Fast Facts
Location
Commencing
- Online: February, July
- Townsville: February, July
Fees
$30,230.00^
^estimated annual tuition fee for a full-time study load
Plus Student Services and Amenities fee
Fee deferral and scholarships available if eligible
Duration
1 year full-time
or part-time equivalent
Entry Requirements
AQF level 7 bachelor degree in a relative health discipline; or equivalent
Course Code
73707
Course detail
Take the next step in your health career with the Graduate Diploma of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. Become equipped to address pressing public health issues relevant to tropical Australia and the Asia-Pacific. Gain an in-depth understanding of the urgent problems facing vulnerable communities and learn how to develop strategies to detect, prevent and control communicable and non-communicable diseases, ensuring safe and healthy environments for tropical, rural, remote and Indigenous communities.
JCU’s Graduate Diploma of Public Health and Tropical Medicine degree has a strong focus on the prevention and control of communicable diseases in tropical contexts. You will study an advanced body of theoretical and technical knowledge in the disciplines of public health and tropical medicine, particularly in the areas of epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, and the investigation and management of tropical diseases.
Throughout your studies, you will learn about the importance of reconciliation, diversity and sustainability in relation to the socio-ecological nature of public health in Indigenous, tropical, rural and remote contexts.
This one-year degree includes five core subjects: Tropical Medicine; Tropical Public Health; Public Health Management, Leadership, Planning and Policy; Epidemiology for Public Health; and Communicable Disease Control. You can tailor this public health degree to suit your interests by choosing three elective subjects that cover a broad range of topics such as infection prevention and control, health promotion, human parasitology, social science in public health, travel medicine, environmental health, biostatistics, and health economics.
This course is designed in accordance to the core principles of public health as defined by the Council of Academic Public Health Institutions in Australia (CAPHIA), ensuring that your knowledge and skills are aligned with industry standards.
Upon completing the Graduate Diploma of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, you will be ready to enhance your career and undertake leadership roles in the health sector. You will be able to apply specialised human, project and organisational management skills within a public health and policy context. Your knowledge, skills and training in professional public health and tropical medicine practice will enable you to make ethical decisions and practice with an evidence-based approach to health informed by recent development in the field.
Consult the handbook for requirements and further information.
Inherent requirements
Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University’s learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please review the inherent requirements for the Graduate Diploma of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.
JCU Public Health and Tropical Medicine graduates acquire the knowledge and skills needed to enhance their practice and manage public health priorities in tropical environments.
You could find employment in State and Commonwealth Government organisations, health care settings, community settings, non-profit and international organisations.
This could include working in roles related to disease control and protection of the health of the population living in tropical areas, and promotion of health and wellbeing.
You could also continue on to study the Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.
Handbook year | Information valid for students commencing in 2023 |
Course code | 73707 |
Course type | Graduate Diploma (AQF Level 8) |
Owner | Academy |
College | Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences |
Award Requirements
Admission Requirements
Course pre-requisites | Completion of an AQF level 7 bachelor degree in a relative health discipline, from this or another university; or Other qualifications recognised by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the Division of Tropical Health and Medicine as equivalent to the above; or Submission, as an exceptional case, of other evidence of professional and academic attainments, including employment for a minimum of five years in health related activities. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection. In assessing applications the following will be considered: prior academic performance and prior relevant work experience. |
Minimum English language proficiency requirements | Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the English language proficiency requirements of Band 2 – Schedule II of the JCU Admissions Policy. |
| Additional selection requirements | Information published by JCU or otherwise made available to students when applying, may specify additional criteria to be considered in ranking applicants in order of merit if the number of applications exceeds a quota or other limit on the places made available for the course. Information provided by applicants during the application process and any other information obtained by JCU in the application process may be used by JCU to rank applicants in order of merit by reference to those additional criteria. |
Academic Requirements for Course Completion
Credit points | 24 credit points |
Course learning outcomes | Graduates of the Graduate Diploma of Public Health and Tropical Medicine will be able to:
|
Inherent Requirements
Inherent Requirements | Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University's learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please visit: Postgraduate Public Health and Tropical Medicine. |
Reasonable adjustments | All JCU students have the opportunity to demonstrate, with reasonable adjustments where applicable, the inherent requirements for their course. For more information please visit: Student Disability Policy and Procedure. |
Course Structure
CORE SUBJECTS
TM5501:03 Tropical Medicine
TM5502:03 Tropical Public Health
TM5513:03 Public Health Management, Leadership, Planning and Policy
TM5515:03 Epidemiology for Public Health
TM5525:03 Communicable Disease Control
OPTIONS
Select 9 credit points of specified HS, IA and TM level 5 subjects from List 1
List 1
HS5102:03 Qualitative Research Methods for Health Professionals
HS5555:03 Infection Prevention and Control in Health Care Settings
IA5013:03 Indigenous Australians
IA5022:03 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People as Colonial Subjects
IA5029:03 Comparative Indigenous Studies
IA5030:03 Navigating the Cultural Interface
TM5002:03 Infectious Diseases
TM5310:09 Dissertation 2
TM5503:03 Human Parasitology
TM5506:03 Social Science in Public Health
TM5508:03 Diving and Marine Medicine
TM5510:03 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
TM5512:03 Travel Medicine
TM5514:03 Environmental Health
TM5516:03 Biostatistics for Public Health
TM5524:03 Qualitative Research Methods for Tropical Health Practitioners
TM5526:03 Public Health Economics
TM5527:03 Project
TM5528:03 Health Promotion
TM5529:03 Applied Health Economics
TM5534:03 Tropical Paediatrics
TM5536:03 Public Health in Humanitarian Emergencies
TM5540:03 Public Health and the Workplace
TM5541:03 Managing Effective Health Programs
TM5547:03 Public Health Program Planning and Evaluation
TM5549:06 Dissertation 1
TM5552:03 Global Health and Development
TM5557:03 Disaster Health Management
TM5560:03 Foundations of Aeromedical Retrieval
TM5562:03 Reproductive Health in Developing Countries
TM5563:03 Public Health Leadership and Crisis Management
TM5569:03 Health Promotion Strategies and Methods
TM5571:03 Public Health Placement
Location
COURSE AVAILABLE AT | NOTES |
JCU Townsville | |
External |
Candidature
Expected time to complete | 1 year full-time or part-time equivalent |
Maximum time to complete | 5 years |
Maximum leave of absence | 2 years |
Progression
Course progression requisites | Nil |
Course includes mandatory professional placement(s) | No |
Special assessment requirements | Nil |
Professional accreditation requirements | Nil |
Supplementary exam for final subject | Not applicable |
Credit
Eligibility | Not applicable |
Maximum allowed | Not applicable |
Currency | Not applicable |
Expiry | Not applicable |
Other restrictions | Not applicable |
Award Details
Award title | GRADUATE DIPLOMA OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND TROPICAL MEDICINE |
Approved abbreviation | GDPHTM |
Inclusion of majors on testamur | Not applicable - this course does not have majors |
Exit with lesser award | Not applicable |
Course articulation | Students who complete this course are eligible for entry to the Master of Public Health or Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and may be granted credit for all subjects completed under this course. |
Special awards | Students may receive an Award of Recognition in accordance with the Recognition of Academic Excellence Procedure |
Estimated annual tuition fee: $AUD30,230.00
A Student Services and Amenities fee is payable per subject up to a maximum amount per year.
A variety of Scholarships are available to suit different student types.
Consult the admission requirements section in the Handbook for prerequisites and pathways into this course.
Complete an online application through our Online Application Portal.
Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma of Public Health and Tropical Medicine applicants must also complete and upload the following forms and documentary evidence with their application:
- Current AHPRA Registration (if applicable)
- Degree Testamur
- Curriculum Vitae
- Personal Statement or Letter of Motivation.
Real stories
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Student
Annabel White
Graduate Diploma of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
I chose to return to JCU and study the Grad Dip of Public Health and Tropical Medicine one year following the completion of my medical degree. I believe that JCU is the number one choice for anyone who is interested in regional and remote populations and advocating for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
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Alumni
Maggie Robin
Graduate Diploma of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
This course enriched my understanding and perspective of local and global health systems. It was a highlight to gain a broader perspective of health by learning from a ‘big picture’ approach. I loved meeting the lecturers and fellow students face-to-face and collaborative learning was a great experience.
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Alumni
Jessica Graham
Graduate Diploma of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
The biggest highlight while studying this course was meeting driven and like-minded individuals who were passionate about addressing the gaps in healthcare within their communities. The lecturers challenged me to recognise that through teamwork and outside-the-box thinking, big changes can be made to public health.
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Lecturer
Associate Professor Stephanie Topp
Global Health and Development, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences
In Public Health and Tropical Medicine, we have an unusually broad range of subjects that allows students to tailor their Master degree to meet any one of the many options that public health graduates have. This includes aeromedical retrieval, tropical medicine, communicable disease control and humanitarian work