Being healthy isn’t just about treating illness – it’s also about making it less likely to occur in the first place. Our wellbeing is influenced by everything from the health messaging we see to the government policies that determine who can access care.
If you’re a health professional interested in increasing your impact, there are many powerful ways to use your experience to transform lives and communities. Here’s how studying a public health degree can unlock new career opportunities beyond the treatment room and empower you to drive better health outcomes at a local, national or global scale.
Why is working in public health important?
Public health professionals are critical for creating healthier populations. This field incorporates a range of benefits that ripple across communities, encouraging individuals and transforming systems in meaningful ways, including the following.
Empowerment and control
Equipping people to make informed decisions about their own health by providing the tools, education and support needed for healthier lifestyle choices that enhance everyday wellbeing in the long term.
Disease prevention and improved health outcomes
Addressing health issues early to help prevent the onset of chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Enhancing health equity, targeting vulnerable populations and working towards equitable access to resources like healthcare, medication, education and nutrition.
Economic impact
Prevention goes beyond individual health – it also makes good economic sense. Reducing the prevalence of preventable illnesses keeps patients out of already burdened health systems and drives down healthcare costs, allowing resources to be used more effectively elsewhere.
Improved governance
COVID-19 was a stark reminder of the role of policy in managing both individual and population threats to wellbeing. Health policies are in constant evolution, responding to changes in the world and those who live in it.
What are the core strategies of public health?
Public health takes a multifaceted approach to improving health outcomes and making a difference requires an informed strategic approach. Depending on your health background, your skills may be best suited to one of the following key areas.
Building healthy public policies
In 2021, the Australian Government reported that “enhanced governance structures are required to create a more resilient prevention system.”1 Independent health experts and policy advisers who advocate for new health policies can have a direct impact on sustainable change. For example, Australia’s introduction of smoke-free public spaces and a minimum drinking age, which have helped to create a cleaner, lower-risk environment for everyone.
Creating supportive environments
Making healthy choices easier encourages individuals and communities to change their habits for the better. Australia has been poorly ranked for physical activity2, but health professionals working in promotion, policy and leadership have pushed for new parks, bike lanes, walkable cities and pedestrian-friendly public spaces. Initiatives like these create safe and accessible options to incorporate movement into daily routines.
Strengthening community action
Community buy-in is crucial to long-term change. Local programs like health expos, public gardens and public fitness events bring people together while nurturing a shared commitment to better health outcomes. These bottom-up approaches place the power of change in the hands of the community, making it more sustainable over the long term.
Improving health literacy
Education plays a vital role in equipping people to maintain healthy habits. Hands-on workshops and targeted activities have driven greater health literacy from childhood through to retirement. In Australia, “Slip! Slop! Slap!” feels like it’s always been part of our vernacular, but it’s actually the result of creative public health strategy. This consistent, repeated education fosters health literacy within communities and gives individuals tools to make practical decisions for their health.
Re-orienting health services
The healthcare system itself is undergoing a shift, with an increased focus on prevention rather than treatment. Programs that offer free health screenings or vaccination drives, like the National Bowel Cancer Screening initiative, are excellent examples of how health services are mitigating long-term health risks.
What career options are there in public health?
Working in public health encompasses a variety of important roles, both within and outside of clinical settings. Some roles that public health professionals may pursue include:
- Health Education and Development Leader
- Nursing Director/Team Lead
- Health Director
- Public Health Researcher
- NGO Manager
- Policy Adviser
- Government Adviser
- Industry/Professional Association Adviser.
If you’re coming from a health background, a public health postgraduate degree can help you explore opportunities to be part of the bigger picture, whether you’re interested in designing healthcare campaigns, developing more equitable policies or strategically leading teams.
Public health goes beyond day-to-day healthcare to proactively reduce the burden of disease and improve quality of life at a population level. These are just some of the work directions you might explore while studying public health.
Health policy
Our healthcare is governed by policies at government, legal and organisational levels. To ensure the most equitable access for whole communities, policy advisers and strategists use a variety of instruments to evolve existing policies and develop more effective ones.
Leadership in healthcare
Great leadership is critical to providing the best care, whether it’s leading a clinical team in a hospital or managing a research project. Success in this area requires leadership expertise, careful negotiation of influences and priorities that might include government, advocacy groups, media, economics, geopolitical factors and the public.
Transforming health systems
Healthcare runs on systems in varying states of maturity and accessibility. Through studying public health, you may work towards improving them through more equitable co-design practices and better outcomes governance, financing, workforce planning and digital health.
Health promotion
Health promotion helps the public to make informed, accessible choices about their health. As the name suggests, it’s about promoting health information and can incorporate everything from education programs and school visits to marketing and legislation.
How to prepare for a career in public health
If you’re passionate about making a meaningful difference to our wellbeing, a career in public health offers variety and fulfilment. Your work might encompass opportunities to build new tools, work with ambitious teams, deliver community education, improve equitable care, advocate for policy change, provide expert advice or shape our economic future.
These roles often require an interdisciplinary skill set, including policy development, program evaluation and community engagement. You could find yourself working for the government, an NGO or a healthcare organisation, tackling systemic issues and implementing impactful public health programs.
The University of Melbourne’s courses are designed to prepare students for these rewarding careers. Through a mix of skills training – such as needs assessment, program design and evaluation – and hands-on experience, graduates are empowered to create effective, evidence-based strategies that support whole populations.
How the University of Melbourne supports future leaders in public health
Our public health courses are supported by leading research and advocacy for more positive health impacts. Designed in consultation with world-leading academics, they give graduates new knowledge to drive better patient outcomes, effective public health systems and more equitable care for all.
Master of Public Health
The University of Melbourne’s Master of Public Health gives students a robust education in population health and the systems that scaffold it.
The online Master of Public Health offers a choice of elective streams, including Health Leadership, Health Economics and General Public Health, allowing you build expertise in the area that best aligns to your professional goals. Offering multiple intakes throughout the year and 100% online delivery makes it a great option for busy health professionals working around other commitments.
On-campus study is also available, with 11 specialisations on offer at our Parkville campus which includes online and in-person teaching (mixed mode).
Graduate Certificate in Public Health
This option will suit professionals looking to upskill with foundational public health knowledge. Students may have the choice of an online Graduate Certificate in Public Health or on-campus study and the course also provides a direct pathway to study the Master of Public Health.
Students will learn to lead health system transformation, use advanced technologies and develop innovative public health solutions, gaining valuable new knowledge to grow their careers.
Build healthier communities with the University of Melbourne
Your career in public health starts with the decision to make a difference. By supporting students with real-world skills, research opportunities and a commitment to prevention, we’re proud to be shaping the future of public health.
Discover how you can drive meaningful change in public health. Explore the University of Melbourne’s online Master of Public Health today and reach out to our Online Education Advisers to learn more.
Resources
1National Preventive Health Strategy, Australian Government Department of Health, 2021
2Physical activity, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2024