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The information below is relevant from 07/03/2022 to 31/12/2022
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CC44 - Associate Degree in Public Health (specialisation)

Overview

Compulsory Residential School

Some units in this course require you to attend a compulsory Residential School or Work Integrated Learning. Please see Course Features in the Getting Started tab for further information.

Course Overview

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 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.

Career Information

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).

Course Details
Duration 2 years full-time or 4 years part-time
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
  • Commonwealth Supported Place – Indicative First Year Fee - $3,912
  • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $26,158.5
Indicative Year - 2024
  • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $25,125
  • Commonwealth Supported Place – Indicative First Year Fee - $8,944
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $18,600
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $36,120
Indicative Year - 2023
  • Commonwealth Supported Place – Indicative First Year Fee - $8,734
Indicative Year - 2022
  • Commonwealth Supported Place – Indicative First Year Fee - $8,016
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $33,990
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $16,830

Admission Codes

Where and when can I start?
Units offered internally at the below campuses may be delivered using a combination of face-to-face and video conferencing style teaching.
Units offered via MIX mode are delivered online and require compulsory attendance of site-specific learning activities such as on-campus residential schools, placements and/or work integrated learning. See Course Features tab for further information. Online units are delivered using online resources only.
Please Click Here for more information.
The following tables list the courses availabilities by location and term. Directing your pointer over your preferred location will provide further information if this course is not available for the full duration. Please be sure to also check individual unit availability by location and term prior to enrolling.

Domestic Availability

Term 2 - 2026

Bundaberg
Cairns
Online
Rockhampton
Townsville

Term 1 - 2026

Bundaberg
Cairns
Online
Rockhampton
Townsville

Term 2 - 2025

Bundaberg
Cairns
Online
Rockhampton
Townsville

Term 1 - 2025

Bundaberg
Cairns
Online
Rockhampton
Townsville

Term 2 - 2024

Bundaberg
Cairns
Online
Rockhampton
Townsville

Term 1 - 2024

Bundaberg
Cairns
Online
Rockhampton
Townsville

Term 2 - 2023

Bundaberg
Cairns
Online
Rockhampton
Townsville

Term 1 - 2023

Bundaberg
Cairns
Online
Rockhampton
Townsville

Term 2 - 2022

Bundaberg
Cairns
Online
Rockhampton
Townsville

Term 1 - 2022

Bundaberg
Cairns
Online
Rockhampton
Townsville

Term 2 - 2021

Online

Term 1 - 2021

Bundaberg
Cairns
Online
Rockhampton
Townsville

Term 2 - 2020

Bundaberg
Cairns
Online
Rockhampton
Townsville

Term 1 - 2020

Bundaberg
Cairns
Online
Rockhampton
Townsville

Term 2 - 2019

Bundaberg
Cairns
Online
Rockhampton
Townsville

Term 1 - 2019

Bundaberg
Cairns
Online
Rockhampton
Townsville

Term 2 - 2018

Bundaberg
Cairns
Distance
Rockhampton
Townsville

Term 1 - 2018

Bundaberg
Cairns
Distance
Rockhampton
Townsville

Term 2 - 2017

Bundaberg
Cairns
Distance
Rockhampton
Townsville

Term 1 - 2017

All units are delivered in distance mode, with many including tutorials by videoconference. Some units require all students to attend residential school on campus in Rockhampton.
Bundaberg
Cairns
Distance
Rockhampton
Townsville

Term 2 - 2016

Bundaberg
Cairns
Distance
Rockhampton

Term 1 - 2016

Bundaberg
Cairns
Distance
Rockhampton

Term 2 - 2015

Distance

Term 1 - 2015

Distance
Show All

International Availability

Term 2 - 2026

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 1 - 2026

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 2 - 2025

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 1 - 2025

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 2 - 2024

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 1 - 2024

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 2 - 2023

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 1 - 2023

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 2 - 2022

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 1 - 2022

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 2 - 2021

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 1 - 2021

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 2 - 2020

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 1 - 2020

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 2 - 2019

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 1 - 2019

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 2 - 2018

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 1 - 2018

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 2 - 2017

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 1 - 2017

All units are delivered in distance mode, with many including tutorials by videoconference. Some units require all students to attend residential school on campus in Rockhampton.
Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 2 - 2016

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 1 - 2016

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 2 - 2015

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 1 - 2015

Sorry, no international availabilities found.
Show All
For any problems regarding admissions availability for the selected course please contact 13 CQUni (13 27 86) or send us an email at http://contactus.cqu.edu.au/
What do I need to start?
Entry Scores
Rank Threshold SR 60 | ATAR 60
Entry Requirements

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:

  • A secondary qualification (Year 11 and 12, or equivalent), or
  • An Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) diploma level qualification, or
  • Bachelor level qualification study for a period of at least 2 years fulltime with a minimum overall GPA 4.0

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:

  • An International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic) overall band score of at least 6.0 with a minimum 5.5 in each subset; or
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - Requires 550 or better overall and minimum TWE score of 4.5 (Paper Based Test), or 75 or better overall and no score less than 17 (Internet Based Test); or
  • Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) - Requires an overall score of 54 with no sub-score less than 46; or
  • An Occupational English Test with Grades A or B only in each of the four components.

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.

Assumed Knowledge

Senior English and a Science subject.

Security Requirements
No information available at this time
Health Requirements
No information available at this time
Fees and Charges
Course Features

Awards and Accreditation

Interim Awards Not applicable
Exit Awards Not applicable
Accreditation
  • Not applicable

Residential School Requirements

Compulsory Residential School Compulsory residential schools are required for students enrolled in the following units: - SCIE11022 Introductory Science - ENVH12001 Food Safety
Click here to view all Residential Schools

Practicum/Work Placement

HLTH12031 - Students enrolled in this unit are required to undertake 25 hours of volunteer work in a community organisation. Skills learned in community-based settings, including community development and engagement, are key workplace competencies for Public Health Professionals. HLTH12031 is only compulsory for Health Promotion Majors. It can be taken as an elective by Environmental Health majors

Previous and Current Enrolments

Year Number of Students
2024 2
2023 4
2022 9
2021 11
2020 8
Inherent Requirements
There are Inherent Requirements (IRs) that you need to be aware of, and fulfil, to achieve the core learning outcomes of the units and course. IRs are the essential capabilities, knowledge, behaviours and skills that are needed to complete a unit or course.

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.

Ethical Behaviour

Examples are:

  • Complying with academic and non-academic misconduct policies and procedures such as CQUniversity’s Student Charter, Student Misconduct Policy and Student Behavioural Misconduct Procedures and Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
  • Demonstrating the applicable codes of ethics as they apply in the practice of public health.
  • Demonstrating an ability to reflect on ethical dilemmas and issues and taking responsibility for ensuring awareness of ethical behaviour.
  • Demonstrating respect for cultural diversity as well as individual differences and capacities in public health practice.
  • Treating personal information obtained in professional settings as private and confidential.
  • Maintaining ethical behaviour in a professional setting, through successfully distinguishing your own personal values and beliefs from those of others.
Behavioural Stability

Examples are:

  • Being reflective with personal behaviours appropriate for professional performance and being positive and receptive to processing constructive supervisor/lecturer feedback or criticism.
  • Interacting with people from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures in a calm and composed manner that shows respect for difference, including when dealing with difficult situations.
  • Successfully processing your own emotions and behaviour when dealing with stressful situations that can arise in public health practice.
Legal Compliance

Examples are:

  • Complying with university and workplace policy with the use of social media, online discussion forums, email and other electronic forms of communication.
  • Complying with the policies and practices of organisations in which you may be placed or find employment, including those relating to OHS.
Communication Skills (Verbal, Non-verbal, Written and Technology)

Examples are:

  • Verbally communicating your public health knowledge and skills with accuracy, appropriateness and effectiveness in a wide variety of contexts.
  • Actively participating in discussion and course activities with appropriate use and command of language within the context.
  • Using appropriate facial expressions: eye contact, being mindful of space boundaries, and a range of body movements and gestures.
  • Recognising and interpreting non-verbal cues of others and responding appropriately during activities related to the course and in professional practice.
  • Competently and appropriately producing written assessment work in English in a logical, coherent manner, and with correct grammar and punctuation to the required academic standards.
  • Constructing fluent summarised written text from complex and detailed information.
  • Constructing coherent reports in a timely manner to meet professional standards and clearly communicating the intended message.
  • Competently using a desktop operating system such as Microsoft Windows or Mac OS X skills to engage in on -line learning, reading and responding as required to emails, and completing relevant assessments for the course.
  • Competently using videoconferencing software such as Zoom to communicate with lecturers and peers.
  • Competently using productivity software such as Microsoft Office in your course of study.
  • Regularly accessing the Internet for research, and email for communication with peers and lecturers.
Cognitive Abilities (Knowledge and Cognitive Skills, Literacy and Numeracy)

Examples are:

  • Conceptualising and using appropriate knowledge in response to academic assessment items.
  • Completing academic learning activities and assessment tasks, and performing professional skills within reasonable set time-frames.
  • Constructing written text proficiently, in English, using appropriate vocabulary and conventions of speech, including being able to paraphrase, summarise and reference in accordance with appropriate academic conventions.
  • Competently reading, writing and accurately interpreting information to convey language effectively in a professional setting.
  • Completing documentation that is accurate, clear and concise.
  • Demonstrating competency in applying mathematics knowledge and numeracy skills to accurately read and interpret various measurements.
  • Demonstrating effective application of mathematics knowledge and numeracy skills in public health practice.
Relational Skills
  • Initiating and maintaining effective partnerships with a range of interdisciplinary and inter-agency stakeholders.
  • Initiating and maintaining effective relationships with key community networks.
  • Initiating and maintaining effective relationships with University staff and other students.
Reflective Skills
  • Undertaking regular self-assessment of emotional intelligence, recognising own responses and effects of own behaviour on others.
  • Critiquing own philosophical, attitudinal and cognitive foundations to practice and a willingness to changing these as necessary.
Interpersonal Engagement

Examples are:

  • Demonstrating the skills of collaborating with fellow students, University staff and colleagues, modifying and reflecting on practice, or modifying and reflecting on work in response to supervisor feedback.
  • Building rapport with colleagues and stakeholders in order to engage them in effective public health practice.
  • Critically self-reflecting on situations that may/may not have gone well, and taking the learning point(s) from those situations.
  • Interacting and engaging with individuals and groups in public health practice in a respectful and culturally competent manner in a wide variety of contexts.
Core Learning Outcomes
Please refer to the Core Structure Learning Outcomes
Environmental Health Learning Outcomes
  • 1. Utilise an understanding of the social and environmental determinants of health in practice as a public health paraprofessional.
  • 2. Participate in working partnerships with industry and community in promoting public health.
  • 3. Apply theory to everyday public health practice.
  • 4. Recognise relationships between health, social justice and equity as a practising public health paraprofessional.
  • 5. Monitor environmental health issues in an ethical manner under the supervision of an environmental health professional.
  • 6. Assist in conflict resolution between agencies, regulated parties and the community.
  • 7. Practise as an entry level environmental health paraprofessional in accordance with the enHealth Skills and Knowledge Matrix.
  Course Learning Outcomes
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
Health Promotion Learning Outcomes
  • 1. Utilise an understanding of the social and environmental determinants of health in practice as a public health paraprofessional.
  • 2. Participate in working partnerships with industry and community in promoting public health.
  • 3. Apply theory to everyday public health practice.
  • 4. Recognise relationships between health, social justice and equity as a practising public health paraprofessional.
  • 5. Conduct health promotion activities in an ethical manner under the supervision of a health promotion practitioner.
  • 6. Apply relevant health promotion theoretical knowledge to health promotion projects and situations.
  • 7. Practice under supervision in accordance with Australian and International health promotion competencies.
  Course Learning Outcomes
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 Structure

In order to complete this course, you must:

  1. Complete the core structure
  2. Complete 1 major
Number of units: 8 Total credit points: 48

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.

Available units
Students must complete the following compulsory units:
HLTH11027 Foundations of Health
ENVH11001 Health and the Environment
SCIE11022 Introductory Science
PBHL11002 Public Health and Chronic Disease
PBHL11001 Public Health Data and Measurement
PBHL12001 Communicable Diseases and Public Health
PBHL12002 Public Health Initiatives
HLTH11031 Healthy Lifestyles

Environmental Health Major

Number of units: 8 Total credit points: 48

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.

Available units
Students must complete the following compulsory units:
ENVR11011 Modern Environmental Issues
AINV11003 Introduction to Investigative Methods
ENVH12002 Environmental Health Law
MBIO19012 Microbiology
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. Students wishing to enrol in a unit not listed should consult with the Student Advisor.

Available units
Students may choose to do any of the following:
HLTH12030 Drugs in Society
HLTH12032 Community Assets and Needs Assessment
HLTH11029 Health Promotion Concepts
HLTH12031 Community Engaged Learning
GEOG19021 Geographic Information Systems
INDG11006 Education and Learning: Colonisation and Decolonisation in the Cultural Interface
INDG11015 Contemporary Indigenous Issues
ENEV12002 First Nations Community Engagement

Health Promotion Major

Number of units: 8 Total credit points: 48

Available units
Students must complete the following compulsory units:
HLTH11029 Health Promotion Concepts
INDG11006 Education and Learning: Colonisation and Decolonisation in the Cultural Interface
HLTH12030 Drugs in Society
HLTH12032 Community Assets and Needs Assessment
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. Students who wish to enrol in units not listed should consult the Student Advisor.

Available units
Students may choose to do any of the following:
ENVH12002 Environmental Health Law
ENVR11011 Modern Environmental Issues
MBIO19012 Microbiology
ENVH12003 Environmental Toxicology
ENVH12001 Food Safety
INDG11015 Contemporary Indigenous Issues
ENEV12002 First Nations Community Engagement
More Details
There is no additional information for this course.