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Gain a specialised education for detecting, preventing, and controlling diseases in tropical, rural, remote, and Indigenous communities.

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#1 in Queensland

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

Enhance your expertise

Build the skills to progress your career

#1 in Queensland

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

This course requires some on-campus attendance by online students.

Townsville: February, July

$33,600.00^{^}

^{^}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 relevant health discipline; or equivalent

73807

What to expect

Take the next step in your health career with the Graduate Diploma of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Be equipped to address pressing medical and 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 for addressing current and future challenges at individual, community and policy levels.

JCU’s Graduate Diploma of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene degree has a strong focus on the prevention of disease and the control of communicable diseases in tropical contexts. You will study an advanced body of theoretical and technical knowledge in the disciplines of tropical medicine and hygiene, particularly in the areas of epidemiology, pathogenesis, 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; Human Parasitology; Epidemiology for Public Health; and Medical Entomology. 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 communicable disease control, social science in public health, travel medicine, biostatistics and health economics. Subjects are offered as flexible delivery, which includes online mode, limited attendance mode, and block mode/intensives.

Upon completion of the Graduate Diploma of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 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 medical and policy context. Your knowledge, skills and training in professional health and tropical medicine practice will enable you to make ethical decisions and practise with an evidence-based approach to health informed by recent developments in the field.

Consult the handbook for requirements 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 Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

Career Opportunities

JCU Tropical Medicine and Hygiene graduates are equipped with the expert knowledge and practical skills necessary to pursue work in tropical environments.

Graduates specialise in travel medicine, infectious diseases, and remote practice.

You could find employment in State and Commonwealth Government organisations, health care and community settings, nonprofit and international organisations. Work in roles to control disease, protect the health of people living in tropical areas, and promote health and wellbeing.

You could also undertake aid work in areas such as the Western Pacific and Southeast Asia.

Graduates may continue on to study the Master of Public Health or the Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.

Handbook

Handbook year	Information valid for students commencing in 2024.
Course code	73807
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 relevant 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 Tropical Medicine and Hygiene will be able to:

Integrate and apply an advanced body of theoretical and technical knowledge in the disciplines of tropical medicine and hygiene 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 and engage in professional tropical medicine and hygiene practice based on ethical decision-making and an evidence based approach, including consideration of recent developments in the field
Communicate theoretical propositions, methodologies, conclusions and professional decisions through advanced literacy and numeracy skills to specialist and non-specialist audiences
Demonstrate personal autonomy and accountability for their own future personal and professional development and contribute to the professional development of others, by engaging in critical reflective practice in relation to knowledge, skills and attitudes and their application to the specialty of tropical medicine and hygiene.

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

TM5503:03 Human Parasitology

TM5515:03 Epidemiology for Public Health

TM5518:03 Medical Entomology

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

HS5106:03 Planning and Evaluation for Primary Health Care

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

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

TM5513:03 Public Health Management, Leadership, Planning and Policy

TM5516:03 Biostatistics for Public Health

TM5524:03 Qualitative Research Methods for Tropical Health Practitioners

TM5525:03 Communicable Disease Control

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

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

TM5566:03 Essential Skills in Aeromedical Retrievals

TM5569:03 Health Promotion Strategies and Methods

TM5571:03 Public Health Placement

Location

COURSE AVAILABLE AT	NOTES
JCU Townsville	Students will be required to attend the Cairns campus to complete TM5518:03 Medical Entomology

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	Nil

Award Details

Award title	GRADUATE DIPLOMA OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
Approved abbreviation	GDipTMH
Inclusion of majors on testamur	Not applicable - this course does not have majors
Exit with lesser award	Not applicable
Course articulation	Not applicable
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: $AUD33,600.00

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.

Student

Helen Truscott

Graduate Diploma of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

I chose to study at JCU as I had completed a master’s degree in public health here and wanted to delve deeper into health conditions of the tropics. JCU offered some unique electives that really piqued my interest. Alumni have networking opportunities across the world or could even return as a casual academic.
Lecturer

Professor Peter Leggat

Course Coordinator, Graduate Diploma of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

JCU’s postgraduate course in tropical medicine and hygiene provides the opportunity to develop a core skill set around the practice of medicine in the tropics, with supporting clinical and scientific pillars of tropical medicine, parasitology, entomology, tropical public health and epidemiology.