This unit looks at substance use and misuse in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) communities: its cultural and historical background, the scientific basis of addiction, its causes and how common it is (epidemiology). Students will consider the harms of of alcohol use: to body, mind, family and community. They will examine and critically consider approaches to prevent substance misuse and also early intervention and harm reduction measures. Both the clinical and public health settings will be examined. In this block we will provide examples focusing on non-dependent alcohol use. Case-based learning will draw on students' professional experience in the drug and alcohol field. In addition, students will be expected to draw on their cultural knowledge to develop their drug and alcohol client assessment and responses to substance misuse. Students will analyse their community setting and explore the role of the Indigenous drug and alcohol professional in providing drug and alcohol prevention, brief intervention and harm reduction to individuals and communities.

This unit builds skills in clinical work and understanding of the science which explains addiction. Also, the block further develops understanding of community measures to address alcohol misuse and builds academic skills. Students will study alcohol dependence ('alcoholism') and withdrawal, including tools to assess and help clients. The cultural and geographical context of assessment and treatment is considered. The unit aims to improve students' skills in preventing relapse, including counseling, referral to appropriate services and understanding the role of medicines. Mental health problems linked to alcohol misuse will be examined. Students will develop their skills in writing a case management plan. After the block students will organise a half-day clinical placement in an alcohol treatment service.

This unit looks at how common cannabis, tobacco and related harms are in Indigenous Australian communities, as well as their impact and the science behind each of these substances (pharmacology). The link between cannabis use and depression and other mental health diosrderswill be explored. The nature and treatment of depression is examined, particularly in individuals who use cannabis. At the public health level, this unit focuses on tobacco and drug policy and how it influences programs at the local level and impacts on health of Indigenous Australians. Students will look at strategies to reduce smoking and cannabis related harm in individuals and communities. The health professional's role in influencing policy and programs in culturally secure ways will be explored.

This unit develops students' skills in assessment and management of clients with opioid dependence (e.g. dependence on heroin or strong painkillers). The role of opioid maintenance medicines such as methadone and buprenorphine will be examined. The unit also examines the impact of injecting drug use on health. Approaches to prevention and management of blood borne virus infections and other harm reduction initiatives are considered. In addition, ways of advocating for change in the community and influencing policy are will be discussed. Clinical assessment and management skills will be further developed. Communication skills in the health setting will be developed. After the block students will organise a half-day clinical placement in a drug and alcohol service.

This unit focuses on amphetamine-type stimulant drugs, such as 'ice'. It covers the science behind how stimulants work (pharmacology and neurobiology) and the effects and harms of stimulant and polydrug use. Topics include the needs of clients, and complications such as HIV, as well as treatment approaches. The scientific understanding of psychosis and the use of antipsychotic medicines are considered. The unit develops students' skills to design a program evaluation including describing the program rationale, goals, communication with key stakeholders, collecting and analysing data and giving the results back to the community.

In this unit students will consider substance use across the lifespan from during pregnancy (fetal development), through childhood and onto adulthood. It explores factors that can lead to cycles of alcohol, tobacco and other drug problems across generations and how to break these cycles. Use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs in pregnancy and ways to prevent fetal harm will be examined. Clinical skills will focus on how to prevent, assess and manage benzodiazepine (e.g. Valium or Serepax) dependence and solvent misuse. Professional writing and speaking skills will be further refined.

Medicines and medical devices save lives but they can be costly and can have serious adverse effects. Value-laden decisions are continuously being made at individual, institutional, national and international levels regarding the medicines and devices we need, want and can afford. In this unit of study, we will explore and critique global and national policies and processes related to medicines and medical devices, examining how research and development agendas are set; how medicines and other health technologies are assessed and evaluated; and how new technologies are translated into practice. We will also explore broader trends such as globalisation, commercialisation and changing consumer expectations. By the end of the course, students will understand the forces shaping the development, regulation, funding and uptake of health technologies both nationally and internationally, and the political, ethical, legal and economic issues that are at stake. This course is designed to appeal to a wide range of student from ethics, law, public health, health care, policy, communications, economics, business, politics, administration, and biomedical science. Students will be encouraged to focus on issues of most relevance to their own area of study or work.

To develop a critical and comparative understanding of the history, theory and practice of health policy. To give an overview of the political choices and frameworks - national and global - that shape policymaking.
Learning objectives:
- acquire a critical understanding of the basic history and features of the Australian health system
- understand the main frameworks used to analyse and make policy
- understand the main issues in the translation of policy into practice
- demonstrate the capacity to apply these understandings in particular settings through case studies.
Content:
This unit explores the main structures and institutions that make health policy. The unit examines debates over policy frameworks, and the evidence and advocacy in setting priorities. Conflicts over health policy will be placed in broader contexts - comparing different health systems and assessing global influences. Case studies will be used to examine the relationships between policy and practice.

This unit aims to provide students with an understanding of the financial and economic aspects of health policy. It introduces the main concepts and analytical methods of health economics, political economy and finance. Learning objectives: - understand the main models and debates regarding health funding countries and the implications for equity, delivery and governance of health services. - apply this knowledge to current Australian and global health systems and debates over reform. - understand the role of economic analysis in evaluating health policy change - be familiar with theoretical frameworks underlying health economics and current debates over health finance. Content: This unit introduces the main concepts and analytical methods of health economics, political economy and finance to examine the workings of health systems in Australia and comparable countries. It looks at the main models of health system funding and their implications for the structure, planning and delivery of services. The first module focuses on the basic concepts and methodologies of health economics and political economy and their contribution to policy analysis. The second module places funding structures in a broader political and policy context. Topics include the debates over the public-private mix and governance and accountability - who makes decisions about funding priorities? To whom should decision makers be held accountable and for what aspects of their work? How does health finance shape broader policy reform?

This unit develops skills for the effective critical appraisal of health policy. It familiarizes students with the principles, and limitations, of evidence-based health policy and how this is shaped by the health and political systems. Learning objectives: - to develop critical appraisal skills and analytical methods for analysing health policy - to identify and analyse the main influences on policy development - to evaluate existing policy frameworks and processes in relation to evidence, political context and broader community values Content: This unit builds policy analysis and analytical skills by exploring policy design, implementation and evaluation. It looks at key approaches to analysing health policy, the methods and limitations of evidence-based health policy and the problems of integrating equity concerns when developing and applying health policy. The workshops focus on the critical use of epidemiological and public policy analysis to build the evidence base for, and analysis of policy, taking into account political and social contexts.

This unit aims to present an overview and critique of mental disorders in an international context. It covers broad issues related to the classification of disorders, their prevalence and population burden and their determinants. While the focus of the module is on international epidemiology, the course also aims to promote understanding of the economic and humanitarian implications of the burden of mental and substance use disorders for prevention, treatment and health policy. The unit will cover what a mental disorder is, how frequent and how disabling mental disorders are and what the major correlates and determinants of mental disorders are,with a focus on health policy.

This unit provides students with core skills in epidemiology, particularly the ability to critically appraise public health and clinical epidemiological research literature. This unit covers: study types; measures of frequency and association; measurement bias; confounding/effect modification; randomized trials; systematic reviews; screening and test evaluation; infectious disease outbreaks; measuring public health impact and use and interpretation of population health data. It is expected that students spend an additional 2-3 hours at least preparing for their tutorials.

This unit aims to provide students with an introduction to statistical concepts, their use and relevance in public health. This unit covers descriptive analyses to summarise and display data; concepts underlying statistical inference; basic statistical methods for the analysis of continuous and binary data; and statistical aspects of study design. Specific topics include: sampling; probability distributions; sampling distribution of the mean; confidence interval and significance tests for one-sample, two paired samples and two independent samples for continuous data and also binary data; correlation and simple linear regression; distribution-free methods for two paired samples, two independent samples and correlation; power and sample size estimation for simple studies; statistical aspects of study design and analysis. Students will be required to perform analyses using a calculator and will also be required to conduct analyses using statistical software (SPSS). It is expected that students spend an additional 2 hours per week preparing for their tutorials. Computing tasks are self-directed.

This unit focuses on mass-reach public health campaigns used to promote health and prevent disease. Building on introductory Masters of Public Health units of study in health promotion/disease prevention [or equivalent], this unit describes the rationale for mass-media led campaigns, social marketing interventions, and how they fit into a comprehensive approach to population health promotion and chronic disease prevention. The major themes covered are the principles of mass-reach communications in public health; designing campaigns [formative evaluation]; developing public health campaigns as part of comprehensive health promotion; understanding the messages, branding and marketing of campaigns; process and impact evaluation of campaigns; the differences between campaigns and social marketing initiatives; and the role of ancillary and supportive health promotion strategies, including media placement and advocacy. The Unit will equip students with skills to plan, design, implement and evaluate public health campaigns.

This core unit of study introduces students to evidence-based health promotion as a fundamental approach to preventing disease and reducing health inequalities in populations. The unit is divided into three modules: (i) principles underpinning disease prevention and health promotion, (ii) evidence-based prioritising for disease prevention and health promotion programs, and (iii) evaluating disease prevention and health promotion programs. It will develop students' skills in: identifying opportunities for prevention and setting prevention and health promotion priorities; planning and prioritising evidence-based programs, and; measuring the implementation of programs and evaluating the impact of programs on population health. The unit will critically examine diverse characteristics of disease prevention and health promotion programs, including behaviour change programs, community development-, environmental-, and policy- based programs. Students will develop an understanding of approaches used to enhance inter-sectoral action and partnerships, and community participation and consultation. The role of translation of research into policy and practice to enhance public health impact will also be explored. The unit will also illustrate how the principles of prevention and health promotion are applied in Aboriginal health promotion settings.

This unit is intended for students nearing the end of their MPH. The aim of this unit is to systematically complete a self-directed project in one of the main content areas of the course. This project may be developed by the student or the student could develop a project in consultation with an intended supervisor. Students should contact an academic staff member associated with the area of their project and negotiate the details of the project design and the method and frequency of contact with the supervisor during the project. The student would be expected to undertake approximately 80 to 100 hours of work for this unit.

This unit is intended for students nearing the end of their MPH. The aim of this unit is to systematically complete a self-directed project in one of the main content areas of the course. Students should contact an academic staff member associated with the area of their project and negotiate the details of the project design and the method and frequency of contact with the supervisor during the project. The student would be expected to undertake approximately 40 to 50 hours of work for this unit.

This unit aims to assist students in developing an evidence-based understanding of the epidemiology of alcohol and drug use and its impact on health, and the effectiveness of methods for prevention and management of related problems. This fuller drug and alcohol elective covers all the content of PUBH5115 and goes on to assist the student to develop more advanced skills in research and in management of clinical services in relation to alcohol and drug use disorders, and to examine the needs of special populations.

This unit aims to assist students in developing an evidence-based understanding of the epidemiology of alcohol and drug use and its impact on health, and the effectiveness of methods for the prevention and management of related problems.

Health promotion in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities requires investment in building the human capital and capabilities of the population within a paradigm of hope. You will first acquire an understanding of the distal, medial and proximal determinants of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and the subsequent risk factors that have resulted in high rates of morbidity and mortality. You will also learn how to ethically engage with and consult Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and understand how the often unintentional misuse of power can deny disadvantaged people the right to take control of their health and wellbeing. You will then work with an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health promotion professional to apply these skills and understanding in a compulsory workshop. The outcome will be a draft a health promotion plan that addresses a specific priority health issue in a specific urban, regional or remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. The conceptual and technical tools learned may then be built upon and applied to any health issue in any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander setting.

This unit aims to provide students with a clear understanding of the magnitude of the injury burden, both in higher and lower income countries, and the strategies that are required to address this burden. This unit will cover: injury definitions, measurement and surveillance; risk factor identification; intervention strategies and their evaluation; advocacy; cause-specific injury topics. During the 2 day workshop, guest speakers will outline issues relevant to the general injury prevention field and students will participate in interactive small group work which will focus on issues relevant to cause-specific injuries, in collaboration with guest contributors.

The unit consists of learning topics, each of which is supported by extensive Web based resources, and 4 moderated online discussion forums, each focusing on a problem related to tobacco use and control. Lecture topics include: history of tobacco use and control; the burden of illness from tobacco use; secondhand smoke: the research evidence; measuring tobacco use, uptake and cessation in communities; international trends in tobacco consumption; the tobacco industry; the WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and new forms of tobacco advertising and promotion. Problem focused discussion forums include: Harm reduction and tobacco control, regulation of tobacco, improving and implementing pack warnings; promoting smoking cessation, prevention of uptake (youth programs); denormalisation of the tobacco industry; controlling advertising; and controlling exposure to tobacco smoke, making news on tobacco and influencing political policy on tobacco.

Introducing Qualitative Health Research is perfect if you're a beginner and want to gain an overview of this research approach. Over the course of the unit we will address: What is qualitative research? How is it different from quantitative research? What research problems can it address? How do I design a qualitative study? What are the different (and best) ways to generate data? How do you analyse qualitative data? How are theories used in qualitative research? What is good quality qualitative research? Can I generalise qualitative findings? You will get practical experience and skills through carrying out an observation, participating in a focus group, conducting an interview, analysing data, arguing for qualitative research in health, and appraising the quality of published literature. You will also meet working qualitative researchers and hear about their projects. This introductory Unit will give you the skills and confidence to begin evaluating qualitative literature and doing qualitative research for yourself.

This unit aims to provide a public health perspective of the community impact of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It is available in both online and face to face modes. At the end of this unit, students will be able to understand the underlying principles of the surveillance systems used to monitor STIs; the core risk activity groups involved in the transmission of STIs; how the epidemiologies of STIs vary within and between societies; the public health impacts of STIs; and effective preventative strategies at individual and community levels. Course content will include an introduction to the basic biology of STIs; epidemiology and surveillance methods; STI service delivery considerations; STI/HIV interactions, impact of vulnerable at-risk populations; health promotion for STIs; policy approaches and ethical and legal issues.

This unit aims to provide a public health perspective of the impact of HIV infection. It is available in both online and face to face modes. At the end of this unit, students will be able to understand the underlying principles of the surveillance systems used to monitor HIV infection; the core risk activity groups involved in the transmission of HIV; how the epidemiology of HIV infection varies within and between societies; the public health impacts of HIV infection; and effective prevention strategies. Course content will include an introduction to the basic science of HIV infection; epidemiology and surveillance; sexual blood borne and mother to child transmission; STI/HIV interactions; other methods of transmission; health promotion for HIV; government perspectives and ethical and legal issues.

This unit aims to describe the epidemiology, microbiology, pathogenesis, clinical features and management strategies for the common sexually transmitted infections (STIs). At the end of this unit, students will be able to discuss the microbiology, pathogenesis and epidemiology of the common STIs. They will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the clinical spectrum of STIs, including asymptomatic infection, genital manifestations, extragenital manifestations and problems related to pregnancy. When discussing STI management, students will understand the impact of STIs at individual, relationship and community levels and how needs differ with risk activity group and geographical location. HIV infection will only be covered in the context of its interactions with other STIs. Course content will include the basic anatomy, physiology and clinical skills required for the investigation of STIs; the epidemiology, microbiology and clinical aspects of the following conditions: vaginal discharge, urethral discharge, genital ulceration, upper genital tract infections, sexually transmitted hepatitis, syphilis, anogenital warts and cancer, genital infestations, genital dermatology and other conditions likely to present in a sexual health context. Issues related to difficulties of access to treatment and the challenges faced in resource-poor settings will also be covered.

This unit aims to describe the epidemiology, biology, pathogenesis and clinical contexts of HIV infection. At the end of this unit, students will be able to understand the laboratory, clinical and social aspects of the diagnosis and management of HIV infection. Course content will include underlying scientific principles of diagnostics, virology, immunology and pathogenesis as applicable to HIV infection; clinical aspects of HIV infection, including seroconversion, asymptomatic infection, early symptomatic disease, major opportunistic infections (including AIDS-related conditions), tumours and death. Emphasis will be placed on the roles of prophylaxis, antiretrovirals and the management of associated conditions. Legal, ethical and social contexts will also be discussed.

This unit aims to introduce the constructs of adolescent sexuality, explore the determinants of adolescent sexual health and to discuss the personal and public health implications of adolescent sexuality, with additional emphasis on a deeper exploration of an area of adolescent sexual health that is of particular interest to the student.
At the end of this unit of study, students will be able to describe the biological, developmental and socio-cultural contexts of adolescent sexual health as well as the constructs, challenges and diversities of adolescent sexuality. They will learn techniques used to optimize communication with adolescents and explore legal, ethical and public health implications of adolescent sexuality. They will also understand and describe one area of adolescent sexual health that the student chooses to study in depth from a list of suggestions.
The course is taught fully online using a range of assessments including group discussion, short answer questions and discussions based on case scenarios. It is divided into 6 modules: adolescent sexuality, adolescent sexual health, reproductive health issues in adolescence, diversity, legal and ethical issues and sexual health promotion.