Sexual and Reproductive Health

Graduate Certificate in Medicine (Sexual and Reproductive Health)

Graduate Diploma in Medicine (Sexual and Reproductive Health)

Master of Medicine (Sexual and Reproductive Health)

Master of Medicine (Advanced) (Sexual and Reproductive Health)

Graduate Certificate in Science in Medicine (Sexual and Reproductive Health)

Graduate Diploma in Science in Medicine (Sexual and Reproductive Health)

Master of Science in Medicine (Sexual and Reproductive Health)

Master of Science in Medicine (Advanced) (Sexual and Reproductive Health)

Overview

The Postgraduate Program in Sexual and Reproductive Health provides a diverse and inter-professional curriculum suitable for Australian and international students interested in the range of disciplines related to HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and sexology.

Globally, the challenges of SRH including HIV/STIs, infertility and unintended pregnancy continue to be a significant public health issue. Challenges to sexual function and wellbeing also impacts on the health of individuals. Comprehensive prevention and treatment of SRH issues require a thorough understanding of the psycho-social contexts in which they occur as well as the biomedical aspects of sexual and reproductive health and wellbeing.

The program enables students to address these challenges through a range of units, with an option to choose one of four distinct pathways (HIV, Psychosexual Therapy, Reproductive Health and Infertility, and Public Health) or in a more flexible No Pathway option.

Compulsory and stream specific units of study provide students with foundational competence and a wide range of electives to further explore their areas of interest. The inter-professional and multi-disciplinary structure encourages students to develop effective collaborative approaches preparing them for employment in a variety of healthcare settings.

The Postgraduate Program in Sexual and Reproductive Health is designed to provide the maximum professional relevance, flexibility and choice. To facilitate the best educational and professional outcomes from their studies, each student is advised to discuss their unit of study choices with a Pathway Coordinator before the commencement of each semester. The program also provides opportunities for students to transition to higher degree research candidature.

Course outcomes

Graduates will be able to:

• acquire high levels of knowledge and skills in Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) for application in prevention, management and psychosocial contexts;
• learn to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams on the practical challenges faced by professionals working in SRH;
• acquire skills recognised as essential for professional practice in HIV and STIs, sexology/sexual health counselling/psychosexual therapy, public health and reproductive health and fertility;
• learn to critically evaluate relevant research and adopt an evidence based approach to professional practice in clinical and non-clinical contexts in SRH.

Accreditation

Several of the units of study are recognised as satisfying educational requirements for Sexual Health training of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians' Chapter of Sexual Health Medicine.

Completing the Master degree in the Psychosexual Therapy Pathway meets the sexological education and training requirements for professional accreditation with the Society of Australian Sexologists (SAS), and ASSERT NSW.

Further information

The Postgraduate Program in Sexual and Reproductive Health is offered as either a coursework-only degree, a coursework plus advanced research degree or as a double degree with the coursework-only master degree followed by a research master's degree (for international students on Australia Awards only - see double degree program for further information). Double Degree Double Degree domestic and other international students enrol in the separate degrees. Information on the Master of Philosophy is available in the Postgraduate Research Studies chapter.

To qualify for the award of the coursework-only degrees, students must complete coursework units of study equivalent to 24 credit points to qualify for the award of the Graduate Certificate; 36 credit points to qualify for the award of the Graduate Diploma; 48 credit points to qualify for the Master; or 60 credit points to qualify for the Master (Advanced). Students complete these degrees in one of the following Pathways:

• HIV and STIs
• Public Health
• Psychosexual Therapy
• Reproductive Health and Fertility
• Completion without a Pathway

Much of the learning is conducted via our interactive eLearning sites. In addition, students may be required to attend lectures and/or tutorials and undertake field visits. Some units of study have face to face intensive teaching blocks each semester which take place at the University of Sydney’s Camperdown and Darlington Campus, Western Sydney Sexual Health Centre at Parramatta, Westmead Clinical School or other various Sydney locations. Professional experience occurs at a variety of locations throughout Sydney and beyond.

Assessment varies with each unit of study and may include a combination of written assignments, oral presentations, multiple choice quizzes, online discussions, professional practice reports and written examination.

Further enquiries

Program Director and HIV and STIs Pathway Coordinator:
Dr Shailendra Sawleshwarkar
Phone: +61 2 9762 5390
Fax: +61 2 9762 5387
Email: or
Website: Sexual Health Medicine

Psychosexual Therapy (Sexology/Sexual Health Counselling) Pathway Coordinator:
Dr Christopher Fox
Phone: +61 2 9762 5390
Fax: +61 2 9762 5387
Email: or
Website: Sexual Health Medicine

Public Health Pathway Coordinator:
Associate Professor Iryna Zablotska-Manos
Phone: +61 2 9762 5390
Fax: +61 2 9762 5387
Email: or
Website: Sexual Health Medicine

Reproductive Health and Fertility Pathway Coordinator:
Associate Professor Kirsten Black
Phone: +61 2 9762 5390
Fax: +61 2 9762 5387
Email: or
Website: Sexual Health Medicine