In a world reeling from the impacts of COVID-19 and climate change, the connections between human, animal and environmental health are now painfully obvious.
Some 60% of the emerging infectious diseases reported globally come from animals, and human activities across stressed ecosystems are enabling more diseases to emerge and rapidly spread (World Health Organisation).
The mounting threats have prompted a drastic rethink of public health - and inspired the multidisciplinary approach known as One Health. It investigates the connections between human, animal and environmental health to identify the root causes of complex infectious diseases and develop strategies to prevent them.
And UNE is at the forefront of this revolutionary thinking, offering Australia's first Master of Public Health (One Health) program from Trimester 1, 2024.
"Health care is the largest and fastest growing jobs category in Australia and we are excited to be furthering public health careers domestically and internationally through this new program," said Dr Shahid Islam, Discipline Lead and Course Coordinator, from UNE's Faculty of Medicine and Health. "UNE graduates will become key contributors to new surveillance and disease control methods that drastically improve health outcomes the world over."
Why study the Master of Public Health (One Health)?
Internationally, disease is putting our personal wellbeing and the health systems we rely on under unprecedented pressure. More than 30 new human pathogens have been detected in the past 30 years, 75% of them originating in animals. Add to that climate change, habitat fragmentation due to agriculture and urbanisation, the illegal animal trade and extractive industries, and it creates a deadly cocktail - for people and the places where they live.
Since 2003, disease and pandemics have tragically cost the world 15 million lives and US$4 trillion economically, without accounting for the impacts on food and water security. In contrast, the World Bank has conservatively valued the benefits of One Health globally at US$37 billion annually.
One Health has exploded onto the health scene as decision-makers pivot to promoting sustainable practices that nurture human health while also fostering healthy environments. It is a framework that has been demonstrated to strengthen health policies, save lives and reduce the risk of future pandemics and epidemics, so One Health expertise is now in high demand.
Why choose UNE?
Our Master of Public Health (One Health) program allows you to study fully online either full- or part-time with an industry leader in lifelong learning. You can specialise in Environmental, Organisational or Global health as you complete a real-world action research project, all with 24/7 tutor support.
UNE's postgraduate course equips you to commence work in this burgeoning realm of public health. If you choose not to complete the full Master's course, you can still exit with a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in Public Health (One Health).
What will UNE's Master of Public Health (One Health) deliver?
The course provides an overview of socio-cultural, biological and environmental issues relating to public health. It explores how we prevent, predict, detect and respond to global health threats like COVID-19, and includes epidemiology, biology, bio-statistics, health promotion, education, leadership and health policy subjects.
"Graduates of our One Health program will learn how to understand, identify and contain diseases, and prevent future outbreaks," said Dr Islam. "The advantage of UNE's Master of Public Health (One Health) is that it provides opportunities for our students to integrate theory and practice from multiple disciplines and sectors to create long-term solutions."
The UNE program is likely to appeal to people with a background in public health, business, management, law, education, veterinary sciences, social and environmental sciences, animal or biological sciences. It is ideally suited to those seeking a career in public health, health promotion, epidemiology and health leadership in the public, private or non-government sectors.
"From international, national and state health bodies right down to local health districts, this is a vitally important program for our times," Dr Islam said.
Apply now to commence your Master of Public Health (One Health) at UNE on 26 February, 2024.
