Why study public health?

Public health researchers in protective clothing working outdoors.
Public health researchers in protective clothing working outdoors.
PUBLIC HEALTH

If you’re looking for a dynamic career that can benefit the health and wellbeing of others, studying public health could be for you.

Today, the need for such professionals is significant. A report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found that more than four in five health professional occupations (82 per cent) were in shortage and demand is projected to increase.

While Australia is considered one of the healthiest countries in the world, our health system is facing mounting pressures. These include an ageing population, increased demand and chronic diseases, inequitable access to services, the re-emergence of infectious diseases and growing expectations on personalised and digital care.

The industry needs public health professionals at the helm who have specialist knowledge and skills to develop public health programs at a local, national or global level. Could one of them be you?

In this article, we’ll discuss public health and its importance, reasons to study public health and career pathways in public health.

What is public health and why is it important?

Generally speaking, public health is about protecting and enhancing the health of communities and populations through research, policy-making and health promotion. It covers a range of disciplines like epidemiology, environmental health and health education. Essentially, by identifying and tackling the root cause of major health issues and implementing preventative measures and re-orienting health services, public health professionals can significantly improve the communities’ quality of life.

While your mind may go to COVID-19, the industry's importance extends beyond managing public health crises. Public health work is proactive – it involves examining the determinants of health and risks to particular communities, advocating for health equity, and preparing for future health challenges.

As Australia’s population ages and the health system recalibrates after the pandemic, the value of qualified health practitioners will only increase.

4 reasons to study public health

Working in the public health field can offer many personal and professional rewards. Below are four key reasons to study public health.

Be part of the solution to global issues

Global issues – such as pandemics, climate change, ageing populations and health inequities – demand innovative solutions and coordinated global responses.

Studying public health can help you analyse global health systems and understand public and population health from a global perspective.

This approach helps graduates prepare for future environmental and health challenges and contribute to global solutions, sometimes even before problems occur.

Public health professionals are in demand

Studying public health is likely to put you in demand. The Australian government has declared a ‘crisis’ in the caring industry as health professionals are in short supply, with a shortage of over 100,000 nurses predicted by 2025.

These issues require qualified and strategic public health leaders to devise and implement innovative, effective solutions.

In addition, while the pandemic caused undeniable challenges for the healthcare industry, it also contributed to growth. According to the World Economic Forum, there has been a surge in healthcare spend and investment with healthcare investments reaching record highs with attention on areas like immunotherapy and global vaccines.

With increased investment comes increased career opportunities, some of which we’ve outlined below.

Graduate with a range of career options

There are a vast number of public health pathways to choose from with a postgraduate qualification under your belt – spanning the government, private and non-profit sectors. As the industry continues to expand to meet growing demand, career paths only stand to proliferate.

Some of the potential public health professions include:

Epidemiologist

Epidemiologists study the patterns and causes of disease in populations by conducting research, analysing data, and developing strategies to prevent and control disease outbreaks.

Health promotion officer

Health promotion officers develop and implement programs that encourage healthy behaviours and lifestyles. They can work in schools, workplaces, communities and healthcare settings.

Community and wellbeing officer

Community and wellbeing officers address social determinants of health, such as housing, education and employment to improve the health and wellbeing of communities.

NGO manager

NGO managers oversee the operations of non-governmental organisations focusing on health and social issues. These operations can include staff management, programs and budgets.

Public health researcher

Public health researchers conduct studies on various health issues, such as chronic and infectious diseases or health disparities, and make recommendations for improving public health.

Health policy advisor

Health policy advisors work with government agencies, NGOs and advocacy groups to promote policies to improve health outcomes.

Health educator

Health educators develop and deliver educational programs that inform the public about health issues and promote healthy behaviours.

Communicable disease analyst

Communicable disease analysts monitor data on infectious diseases, track outbreaks, investigate causes and develop strategies to prevent the spread of infection.

Infection preventionist

Working in healthcare settings, infection preventionists aim to prevent and control infections.

Occupational health specialist

Occupational health specialists focus on the health and safety of workers by seeking to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses and provide training.

Disease preparedness researcher

Disease preparedness researchers study how to prepare for and respond to disease outbreaks.

Medical writer

Medical writers develop written communications such as research articles, educational materials and other documents for healthcare professionals, patients, and the general public.

Variety of courses and specialisations to choose from

A postgraduate qualification in public health opens a number of doors to both further study and professional specialisations to suit your specific career goals.

UTS students who study a Master of Public Health can choose from three specialisations:

  • Core Public Health – where students can gain a comprehensive understanding of public and population health
  • Data Analytics – where students obtain the critical knowledge needed by practitioners in the field of epidemiology, biostatistics, qualitative research and visual analytics
  • Leadership – where students can learn how to improve the effectiveness of health and social care by driving change as a leader in the workplace.

Students also have the option to enrol in UTS postgraduate courses like a Graduate Certificate in Public Health and Communicable Disease and specialise in Health Services Management or Communicable Disease.

Why study public health with UTS Online?

The best way to prepare for an ever-changing future is to equip yourself with the skills and expertise to help shape it.

UTS Online has been recognised for exceeding world standards for excellence in research in public health services in Australia. With pathways for professionals from all types of career and educational backgrounds, the UTS Online Master of Public Health can help advance your career to gain a global perspective on public health.

There are a number of key attributes that set this degree apart, including:

  • Practical with strong theoretical and research pedigree: Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of public health theory and research to inform best practice standards.
  • Career transformation: Tailor your studies to make your career goals a reality with the diverse and future-focused selection of electives and majors.
  • World-class education to drive change and improve public health: The high-calibre curriculum is designed by leading health academics and delivered by the school of public health.
  • Learn with a globally ranked university: UTS is ranked among the top 100 universities globally and is the #9 Best University Under 50 in the world.
  • A future-first focus on learning: The topics covered in UTS Online’s Master of Public Health are specifically designed to equip students with futureproof skills to shape the next evolution of public health, including global population and environmental health, disease prevention, cultural and ethical perspectives, public health data and analytics – and more.

Ready to influence global health policy?

If you want to carve out a career path that can improve the health of communities, a pathway in public health may be for you.

UTS Online’s Master of Public Health has been created with customisable options to fast-track your career into your desired public health specialisation. This comprehensive degree equips you with all of the relevant skills for a variety of career options in public health.

If you are looking for some foundational skills before you deciding if you take on a master’s degree, you might also consider the other associated postgraduate degrees:

Learn more about the UTS Online public health degrees. Contact our Student Enrolment Advisors today by scheduling a quick chat or visiting our website.