What areas are included in Health?
Health is a broad and far-ranging field, encompassing all careers and pathways involved in healing the human body and assisting in its maintenance. Common study areas within health include medicine, clinical science, allied health, diagnostic and medical imaging and other professional health services, including dietetics and occupational therapy.
The fast-paced and diverse medical industry immediately comes to mind when you think of health. Medicine is the field responsible for understanding what makes our bodies healthy or unhealthy. It involves the research, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases and other conditions that impact the human body.
While surgery and general practice are the most well-known areas of medicine, fields such as nursing, dietetics, midwifery and rehabilitation also fall within the category of health and medicine.
Medicine has extremely broad applications. Those working in medicine are knowledgeable in numerous areas of science, particularly anatomy, biology, neurology, physiology and pharmacology.
Clinical science is an area of biomedicine with significant research and patient-focused opportunities. These specialists are skilled at conducting numerous types of measurements and tests, designed to provide insight into a particular problem, or understand a patient’s symptoms or presentation more deeply. There are numerous areas of potential focus for clinical scientists, including within cardiac and respiratory medicine, sleep science and neurophysiology.
An extensive area on its own, the allied health industry falls under the broader umbrella of health services. Allied health practitioners specialise in a particular area of support for an individual’s health. This could include human movement (physiotherapy), the use and upkeep of the mouth and throat (speech therapy), the rehabilitation and adjustment of the body to various injuries and diseases (occupational therapy) and much more.
Health and allied health disciplines provide targeted support for individuals with specific health concerns. With so many different possible interactions amongst the complex human body, there are numerous areas to explore.
What do those who work in health do?
The breadth and depth of the health industry allows health professionals to draw on their individual strengths and find the career path that works for them.
Every day is different when you work in medicine. Many of those who graduate with medical degrees become doctors and surgeons. Depending on the specialisation you choose, you may spend your day advising patients, managing treatment plans, performing surgery or delivering much needed services to remote locations. Critical thinking and analytical skills are highly prized, as doctors and surgeons solve numerous problems on a daily basis, often in fast-paced environments.
Medical research provides an avenue for those who value working independently, or in small teams. With 78 organs in the human body – as well as countless joints, muscles and bones, all of which work together to support daily function – those who value data, systems and are strong communicators can choose from a variety of specialisations.
Clinical scientists undertake the tests and measurements that inform research studies and/or patient care. You may perform your tasks individually, or in tandem with others, as you conduct electrocardiogram tests (ECGs), electroencephalograms (EEGs), sleep studies, pharmacological trials and much more. You’ll have a strong awareness of the role your work plays in understanding health patterns, whether across a research project, or within individual patients.
When you’re qualified in an allied health profession, your specialty is patient care. Depending on your role, you may work with clients individually or collectively. You’ll be responsible for identifying a range of issues within your area of expertise and providing ongoing care to improve their outcomes.
In an industry as vast as health, you’ll be an important part of a much larger puzzle. Those within the field value its variety, the opportunity to work with people and the chances it affords for one person to make a huge difference in the lives of many.
Explore your study options in Health
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Take the first step towards a career in health and medicine with the Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences. You’ll build foundational knowledge and skills within the field of biomedicine and find your niche in this rapidly expanding industry. Graduates are equipped to excel in careers involving medicine, dentistry, allied health, veterinary science, medical laboratory science and more.
- Townsville: January
Gain a solid foundation for university study as you build academic skills, confidence and knowledge. Take classes relevant to your study goals and get a taste of university life in this qualification designed to help you meet the entry requirements of your desired degree. Enter university prepared for success after this one-year course.
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Learn from world-renowned lecturers and engage with experts in your chosen field with an Advanced Science degree from JCU. Develop strong research and communication skills as you investigate the role of science in creating sustainable futures within the Tropics. Model solutions to case studies from an array of biophysical contexts and extend your hands-on learning by completing a research internship or practical placement.
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Embrace the exciting world of science. Pair your scientific study with experiences like no other — explore environments like the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest or conduct research in state-of-the-art labs. Learn how to train an AI algorithm to identify flora and fauna species or dig into the earth’s history to find prehistoric remains. Graduate career-ready with advanced practical skills and a drive for discovery.
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What jobs are there in health?
A career in health is dynamic, fast-paced, ever-changing and exciting. It’s an industry where every day is different. There are roles for every skillset, interest and specialisation.
You’ll find health roles available all around the world. Work in a bustling metropolitan area, become an essential member of the community in a rural or remote region or explore opportunities overseas.
If you wish to use your Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences degree to specialise further, JCU offers a range of postgraduate courses designed to support particular career pathways, including the Graduate Certificate of Infection Control, Graduate Diploma of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and the Master of Rehabilitation, to name a few.
JCU graduates emerge with a dynamic skillset built through extensive hands-on experience and numerous practical learning opportunities. Ranked #1 in Queensland and #3 in Australia for overall educational experience,1 and #1 in Queensland for median salary,2 a JCU health degree is a respected qualification that will ready you for a successful career.
When you study a Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, majoring in Health at JCU, you’ll be equipped for further study and practice in a variety of areas, including:
- Clinical measurement
- Diagnostic imaging
- Dietetics
- Medicine
- Occupational therapy
- Pharmacy
- Physiotherapy
- Psychology
- Speech therapy
- Sport and exercise science.
1 Good Universities Guide, 2024, UG Medicine.
2 Good Universities Guide, 2024, UG Medicine, Pharmacy and Psychology.
Why study Health at JCU?
When you study Health at JCU, through a Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, you’ll build a strong foundation to pursue multiple areas of healthcare and research.
Experience a degree that empowers you to find your passion. First and second-year subjects within the Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences have been designed to align with medicine, clinical science and veterinary science subjects. Take advantage of multiple transfer points that provide the flexibility to align your study with your chosen career once you find it.
Explore your potential with numerous opportunities to pursue further study or research. JCU’s strong industry connections and expert academics can provide you with the support to find your pathway of interest. Experiment with hands-on research opportunities through facilities such as The Science Place and the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine.
Be equipped for a diverse career in a rapidly expanding industry. JCU Medicine, Psychology and Health Services study areas are all ranked #1 in Australia for full-time employment.3 Work-integrated learning provides you with the opportunity to build practical skills and discover how your learning can be applied to the workplace on an everyday basis.
If you’re passionate about health, there’s a place for you at JCU. Study on-campus at JCU Townsville, Bebegu Yumba, Douglas, for access to state-of-the-art facilities. Small class sizes will make for supportive peer relationships, which can turn into useful networks once you graduate.
3 Good Universities Guide, 2024, UG Health Services, Medicine and Psychology.
Eva Duck
Alumni
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences
"I loved the practical classes! Whether it was examining cadavers, dissecting mice or discovering disease-causing bacteria from clinical samples - I found it all very engaging and exciting. I grew fond of all my lecturers. Their experiences, stories and personalities made all the difference. It made learning fun."