Public health refers to a collection of disciplines that share a common aim- to prevent disease, promote health and improve wellbeing among the population as a whole rather than focusing on individuals. Some of the most important advances in health internationally over the last century have been public health interventions- including the eradication of smallpox, improvements in workplace safety, reduced morbidity from cholera and decreased trends in tobacco smoking. Students of the Associate Degree in Public Health will develop a broad understanding of evidence-based strategies to address existing, evolving and re-emerging health risks and achieve higher standards of health and wellbeing. A strong emphasis on participation, prevention and partnership with the community is threaded throughout the curriculum.
Students will choose to major in either health promotion or environmental health. Students majoring in health promotion will learn to apply relevant theoretical knowledge and participate in health promotion activities. Graduates will have the capacity to practise under supervision in accordance with Australian and International health promotion competencies. Study will include topics such as drugs in society, health promotion strategies, indigenous studies and community needs assessment.
Students majoring in environmental health will learn to monitor environmental health issues and assist in conflict resolution between agencies, regulated parties and the communities. They will be have the capacity to practise as an entry-level environmental health paraprofessional under supervision. Study will include topics in microbiology, food safety, environmental science, law and communicable disease control.
Graduates of the Associate Degree in Public Health will be well placed to work in emerging roles in non-traditional public health areas as well as technical and project support positions within government, non-government and private industry.
A number of changes within health promotion and environmental health positions have occurred recently meaning that, future graduates will need to diversify into new roles rather than relying on traditional appointments. Employers are showing interest in technical or project support positions to replace or support degree-trained professionals. Examples include Environmental Health Technical Officer, Environmental Health Worker and Health Promotion Project Officer. The degree may also be of special interest to people currently working in administrative supprt roles in the public health field who wish to advance in the profession.
Graduates of the Associate Degree in Public Health will be suited to work in these emerging paraprofessions and will also be able to articulate directly into the proposed Bachelor of Public Health (Specialisation).
Duration | 2 years full-time or 4 years part-time |
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Credit Points that Must be Earned | 96 |
Number of Units Required | CQUniversity uses the concept of credits to express the amount of study required for a particular course and individual units. The number of units varies between courses. Units in undergraduate courses normally consist of 6 points of credit or multiples thereof (e.g. 12, 18, 24). |
Expected Hours of Study | One point of credit is equivalent to an expectation of approximately two hours of student work per week in a term. |
Course Type | Undergraduate Award |
Qualification (post nominal) | ADPubHlth |
AQF Level | Level 6: Associate Degree |
Course Fees |
Indicative Year - 2025
Indicative Year - 2024
Indicative Year - 2023
Indicative Year - 2022
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Domestic Students Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes |
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International Students CRICOS Codes |
Not Applicable |
Rank Threshold | SR 60 | ATAR 60 |
English Language Proficiency Requirements
If you were not born in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa or United States of America, you are required to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements set by the University.
Applicants are required to provide evidence of completion of:
completed within Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, South Africa, Ireland, or United States of America, which will meet the English proficiency.
If you do not satisfy any of the above, you will need to undertake an English language proficiency test and achieve the following scores:
English test results remain valid for no more than two years between final examination date and the date of commencement of study, and must appear on a single result certificate.
International Students should visit http://www.cqu.edu.au/international for further information.
Each student will be assessed individually.
Senior English and a Science subject.
Interim Awards | Not applicable |
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Exit Awards | Not applicable |
Accreditation |
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Compulsory Residential School | Compulsory residential schools are required for -PBHL12001 Communicable Diseases and Public Health- 4 days on Rockhampton Campus (may be altered to Bundaberg if resources are sufficient) -ENVR11012 Applications of Environmental Science- 5 days on campus for Environmental Health majors. |
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Click here to view all Residential Schools |
HLTH12031 - Students enrolled in this unit are required to undertake 25 hours of volunteer work in a community organisation. Some students may choose to make this voluntary work profession related. |
Year | Number of Students |
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2024 | 2 |
2023 | 4 |
2022 | 9 |
2021 | 11 |
2020 | 8 |
Please note that in some instances there may be similarities between course, entry and inherent requirements.
If you experience difficulties meeting these requirements, reasonable adjustments may be made upon contacting accessibility@cqu.edu.au. Adjustment must not compromise the academic integrity of the degree or course chosen at CQUniversity or the legal requirements of field education.
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Course Learning Outcomes | |||||||
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Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
1. KNOWLEDGE Have broad theoretical and technical knowledge with some depth in the underlying principles and concepts in one or more disciplines | |||||||
2. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to identify, analyse and evaluate information and concepts from a range of sources | |||||||
3. SKILLS Have cognitive, technical and creative thinking skills to demonstrate a broad understanding of knowledge and ideas with some depth in a discipline | |||||||
4. SKILLS Have cognitive, communication and analytical skills to interpret and transmit responses to sometimes complex problems | |||||||
5. SKILLS Have communication skills to make a clear and coherent presentation of knowledge and ideas with some intellectual independence | |||||||
6. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Demonstrate initiative and judgement in planning, problem solving and decision making in paraprofessional practice | |||||||
7. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to adapt knowledge and skills in a range of contexts and/or for further studies in one or more disciplines | |||||||
8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to adapt fundamental principles, concepts and techniques to known and unknown situations | |||||||
9. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Demonstrate responsibility and accountability for own learning and work and in collaboration with others within broad parameters | |||||||
APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Engage in reflective self-evaluation of own cultural values and perspectives to proactively create an inclusive workplace that affirms and celebrates cultural diversity |
Course Learning Outcomes | |||||||
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Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
1. KNOWLEDGE Have broad theoretical and technical knowledge with some depth in the underlying principles and concepts in one or more disciplines | |||||||
2. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to identify, analyse and evaluate information and concepts from a range of sources | |||||||
3. SKILLS Have cognitive, technical and creative thinking skills to demonstrate a broad understanding of knowledge and ideas with some depth in a discipline | |||||||
4. SKILLS Have cognitive, communication and analytical skills to interpret and transmit responses to sometimes complex problems | |||||||
5. SKILLS Have communication skills to make a clear and coherent presentation of knowledge and ideas with some intellectual independence | |||||||
6. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Demonstrate initiative and judgement in planning, problem solving and decision making in paraprofessional practice | |||||||
7. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to adapt knowledge and skills in a range of contexts and/or for further studies in one or more disciplines | |||||||
8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to adapt fundamental principles, concepts and techniques to known and unknown situations | |||||||
9. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Demonstrate responsibility and accountability for own learning and work and in collaboration with others within broad parameters | |||||||
APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Engage in reflective self-evaluation of own cultural values and perspectives to proactively create an inclusive workplace that affirms and celebrates cultural diversity |
Number of units: 7 | Total credit points: 42 |
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Students who graduate from this course will be eligible to apply for credit transfer should they choose to enrol in the Bachelor of Public Health (Specialisation).
In addition to these core units, students must select one major unit of study.
Year 1 - Term 1 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
HLTH11027 | Foundations of Health | |
ENVH11001 | Health and the Environment | |
SCIE11022 | Introductory Science |
Year 1 - Term 2 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
PBHL11002 | Public Health and Chronic Disease | |
PBHL11001 | Public Health Data and Measurement |
Year 2 - Term 1 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
PBHL12001 | Communicable Diseases and Public Health |
Year 2 - Term 2 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
PBHL12002 | Public Health Initiatives |
Number of units: 9 | Total credit points: 54 |
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Currently there is no accreditation available for an environmental health course at Associate Degree level. The curriculum has, however, been designed to meet the requirements of the enHealth Skills and Knowledge Matrix and will be eligible for accreditation should it become available through Environmental Health Australia in future.
Year 1 - Term 1 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
ENVR11011 | Modern Environmental Issues |
Year 1 - Term 2 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
ENVR11012 | Applications of Environmental Science | |
AINV11003 | Introduction to Investigative Methods |
Year 2 - Term 1 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
ENVH12002 | Environmental Health Law | |
MBIO19012 | Microbiology |
Year 2 - Term 2 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
ENVH12001 | Food Safety | |
ENVH12003 | Environmental Toxicology |
In addition to the core units for this major, students must choose a total of two elective units. These electives can be from the list provided below or any other unit offered by the University, provided prerequisites are met.
Year 2 - Term 1 | ||
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Students may choose to do any of the following: | ||
HLTH11031 | Healthy Lifestyles | |
HLTH12030 | Drugs in Society | |
HLTH12032 | Community Assets and Needs Assessment |
Year 2 - Term 2 | ||
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Students may choose to do any of the following: | ||
HLTH11029 | Health Promotion Concepts | |
GEOG19021 | Geographic Information Systems | |
INDG11005 | Indigenous Ways of Learning | |
HLTH12031 | Community Engaged Learning |
Number of units: 9 | Total credit points: 54 |
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Year 1 - Term 1 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
HLTH11031 | Healthy Lifestyles |
Year 1 - Term 2 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
HLTH11029 | Health Promotion Concepts | |
INDG11006 | Education and Learning: Colonisation and Decolonisation in the Cultural Interface |
Year 2 - Term 1 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
HLTH12030 | Drugs in Society | |
HLTH12032 | Community Assets and Needs Assessment |
Year 2 - Term 2 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
HLTH12031 | Community Engaged Learning | |
GEOG19021 | Geographic Information Systems |
In addition to the core units for this major, students must choose a total of two elective units. These electives can be from the list provided below or any other unit offered by the University, provided prerequisites are met.
Year 2 - Term 1 | ||
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Students may choose to do any of the following: | ||
ENVH12002 | Environmental Health Law | |
MBIO19012 | Microbiology | |
ENVR11011 | Modern Environmental Issues |
Year 2 - Term 2 | ||
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Students may choose to do any of the following: | ||
ENVR11012 | Applications of Environmental Science | |
ENVH12003 | Environmental Toxicology | |
ENVH12001 | Food Safety |