One Health: Diseases at the Human-Animal Interface (PUBH7031)

There is a need to develop mechanisms for intersectoral collaboration to address public health issues at the human-animal-ecosystem interface. These include zoonotic diseases such as leptospirosis and food borne illness as well as potential pandemics of influenza and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which are world-wide threats. The United Nations recently declared AMR as one of the greatest threats to global health and human development and that it requires every nation to develop a whole of society approach, such as One Health, to address the threat.  One Health recognises the need to understand the characteristics of the systems that lead to zoonotic disease risk and then apply this knowledge to identify points of intervention that may lie outside the health system by applying the principles of systems thinking.

This highly practical course is has been designed to provide an insight into the complex biosocial/bio-economic systems associated with human populations that lead to the emergence or occurrence of zoonotic diseases. Students will use systems thinking to build conceptual models to describe these systems based on case studies and develop integrated intersectoral strategies that might be used to manage and prevent zoonotic diseases. Course staff have continuously improved the content and training approach used during the course based on their personal experience in One Health activities in China and the Pacific region to ensure it is relevant to contemporary public health practice.

This course aims to enhance the knowledge and practice of individuals with an interest in working in the emerging field of health security and emerging disease prevention and control. At the end of the course the student should be able to:

1. Critically assess the bio-social context of a zoonotic disease and develop a systems model to identify key drivers of disease occurrence and the key stakeholders involved
2. Identify the roles, responsibilities and needs of key stakeholders in one health problems (i.e. Government Ministrys of health and agriculture, WHO, FAO, OIE, The World Bank and affected communities)
3. Apply the principles of systems thinking to identify, quantify and manage risks in complex community systems and to identify feasible solutions
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of one health and the application of these principles to determine the key epidemiological features of common zoonotic diseases (including the epidemiology and transmission of pathogens and their social, economic and environmental impacts).
5. Demonstrate effective communication (oral and written), group work and reflection skills.

Workshop dates

Monday 27 November – Friday 1 December 2023 (assessment due in January)

Time

9am - 5pm (students must attend all sessions either in-person or online)

Location

The University of Queensland, Herston Campus

Registration

Closes 31 October 2023

Register now

Entry requirements

For non-UQ students:

• Work experience in population health
• An interest in zoonotic disease control
• Enrolled in postgraduate degree in a related field or completed postgraduate degree in a related field.

For current UQ students:

• Enrolled in a postgraduate degree at UQ

Cost

• Domestic non-award* students: $3,060
• Domestic cross-institutional students: $3,060
• International non-award* students: $4,560
• International cross-institutional students: $4,560

*Non-award students are those students who are undertaking the course, but are not currently enrolled in a postgraduate program at The University of Queensland, or at another university. Non-award students may receive credit for the course should they wish to later enrol in a related program at The University of Queensland, such as the Master of Public Health.

Interested in undertaking the 5-day workshop, but would prefer not to complete the assessment?

You are welcome to participate in the 5-day intensive workshop as continuing professional development, rather than as formal non-award study.

To register your interest, please contact the School of Public Health’s Learning Partnership Manager, Rebecca Johnson – rebecca.johnson@uq.edu.au.