0613 Public Health

Public Health is the study of the principles and practices of protecting, promoting, maintaining and restoring the health of the community.

The main purpose of this narrow field of education is to develop an understanding of the goals of public health including the promotion of health and the prevention of disease, premature death and disease-induced discomfort and disability in the population. It also involves developing an understanding of environmental factors affecting health.

Courses in Narrow Field 0613 Public Health develop skills in:

• advising on measures to reduce injury and disease
• educating the community on health risks, safety procedures and techniques
• evaluating, observing and recognising factors which may cause illness in the workplace and the community

This narrow field comprises the following detailed fields:

061301  Occupational Health and Safety
061303  Environmental Health
061305  Indigenous Health
061307  Health Promotion
061309  Community Health
061311  Epidemiology
061399  Public Health, n.e.c.

Occupational Health and Safety is the study of recognising, evaluating and controlling environmental factors associated with the interaction of individuals and the workplace.

Examples of subjects in this detailed field include:

• principles of health and safety in the workplace
• national occupational health and safety standards
• workplace health and safety programmes
• hazard management
• ergonomics

Environmental Health is the study of recognising, evaluating and controlling environmental factors affecting public health.

Examples of subjects in this detailed field include:

• environmental pollution effects on health
• communicable disease management systems
• food-borne disease prevention techniques
• public hygiene

Indigenous Health is the study of the health of the indigenous population within the broader context of socio-economic development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Examples of subjects in this detailed field include:

• indigenous health care delivery approaches
• indigenous caring and healing practices
• indigenous child health
• indigenous community health
• indigenous primary health care

Health Promotion is the study of promoting a healthy lifestyle and influencing behaviour to improve health.

Examples of subjects in this detailed field include:

• health promotion programme planning
• health promotion principles, goals and concepts
• social perspectives of health
• health promotion strategies and evaluation

Community Health is the study of health practices in the community which support and assist the management of disabilities and illness.

Examples of subjects in this detailed field include:

• current issues in Australian community health
• disabilities and illnesses as community issues

Epidemiology is the study of the incidence, distribution and possible control of infectious and chronic diseases as they effect groups of people.

Examples of subjects in this detailed field include:

• disease and injury evaluation and surveillance
• infectious and chronic disease prevention

This detailed field includes all Public Health not elsewhere classified.

Examples of subjects in this detailed field include:

• social health
• tropical medicine
• infection control