Graduate Certificate in Global Public Health

Program Overview

Victoria University's Graduate Certificate in Global Public Health equips graduates with a comprehensive understanding of health policy and programs. Through a combination of in-person workshops and online learning, students develop skills in evaluating health challenges, appraising evidence, and contributing to collaborative health initiatives. The program emphasizes sustainability, the intersection of human and planetary health, and the importance of context in public health practice. Graduates are prepared for careers in global health, community development, health policy, and other fields related to health and well-being.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

• Overview: The Graduate Certificate in Global Public Health from Victoria University is designed to provide a solid foundation in health policy and programs.
• Objectives:
• Evaluate current and emerging health challenges
• Appraise public health evidence
• Contribute to collaborative health programs and policies
• Program Description: The program is designed for recent graduates with ambitions to work in health policy and programs, and health professionals interested in enhancing their professional practice.
• Upon completion, participants will understand how public health solutions contribute to sustainable development and can advocate for inclusive policy and practice, ensuring Indigenous views are heard.
• The program serves as a recommended option for those wishing to progress to the Master of Global Public Health or apply their knowledge directly in the workplace.

Outline:

• Content:
• Global health challenges
• Public health practice
• Foundations of public health
• Epidemiology and biostatistics
• Course Schedule:
• In-person intensive workshops
• Online self-paced learning
• VU Block Model®, where students undertake one or at most two units at a time and then move onto the next

Teaching:

• Methods:
• Workshops
• Unique Approaches:
• Emphasis on sustainability and the health of the planet and people
• Place-based approach, emphasizing the importance of context
• Recognition of the intersection between the health of people and the planet, and the impact of human behavior upon the natural world.

Careers:

• Potential Career Paths:
• Global health
• Nutrition and physical activity research and teaching
• Community development work in health, nutrition, and food security
• Delivering health, food, and nutrition programs in response to emergencies
• Health policy development
• Program planning, development, and evaluation
• Specific population-focused health interventions (e. g., older adults, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, chronically diseased populations)
• Inclusive physical activity programming
• Physical activity and sedentary behavior measurement
• Opportunities:
• In Australia and internationally
• National, state, and local governments
• United Nations and other international health organizations (WHO, UNICEF, ACSM, International Coalition for Aging and Physical Activity)
• Non-profit organizations
• Academic institutions and research institutions