The MPH course is designed to build sound skills and expertise in Australian and international public health. More specifically, this course aims to provide graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to develop, analyse and implement policy, plan and evaluate health services and programs, and understand how research and project work are conducted, within the public health context. The MPH also provides the practical skills needed to design, conduct, analyse and report on research.

Part 1 of this course is offered jointly by the University of Melbourne, and Monash, La Trobe and Deakin universities, which together form the Victorian Consortium of Public Health. The Master of Public Health course is therefore unique, bringing together key expertise from Victoria’s four leading universities. Students are exposed to a breadth of disciplines delivered by academic staff with extensive experience and depth of knowledge, but have the opportunity to specialise in the advanced public health training streams offered through the University of Melbourne.

• Epidemiology and Biostatistics
• Harm Reduction
• Health Economics
• Health Program Evaluation
• International Health
• Primary Health Care
• Social Health

1. Students who have completed a minimum of two years’ work experience in a health related field and have a health related degree or equivalent or
2. Students who have either a non-health related degree (or equivalent) and a minimum of two years’ work experience in a health related field OR a health related degree (or equivalent) with no health related experience.

Academic Programs Office
School of Population Health
Tel: +61 (0)3 83 44 93 39
Email: sph-gradinfo@unimelb.edu.au
Internet: http://www.sph.unimelb.edu.au/future/coursework/public_health

The Master of Epidemiology provides a solid foundation in epidemiological and analytical skills for those who aim to develop their understanding of the epidemiological and biostatistical theory and methods that underpin epidemiological practice and research, build competence in critical appraisal, and develop core skills for research and practice in analytic epidemiology. The course combines six compulsory integrated subjects in epidemiology and statistical methods with a choice of either two epidemiological specialty elective subjects, or a research report where students conduct an applied project. The project may involve a student analysing existing data, performing a systematic review or developing a research protocol, allowing further development in a specialty interest area of the student’s choice according to methods, disease groups and/or population setting.

• An honours degree in a relevant discipline with at least H2B (70%) average in the major, or equivalent OR
• A medical degree OR
• A postgraduate diploma in Epidemiology with at least an H2B (70%) average, or equivalent OR
• A degree in a relevant discipline with at least an H2B (70%) average in the major AND at least 2 years of relevant documented full time work experience

Academic Programs Office
School of Population Health
Tel: +61 (0)3 83 44 93 39
Email: sph-gradinfo@unimelb.edu.au
Internet: http://www.sph.unimelb.edu.au/future/coursework/epidemiology

The Postgraduate Diploma of Women's Health and Master of Women's Health (coursework) are informed by a social model of health which focuses on understanding women's health as it is governed by familial, social, economic, cultural and political contexts. These postgraduate courses are unique both in Australia and internationally and articulate into other programs. Graduates in social or health sciences are eligible to apply. Past students have used their qualifications to change career direction and assume more senior responsibilities. Graduates are now working as nurse practitioners, health policy makers, women's health service managers and in international agencies, project management and health promotion. Some have entered academic careers.

There is a suite of new subjects which are comprehensive and contemporary and designed to provide students with an ability to utilise new knowledge and technologies, to develop lifelong skills of critical enquiry and a sustained capacity to integrate research evidence from multiple sources in practice, policy and research.

The changes in course content reflect the changing health environment, including the development of new technologies, increased requirements for an evidence base for policy and practice and demographic changes in terms of aging and fertility. All of these have distinct effects on women.

Postgraduate Diploma:
• An undergraduate degree in medicine, OR
• A three year degree in a health-related field or the social sciences, or equivalent.
Masters:
• an undergraduate degree in medicine, OR
• an undergraduate degree in a health related field or the social sciences, or equivalent cognate discipline and at least 50 credit points towards the Postgraduate Diploma in Women's Health with at least an H2B (70%) average, OR
• a four year degree in a health-related field or the social sciences, or equivalent

Academic Programs Office
School of Population Health
Tel: +61 (0)3 83 44 9339
Fax: +61 (0)3 8344 0824
Email: sph-gradinfo@unimelb.edu.au
Internet: http://www.sph.unimelb.edu.au/future/coursework/womens_health
or
Key Centre for Women’s Health in Society
School of Population Health
Tel: +61 (0)3 8344 4333
Email: enquiries-kcwhs@unimelb.edu.au
Internet: http://www.sph.unimelb.edu.au/future/coursework/womens_health

The course content will include:

• An overview of child health morbidity and mortality
• Introduction to the social and cultural determinants of health
• Interventions for prevention and treatment of childhood illness including Integrated Management of Child Illness (IMCI), feeding and nutrition and immunisation
• Strategies to promote child development, human rights based approaches
• Health promotion and advocacy
• Introduction to priorities in international child health research

It is intended for health programme planners, development workers and other health practitioners.

Content will include:

• Current definitions of disability
• Causes and prevalence of common disabilities
• Skills important for working with the major impairment groups
• Issues related to equity, access, advocacy and prevention
• Design of disability programmes
• Capacity building for disability programmes
• Constraints and solutions for sustainability of disability programmes
• Project management issues related to disability programmes

It is designed for health programme planners, development workers, health practitioners, particularly those in the allied health professions, nursing, or involved in services for people living with disabilities.

This subject introduces students to the real world of public health. It provides an
understanding of the world in which health/ill health is created; an understanding of how power works, how decisions are made and how resources are allocated; an understanding of the organisation you work in and lastly an understanding of yourself as a leader.
It covers the changing social, economic, commercial, cultural and political determinants that influence health and ill health. It examines the political, bureaucratic, business, media and community power and processes at international, national, and local levels.
In examining your/an organisation it looks at power structures; people of influence, the characteristics of good leaders and the fundamentals of leading and managing a team. Finally, it looks at the elements that are important for successful living, an integral part of successful leadership.
Senior political, bureaucratic, business and public health leaders will be invited to present on this subject.
On completion of this subject, students should be able to:
• describe the emerging determinants of ill health;
• analyse the health implications of power and influence;
• develop a strategy to put a public health issue onto the political/community agenda;
• define the key characteristics of successful leaders and map pathways they can follow to become successful leaders in public health; and
• reflect and develop a greater understanding of their own selves and mechanisms they can use to lead successful lives, not only be successful leaders.

The course will cover the following topics:

• Approaches to illicit drug problems: supply, demand and harm reduction
• Harm reduction overview;
• Needle and syringe programs;
• Peer education;
• Drug substitution therapy; outreach;
• Advocacy for effective harm reduction;
• Rapid assessment and response;
• An emphasis on Australia, Asian and developing country context:
• Female drug use
• Care, support and treatment
• Social determinants of drug use
• Monitoring and evaluation
• Drug use as a development issue
• Site visits to demonstrate harm reduction in action

The course is suitable for health programme planners and managers, health practitioners and social workers, especially those working in HIV and drug control programmes.

Course Content: To date, international adolescent health has been addressed within the confines of specific issues such as reproductive health or HIV. This course provides a more comprehensive picture of emerging health issues for adolescents, focusing on young people from developing countries. Topics to be covered will include:

• key stages of adolescent health and youth development;
• sociocultural determinants in adolescent health;
• important topic areas in adolescent health includingHIV/AIDS, alcohol, tobacco and other drug use, mental health, nutrition, sexual and reproductive health.

The course is suitable for health programme planners, development workers, doctors and other health practitioners, particularly those with involvement in youth programs.

The course will provide students with the opportunity to learn about primary health care within the context of a primary health program in a low income setting in India. Students will learn about the principles of health policy development and program management of communities in developing countries. An overview of the history, principles and practice of primary health care in developing countries, as well as the key elements and practical applications of project design, implementation and evaluation will be provided. Students will have the opportunities to observe a world-renowned primary health care program including field visits with village health workers, learning with men’s and women’s groups and observation of village health worker training.

The courses are designed for medical, allied health, social work, nursing, development studies students and anyone who is keen to learn about health in resource poor settings.