CL46 - Graduate Certificate in Public Health

Overview

Course Overview

The Graduate Certificate in Public Health will introduce you to the social-ecological model of health that forms the basis of community-based and community-led public health. This approach reflects contemporary trends in public health and provides the basis of innovative interventions for social change. You will explore the origins and evolution of public health and the underlying principles of community-based and community-led public health. You will be introduced to complex adaptive systems thinking and how this influences the way we think about public health. You will also have the opportunity to select two electives from other public health units to best meet your needs. Public health is a dynamic and broad discipline and completing the units in this degree will help you develop skills and knowledge in complex adaptive systems thinking, social and environmental determinants of health, participatory and pragmatic approaches to public health issues, including strengths-based as well as disease prevention.

Career Information

A Graduate Certificate of Public Health will allow you to work in community-based and community-led health services and projects for government and non-government organisations.

Course Details
Duration 0.5 years full-time or 1 years part-time
Credit Points that Must be Earned 24
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 postgraduate 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 Postgraduate Award
Qualification (post nominal) GradCertPH
AQF Level Level 8: Graduate Certificate
Course Fees
Indicative Year - 2025
  • Commonwealth Supported Place – Indicative First Year Fee - $4,656
  • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $14,496
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $17,040
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $17,040
Indicative Year - 2024
  • Commonwealth Supported Place – Indicative First Year Fee - $4,472
  • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $13,878
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $17,040
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $17,040
Indicative Year - 2023
  • Commonwealth Supported Place – Indicative First Year Fee - $4,148
  • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $13,092
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $15,000
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $15,000
Indicative Year - 2022
  • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $12,708
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $15,360
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $15,360
  • Commonwealth Supported Place – Indicative First Year Fee - $4,008

Admission Codes

Domestic Students
Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes
Not Applicable
International Students
CRICOS 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

Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 1 - 2026

Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 2 - 2025

Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 1 - 2025

Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 2 - 2024

Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 1 - 2024

Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 2 - 2023

Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 1 - 2023

Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 3 - 2022

Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 2 - 2022

Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 1 - 2022

Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 2 - 2021

Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 1 - 2021

Cairns
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 2 - 2020

Cairns
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 1 - 2020

Cairns
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 2 - 2019

Cairns
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 1 - 2019

This course is only available for part time study.
Melbourne
Online
Show All

International Availability

Term 2 - 2026

Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 1 - 2026

Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 2 - 2025

Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 1 - 2025

Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 2 - 2024

Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 1 - 2024

Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 2 - 2023

Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 1 - 2023

Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 3 - 2022

Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 2 - 2022

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 1 - 2022

Sorry, no international availabilities found.

Term 2 - 2021

Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 1 - 2021

Cairns
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 2 - 2020

Cairns
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 1 - 2020

Cairns
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 2 - 2019

Cairns
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

Term 1 - 2019

This course is only available for part time study.
Online
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/
Entry Requirements - What do I need to start?
Academic Requirements

Entry Requirements:

  • A completed Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) equivalent Bachelor degree, or higher equivalent qualification; or
  • A completed AQF Diploma with a minimum of two years relevant employment experience in health care or the public health sector*; or
  • A minimum of Five years employment experience in health care or public health sector; or
  • Current registration as a Registered Nurse (Division 1) with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulatory Authority (AHPRA) and a letter of employment demonstrating a minimum 3 years employment in a setting which requires the use of nursing skills.

*Relevant employment experience includes employment in health care or public health field such as health practice and/or administration/management/leadership roles within health-related organisations.

Employment experience must be demonstrated in the form of an official letter of employment, presented on company letterhead and be signed and dated by a delegated authority. Please ensure that the letter contains your full name, position title, duties performed and length of service.

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 full tie 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 Grade of C 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.

If you are an International Student, visit our International students webpage for further information.

Each student will be assessed individually.

Assumed Knowledge

It is recommended students have completed a health related degree.

Security Requirements
None required.
Health Requirements
None required.
Course Features

Awards and Accreditation

Interim Awards Not applicable
Exit Awards Not applicable
Accreditation
  • Core

    There is no provision for professional accreditation in public health in Australia.

Residential School Requirements

No Residential School for this course.

Practicum/Work Placement

Not applicable

Previous and Current Enrolments

Year Number of Students
2024 7
2023 2
2022 12
2021 16
2020 3
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 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 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

Examples are:

  • Initiating and maintaining effective partnerships with a range of interdisciplinary and inter-agency stakeholders.
  • Initiating and maintaining effective relationships with key community networks.
Reflective Skills

Examples are:

  • 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 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
  • 1. Justify public health practice based on social and environmental determinants of health and principles of social justice, equity and equality.
  • 2. Explain complex adaptive systems thinking and apply this thinking to public health practice.
  • 3. Distinguish between individual, community and population scale factors and influences and make recommendations for multi-scalar public health action.
  • 4. Develop effective multi-disciplinary and trans-disciplinary partnerships that promote collaborative leadership and the co-generation of knowledge appropriate to community-based and community-led public health practice.
  • 5. Evaluate the communication and actions of self and others through a process of deep reflexivity that analyses power, promotes respectful relationships and develops cultural competence.
  • 6. Determine appropriate strengths-based and disease prevention approaches to public health practice.
  • 7. Justify practice-based as well as evidence-based solutions and innovative interventions to address complex public health issues.
  Course Learning Outcomes
Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1. KNOWLEDGE Have specialised knowledge within a systematic and coherent body of knowledge that may include the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills in a new or existing discipline or professional area
2. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to review,analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge and identify and provide solutions to complex problems
3. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to think critically and to generate and evaluate complex ideas
4. SKILLS Have specialised technical and creative skills in a field of highly skilled and/or professional practice
5. SKILLS Have communication skills to demonstrate an understanding of theoretical concepts
6. SKILLS Have communication skills to transfer complex knowledge and ideas to a variety of audiences
7. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to make high level, independent judgements in a range of technical or management functions in varied specialised contexts
8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to initiate, plan, implement and evaluate broad functions within varied specialised technical and/or creative contexts
9. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILL Be responsible and accountable for personal outputs and all aspects of the work or function of others within broad parameters
10. FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE sufficient to undertake qualifications
11. ACQUISITION AND APPLICATION of knowledge in new or existing disciplines or professional areas drawn from higher education units
12. FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS sufficient to undertake qualifications
13. ACQUISITION AND APPLICATION of skills in new or existing disciplines or professional areas drawn from higher education units
14. Course content drawn from higher education units
Course Structure 2 - Elective Learning Outcomes
Please refer to the Core Structure Learning Outcomes
Course Structure

In order to complete this course, you must:

  1. Complete the core structure
  2. Complete electives
Number of units: 2 Total credit points: 12

It is recommended students undertake the compulsory units prior to enrolling in the elective unit.

Compulsory units

Available units
Students must complete the following compulsory units:
PBHL20001 Understanding Public Health
PBHL20002 Systems Thinking in Public Health

Course Structure 2 - Elective Elective

Number of units: 2 Total credit points: 12

Consideration should be given to the campus and term of offering.

You must complete 12 credit points from the following list.

Available units
Students may choose to do any of the following:
PBHL20003 Epidemiology and Statistics
PBHL20005 Global Public Health
PBHL29001 Social Innovation and Health: Human-Centred Design Thinking
PBHL29002 Communicable Diseases
More Details
There is no additional information for this course.