Fast Facts
Location
Commencing
- Online: February, July
Fees
$19,640.00+
+total estimated tuition fee
Plus Student Services and Amenities fee
Scholarships and financial aid available if eligible
Currently displaying fees for 2024, which are indicative only of the upcoming year's.
Duration
1 year part-time
Entry Requirements
AQF level 7 bachelor degree in a relevant health discipline; or equivalent
English language requirements
Band 2
If your native language is not English, you must meet the minimum English language requirements for this course.
Course Code
101811
Course detail
Take the next step in your health career with the Graduate Certificate of Public Health. Become equipped to address pressing public health issues relevant to tropical Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. Gain an in-depth understanding of the urgent problems facing vulnerable communities and learn how to develop strategies to detect, prevent and control communicable and non-communicable diseases, ensuring safe and healthy environments for tropical, rural, remote and Indigenous communities.
JCU’s Graduate Certificate of Public Health degree focuses on developing strategies that protect and promote the health and wellbeing of tropical, rural, remote and Indigenous communities. As you study public health, you will explore a specialised body of theoretical and technical knowledge in the discipline of public health and learn how to apply your knowledge to diverse contexts and settings.
In this six-month degree, you will undertake four core subjects: Tropical Public Health; Public Health Management, Leadership, Planning and Policy; Epidemiology for Public Health; and Communicable Disease Control. These subjects will give you a thorough understanding of the main pillars of public health and will equip you to identify public health issues, assess their contributing factors, develop strategies to address these issues, and apply your knowledge and skills appropriately and effectively.
This course is designed in accordance to the core principles of public health as defined by the Council of Academic Public Health Institutions in Australia (CAPHIA), ensuring that your knowledge and skills are aligned with industry standards.
Upon completing the Graduate Certificate of Public Health, you will be prepared to enhance your career and undertake leadership roles in the health sector. You will be able to apply specialised human, project and organisational management skills within a public health and policy context. Your knowledge, skills and training in professional public health practice will enable you to make ethical decisions and practice with an evidence-based approach to health informed by recent developments in the field.
View the handbook for a detailed overview of available subjects.
Inherent requirements
Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University’s learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please review the inherent requirements for the Graduate Certificate of Public Health. Additional information
JCU Graduate Certificate of Public Health graduates are equipped with advanced skills and are employed in a wide range of healthcare settings.
You could find employment in state and commonwealth government organisations, health care settings, community settings, non-profit and international organisations both within and beyond the health sector.
Roles can involve work that focuses on the protection of the health of the population, prevention of poor health outcomes and promotion of health and wellbeing.
Alternatively, go on to complete the Graduate Diploma of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Graduate Diploma of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Master of Public Health or Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.
Handbook year | Information valid for students commencing in 2024 |
Course code | 101811 |
Course type | Graduate Certificate (AQF Level 8) |
Owner | Academy |
College | Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences |
Award Requirements
Admission Requirements
Course pre-requisites | Completion of an AQF level 7 bachelor degree in a relevant health discipline, from this or another university; or Other qualifications recognised by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the Academy as equivalent to the above; or Submission, as an exceptional case, of other evidence of professional and academic attainments, including employment for a minimum of five years in health related activities. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection. In assessing applications the following will be considered: prior academic performance and prior relevant work experience. |
Minimum English language proficiency requirements | Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the English language proficiency requirements of Band 2 – Schedule II of the JCU Admissions Policy. |
Additional selection requirements | Information published by JCU or otherwise made available to students when applying, may specify additional criteria to be considered in ranking applicants in order of merit if the number of applications exceeds a quota or other limit on the places made available for the course. Information provided by applicants during the application process and any other information obtained by JCU in the application process may be used by JCU to rank applicants in order of merit by reference to those additional criteria. |
Academic Requirements for Course Completion
Credit points | 12 credit points |
Course learning outcomes | Graduates of the Graduate Certificate of Public Health will be able to:
|
Inherent Requirements
Inherent Requirements | Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University's learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please visit: Postgraduate Public Health and Tropical Medicine. |
Reasonable adjustments | All JCU students have the opportunity to demonstrate, with reasonable adjustments where applicable, the inherent requirements for their course. For more information please visit: Student Disability Policy and Procedure. |
Course Structure
CORE SUBJECTS
TM5502:03 Tropical Public Health
TM5513:03 Public Health Management, Leadership, Planning and Policy
TM5515:03 Epidemiology for Public Health
TM5525:03 Communicable Disease Control
Location
COURSE AVAILABLE AT | NOTES |
External | Some subjects may require face-to-face on campus attendance |
Candidature
Expected time to complete | 1 year part-time |
Maximum time to complete | 3 years |
Maximum leave of absence | 1 year |
Progression
Course progression requisites | Nil |
Course includes mandatory professional placement(s) | No |
Special assessment requirements | Nil |
Professional accreditation requirements | Nil |
Supplementary exam for final subject | Nil |
Credit
Eligibility | Not applicable |
Maximum allowed | Not applicable |
Currency | Not applicable |
Expiry | Not applicable |
Other restrictions | Not applicable |
Award Details
Award title | GRADUATE CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC HEALTH |
Approved abbreviation | GCertPH |
Inclusion of majors on testamur | Not applicable - this course does not have majors |
Exit with lesser award | Not applicable |
Course articulation | Students who complete this course are eligible for entry to either the Graduate Diploma of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Master of Public Health or Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and may be granted credit for all subjects completed under the graduate certificate. |
Special awards | Students may receive an Award of Recognition in accordance with the Recognition of Academic Excellence Procedure |
Estimated annual tuition fee: $AUD19,640.00
Course fees are charged per year of full-time study. International course fees are reviewed annually and subject to change.
A Student Services and Amenities Fee is payable per subject up to a maximum amount per year.
Student Visa holders must have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of their Student Visa (except Norwegian, Swedish and Belgian citizens). Costs depend on the length of study and the number of dependents accompanying the student. For more information see Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).
Scholarships and financial aid are also available for international students.
JCU offers multiple Pathways to University. If you do not meet the entry requirements for this course, consider exploring our available Pathways options.
Contact our friendly team today to discover which pathway is right for you.
Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma of Public Health applicants must also complete and upload the following forms and documentary evidence with their application:
- Current AHPRA Registration (if applicable)
- Degree Testamur
- Curriculum Vitae
- Personal Statement or Letter of Motivation.
Application dates vary between courses, whether they're delivered in semester, trimester or carousel study modes. View our Application due dates page for more information.
Gather the documents you need to apply and submit an application via JCU's online application portal.
Real stories
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Student
Nathan Dawes
Master of Public Health
JCU’s Public Health courses are facilitated by dedicated, experienced staff who recognise each student as an individual and with a unique set of postgraduate circumstances. A must do for any health care practitioner wishing to further themselves.
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Student
Vanessa Ernst
Graduate Certificate of Public Health
The course content in the Graduate Certificate of Public Health is as fascinating as it is diverse. Guest lecturers provide unique perspectives, and course coordinators do a fantastic job of scaffolding information delivery to support students with online learning.
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Alumni
Robbie Gillies
Master of Public Health Graduate and Young Victorian of the Year
I loved being in a new place and meeting new people from the Master of Public Health. We had amazing professors and specialists teaching us tropical medicine. All the highlights from my time there are framed by the scenery and the experience of living in beautiful Townsville.
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Lecturer
Professor Stephanie Topp
Global Health and Development, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences
In Public Health and Tropical Medicine, we have an unusually broad range of subjects that allows students to tailor their Master degree to meet any one of the many options that public health graduates have. This includes aeromedical retrieval, tropical medicine, communicable disease control and humanitarian work
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Employer
Barbra Kurkowski
Area Manager (Townsville), Northern Queensland Primary Health Network
I hire JCU graduates because they have a local context and knowledge of North Queensland. They have studied a comprehensive public health degree with diverse subjects, but local relevance. It’s very important for us to grow and keep skilled workforce in North Queensland.