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Enrich your career by specialising in public health issues relevant to tropical Australia and its near neighbours. 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.

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#1 in Queensland

for full-time employment 2024 Good Universities Guide, PG Health Services

#1 in Queensland

for median graduate salary 2024 Good Universities Guide, PG Health Services

Enhance your expertise

Build the skills to progress your career

Online: February, July
Townsville: February, July

$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

Fees currently displayed are indicative only. 2024 fees will be uploaded by October, 2023.

1 year full-time

or part-time equivalent

AQF level 7 bachelor degree in a relative health discipline; or equivalent

73707

What to expect

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.

Career Opportunities

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

Handbook year	Information valid for students commencing in 2024
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:

Integrate and apply an advanced body of theoretical and technical knowledge in the disciplines of public health and tropical medicine with depth in epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, complications, differential diagnosis, investigation and management of tropical diseases
Review, analyse, consolidate and synthesise information, data and evidence to devise appropriate strategies to detect, prevent and control communicable and non-communicable diseases ensuring safe and healthy environments for tropical, rural, remote and Indigenous communities
Critically reflect upon the socio-ecological nature of health promotion and its application in optimising the health and wellbeing of tropical, rural, remote and Indigenous communities
Critically reflect upon and engage in professional public health practice based on ethical decision-making and an evidence based approach, including consideration of recent developments in the field
Apply advanced human project and organisational management skills within a public health and policy context to effect efficient and equitable gains in public health
Communicate theoretical propositions, methodologies, conclusions and professional decisions through advanced literacy and numeracy skills to specialist and non-specialist audiences
Demonstrate responsibility and accountability for continuing professional development requirements based on reflection on current skills, knowledge and attitudes and their application to the specialty of public health and tropical medicine.

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

Fees and scholarships

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.

Pathways to JCU

Consult the admission requirements section in the Handbook for prerequisites and pathways into this course.

How to apply

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.

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.
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.
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.
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