Master of Public Health placement

PUBH7044 Public Health Professional Placement is a 4-unit final semester course within the Master of Public Health (MPH) program. Students undertake a supervised industry placement in organisations where MPH graduates may find employment including health services, universities and non-government agencies. The course gives students the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills they have obtained throughout their MPH and gain invaluable experience in working in a public health setting.

Placement

PUBH7044 Public Health Professional Placement

(180 hours; 2 days per week for 13 weeks)

Practicum aims

PUBH7044 will provide students with the opportunity to:

Demonstrate high level interpersonal skills in written and oral communication, and in negotiation with internal and external stakeholders.
Critically analyse information and data to provide evidence-based recommendations for colleagues, supervisors, and other stakeholders.
Demonstrate strategic planning and project management skills, including applied knowledge of the coordination, development, implementation and evaluation of projects or public health programs.
Apply time management skills to prioritise competing demands, adapt effectively to change, and complete tasks on time.
Demonstrate relationship skills by identifying, negotiating, and work effectively with partners, stakeholders and colleagues.
Understand and identify the role of various frameworks, guidelines and policies in addressing population health.
Critically reflect on personal skills and professional strengths and develop self-awareness.

Pre-placement requirements

Students must have completed #16 units from the MPH (if commencing prior to 2023) or #24 units (if commencing in or after 2023).

Students must have a minimum GPA of 5.5

Placement numbers are restricted, therefore, students are invited to apply by submitting an Expression of Interest and CV approximately 3 months prior to semester commencement.

Successful applicants will meet with the Course Coordinator before the start of semester to discuss the practicum and their preferred placement.

Students must review the PUBH7044 Placement Handbook (PDF, 306.5 KB) prior to commencing this course.

For placement providers

Placement Providers can review the PUBH7044 Placement Supervisor Handbook (PDF, 1.1 MB) to gain an understanding of the types of activities a student might undertake whilst on placement.

HWQld has partnered with UQ to provide emerging public health professionals the opportunity to better understand the importance of working across sectors to achieve public health outcomes. The industry placements provided opportunities for students to work directly with public health workforce in exploring and applying strategies to halt the high rates of obesity in Queensland, whilst gaining critical understanding of the challenges and complexities involved. It was rewarding to be part of the students’ practical experience as they develop skills in evidence based practice, literature review and analysis, stakeholders engagement, and communication to a diverse audience. HWQld gains valuable insights from engaged and proactive students who raised profound questions and challenged perspectives we may not have otherwise considered.
Judy Nean, Senior Director, Health Promotion
Health and Wellbeing Queensland

Additional information

Are we required to find our own placement sites or are they allocated to us?

Most placements will be allocated to students taking into account their areas of interest, however if a student has a contact at a specific organisation that may be suitable for a placement, they should contact the course coordinator.

Can I undertake a placement in a regional or remote area?

There are a small number of regional and remote placements throughout the year, if you are interested in these please contact your course coordinator. These placements are usually self-funded for travel and accommodation, however at times the School of Public Health can provide some additional funds to support students with these costs.

Can I undertake a placement interstate or overseas?

Occasionally students have completed placements that are interstate or overseas, however these have been organised by the student who has had existing contacts at the location and placement organisation. If the students think they have a suitable placement option outside of Queensland, they should contact the course coordinator to see if it is a viable option.

Will I be paid for my placement hours?

As this placement contributes to credit for your Masters program, you are unable to receive payment from your placement organisation for the hours you complete.