The Graduate Diploma in Public Health is offered as an exit award for students currently enrolled in the Master of Public Health or the Doctor of Public Health who choose not to complete either course.

Course aims

The Graduate Diploma in Public Health aims to provide students with the ability to apply knowledge and skills in relation to public health principles, values and practices that reduce inequity in health care access and health outcomes, and improve population health status.

Learning outcomes

At the completion of the course it is expected that graduates will be able to

  • understand, critique, and apply contemporary approaches to public health practice and knowledge
  • demonstrate knowledge and skills in:
    • critical analysis of evidence and theories from social, economic, environmental, and political determinants of health
    • developing, planning, and evaluating public health approaches to health problems
    • applying contemporary public health knowledge in work-related environments
  • apply knowledge and skills in: critical analysis of evidence and theories regarding determinants of health, planning and evaluating public health approaches, and work-related environments.

Program of study

a) for students of the Master of Public Health

To qualify for the Graduate Diploma in Public Health, a student must complete 36 units comprising two core topics and 27 units of options, with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the following program of study.

Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.

Core - Year 1 topic

 PHCA9501  Social Determinants of Health and Wellbeing  (4.5 units)
 PHCA9514  Action on Social Determinants of Health (4.5 units)

Plus 27 units of option topics selected from the following:

 HACM9100  Managing People  (4.5 units)
 HACM9101  Managing Organisations  (4.5 units)
 HACM9102  Financial Management in Health Care  (4.5 units)
 HACM9201  Health Law  (4.5 units)
 HACM9204  Health Economics  (4.5 units)
 MHSC8111  Managing Chronic Conditions - Self-Management Support Approaches  (4.5 units)
 MHSC8112  Perspectives on Chronic Diseases Management  (4.5 units)
 MHSC8114  The Persons Experience of Self Management  (4.5 units)
 NUTD9226  Public Health and Community Nutrition  (4.5 units)
 PHCA9502  Qualitative Research Methods  (9 units)
 PHCA9503  Research Methods for Social Epidemiology  (9 units)
 PHCA9504  Critical Practice in Indigenous Health (4.5 units)
 PHCA9505  Primary Health Care Practice in Developing Countries  (9 units)
 PHCA9506  Program Planning and Evaluation in Public Health  (9 units)
 PHCA9507  Health Promotion in Public Health  (4.5 units)
 PHCA9509  Public Health Practice Development  (9 units)
 PHCA9510  Leadership and the New Public Health  (4.5 units)
 PHCA9511  Social Statistics in Public Health  (9 units)
 PHCA9516  Introduction to Cancer Prevention (4.5 units)
 PHCA9517  Undertaking Translational Research in Cancer Prevention (4.5 units)
 PHCA9518  Food Democracy for Public Health Practice  (4.5 units)

 Other option topics may be selected in consultation with the Course Co-ordinator

b) for students of the Doctor of Public Health

To qualify for the Graduate Diploma in Public Health, a student must complete 36 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the following program of study.

 PHCA9201  Public Health Organisation  (9 units)
 PHCA9202  Public Health Research  (9 units)
 PHCA9204  Policy Development for Public Health  (9 units)
 PHCA9205  Critical Analysis of Public Health Debates  (9 units)

Other option topics may be selected in consultation with the Course Co-ordinator