatory methods, I know the value of involving individuals in the problem-solving process. Sometimes, we may not even know the extent of the problem without hearing from individual consumers in the first place.
Senior Research Officer and PhD
You鈥檒l not only learn from affected communities, but also collaborate with organisations that provide healthcare.听Dr听听from the School of Public Health has undertaken research alongside the local health districts of Greater Western Sydney during COVID-19.
鈥淎midst ever-changing official advice and a surge in online misinformation, it was crucial that every Australian could quickly grasp and carry out public health advice. By teaming up with local health districts in Greater Western Sydney, our research was able to amplify the voices of communities that faced significant challenges at this time,鈥 reflects Dr Ayre.
A career in global health offers a wide variety of potential options. You may choose to pursue opportunities to work with governments, agencies like the United Nations, or the World Health Organization.
You might also move into Australian health services, academic institutions or advocacy organisations where you could influence policy.
鈥淕lobal health problems are problems about inequities in health and wellbeing which adversely affect people around the world,鈥 says Associate Professor听, from the School's听Sydney Global Health听research group.
To solve these problems our graduates work with marginalised groups, communities, advocates, activists, and policymakers to identify health needs and how to address them, within countries, but also internationally.
Graduates from our range of education options in global health take on many different roles. 鈥淥ur graduates work in service delivery, policymaking, advocacy and research; all of which are career possibilities for people who are passionate about solving inequities in health and wellbeing around the world,鈥 considers Associate Professor听, also from Sydney Global Health.
Health economics researcher Dr听听notes how public health graduates can utilise what they have learnt to influence government policy.
鈥Health economists can assess the allocation of resources within health systems to help policy makers prioritise health spending and identify inefficiencies and propose improvements,鈥 says Dr Pearce.
Dr Pearce conducted research to measure the growing burden of cancer in rapidly developing economies (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) which provided evidence for policy makers to implement cancer prevention and screening activities in their health systems which are typically focussed on communicable diseases.
Dr听听from听the School of Public Health talks about how graduates can affect better health outcomes.
鈥淏ack pain is one of the world鈥檚 greatest public health challenges 鈥 it is the biggest cause of disability globally affecting 540 million people," says Dr Machado.
"Research from our School has promoted awareness of non-opioid pain management alternatives for back pain and supporting policies that prioritise access to non-pharmacological interventions and rehabilitation services, which have contributed to mitigating the opioid crisis."
As a graduate from one of our postgraduate public health degrees, you鈥檒l work with national and international leaders and people who are passionate about overcoming global health problems, as well as those directly affected by issues.
Graduates can champion important health system reforms, contribute to the creation of equitable health policies, and advocate for greater inclusion of the most vulnerable populations. You鈥檒l be encouraged to find advocacy and community groups exploring issues you're interested in so that you can lend your voice and amplify issues to advocate for change.
Advocacy is modelled across the discipline. 鈥淗ealthcare research, policy, program and intervention depends on collective action to support, protect and promote health. To achieve this objective, the public health education foundation must be committed to promoting justice and equity,鈥 says Dr Supriya Subramani.
鈥淚n my research, I attempt to understand how lived experiences, particularly disrespectful experiences in healthcare encounters, target one's self-respect and dignity. I argue in my work that respecting persons, especially marginalised and vulnerable community members, requires acknowledging their embodied experiences.鈥
