Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion

2024 Deakin University Handbook

Year	2024 course information
Award granted	Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion
Deakin course code	H313
Faculty	Faculty of Health
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong)
Online	Yes
Duration	3 years full-time or part-time equivalent
Course Map - enrolment planning tool	This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2024. This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2024. Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
CRICOS course code	012753D Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong)
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Make a difference to people's lives on a broad scale with Deakin's Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion. Graduates can register with the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE), with Deakin being the only Victorian university to hold this accreditation. This course gives you the expertise needed to address the causes of poor health and to improve wellbeing, by combining approaches involving community engagement, policy development, research, education and the media.

Gain extensive practical experience throughout your course, including at least 200 work-integrated learning (WIL) hours of which 120 hours are work experience in a health-related agency in your final year. You will be able to start building professional networks while putting your knowledge and skills to use in a practical setting under the supervision of qualified practitioners. By combining a strong theoretical base with hands-on learning in the field, you will graduate confident and career ready.

Are you interested in understanding key public health issues to improve the lives of others and contribute to a healthier community?

This course trains you to examine and act on the factors that cause poor health, as well as understanding those that create and sustain good health. You will work towards creating a healthier population by increasing health education, encouraging healthy practices and influencing policy.

Build your expertise in health promotion and gain important skills in industry-recognised competencies, including:

planning and evaluation
health communication strategies
epidemiology
health research.

Work-integrated learning is a core component of this course and provides you with the chance to gain real-world experience to further develop your expertise, while building your resume so that you can launch a successful career in the booming health sector.

With a variety of public health issues affecting healthcare systems globally, job growth in the sector is increasing. There are many different pathways and career opportunities in government and the private sector across Australia and internationally. You will be qualified to work in areas such as:

community development
health education
health promotion
health research
policy and planning
program development
social planning
women’s health.

At Deakin, you will be encouraged to mould your career around your interests and passions in health. Throughout your degree, your teachers and mentors will frequently discuss different case studies to help spark ideas for your unique career pathway. You may also have the opportunity to join an overseas study tour (subject to travel restrictions) where you will use your acquired skills to promote health on a global scale.

Are you a current Year 12 student? If you are interested in studying Deakin’s Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion at our Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus, you may be able to secure your place through the Deakin Regional Access Scheme. This scheme offers an alternate pathway to undergraduate study at Deakin by looking at your skills, experience and achievements.

Indicative student workload

As a student in the Faculty of Health you can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, practicals and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.

Professional recognition

Deakin’s Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion is fully accredited by the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE). This accreditation enables our health promotion graduates to register with the IUHPE as a registered Health Promotion Practitioner, securing you global recognition as well as Australian recognition. Deakin is the first and only Victorian university to hold this accreditation.

Graduates may also be eligible to become members of the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) and obtain professional accreditation as a Health Promotion Practitioner with the Australian Health Promotion Association (AHPA).

Career opportunities

Job growth in the health sector continues to increase as public health issues - such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes, food access, sedentary lifestyles and ageing populations - affect healthcare systems globally.

These are just some examples, and with many other public health issues becoming more prevalent, you can mould your career around those that match your interests and passions in the health field. Throughout your degree, we frequently discuss different case studies to help spark ideas for your unique career pathway.

Career opportunities in government and private sector roles across Australia and internationally include:

community development coordinator
health policy developer
health promotion officer
health researcher
program development coordinator
program evaluator
social planning officer
women’s health officer.

You may find employment in a range of health areas including:

tackling chronic illness (such as asthma, arthritis and heart disease), plus developing and implementing prevention strategies
healthy eating
mental health
physical activity and environmental health
social inclusion
women’s health.

Participation requirements

The course contains core public health-health promotion unit HSH303 Public Health and Health Promotion Practicum that aims to provide students with an in-depth, working understanding of public health-health promotion principles and approaches in the field. Students are required to undertake a minimum of 120 hours of work experience in a health-related agency. In addition to developing a practical understanding of public health-health promotion, this experience will help students further develop the professional and personal skills required to work in a public health-health promotion role. The practicum component follows one seminar session covering: the expectations of the unit, and overview of project management; and an introduction to workplace organisation and context.

Mandatory student checks

Working with Children Check

Applicants will be required to hold a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) for the relevant state prior to undertaking placements as part of this course. Further information and guidance will be provided to students when they enrol into their placement unit. Learn more about the Working with Children Check.

Police record check

Applicants will be required to hold a valid National Police Record Check for placements as part of this course. Further information and guidance will be provided to students when they enrol into their placement unit.

Pathways

You may wish to continue onto Deakin’s Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion (Honours) our one-year honours degree. This may provide you with a competitive edge in the job market or a pathway to a higher degree. You could also go on to develop your knowledge and career by studying Deakin's Master of Public Health, Master of Health Promotion, Master of Health Economics or Master of Health and Human Services Management.

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.

Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.

Use the Fee estimator to see course and unit fees applicable to your course and type of place. For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.

Course Learning Outcomes

Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities	Apply evidence-based research and a determinants-based knowledge of public health and health promotion to advocate for social change, promote good health and wellbeing, prevent poor health and reduce inequalities for individuals and populations alike.
Communication	Communicate effectively in oral and written forms with a range of stakeholders and promote positive, desired change.
Digital literacy	Use information technology to effectively communicate, locate information and analyse data.
Critical thinking	Apply critical thinking and reflection to issues of contemporary health, related to policy and planning in public health and health promotion practice within an evidence-based framework.
Problem solving	Apply an evidence-based learning framework to create solutions to diverse and complex health problems.
Self-management	Monitor and reflect on one’s own professional practice.
Teamwork	Develop knowledge and implement strategies in collaboration with others to build and enhance relevant partnerships and actions as a public health and health promotion practitioner.
Global citizenship	Support public health and health promotion practice within diverse social, cultural and environmental contexts and communities.

Course rules

To complete the Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion students must attain 24 credit points. Most units (think of units as 'subjects') are equal to one credit point. In order to gain 24 credit points you will need to study 24 units (AKA 'subjects') over your entire degree. Most students choose to study 4 units per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters each year.

The course comprises a total of 24 credit points which must include the following:

17 core units in public health and health promotion (these are compulsory)
7 elective units chosen from any Faculty in the University
No more than 10 credit points may be taken at level 1.
At least 14 credit points of study must be at level 2 or higher
at least 6 credit points must be at level 3

Any majors completed will be recognised on a student's final academic transcript.

All commencing Faculty of Health Undergraduate and Postgraduate course work students are required to complete DAI001 Academic Integrity Module (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first trimester of study.

Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.

Major sequences

Students undertaking a Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion are able to undertake a major sequence of study to suit their interests and diversify their employment opportunities. However, as the course provides training in specialist public health and health promotion skills, it is not necessary to undertake a major sequence of study.

Course structure

Core units

Level 1 - Trimester 1

DAI001

Academic Integrity Module (0 credit points)

HBS107

Understanding Health

HSH102

Disease Prevention and Control

HSH112

Local and Global Environments for Health

plus one elective unit

Level 1 - Trimester 2

HBS108

Health Information and Data

HSH103

Health Protection

HSH113

Social Perspectives on Population Health

plus one elective unit

Level 2 - Trimester 1

HSH205

Epidemiology and Biostatistics 1

HSH208

Health Communication

HSH220

Health Promotion in Action

plus one elective unit

Level 2 - Trimester 2

HSH212

Professional Practice

HSH216

Epidemiology and Biostatistics 2

HSH219

Population Health: A Research Perspective

plus one elective unit

Level 3 - Trimester 1

HSH302

Politics, Policy and Health

HSH318

Implementation and Evaluation

HSH323

Program Planning, Management and Evaluation

plus one elective unit (Level 2/3)

Level 3 - Trimester 2

HSH313

Contemporary Health Issues

HSH303

Health Practicum

plus two elective units (one at Level 3)

Electives

Health Promotion recommended elective units

HSH105

Understanding Families and Health

HSH206

Human Development and Healthy Families

HSH207

Socio-Economic Status and Health

HSH306

People, Health and Place

Other recommended elective units

HSH202

Creating Sustainable Futures

HSH340

Health in Action: Planning for Sustainable Change

IND101

Introduction to Aboriginal Studies

IND204

Australian Aboriginal Holistic Health and Healing

Work experience

Work Integrated Learning is a core feature of this course and is embedded within all units. It includes assignments that replicate work in the field. Students will undertake two core WIL units, which will provide 200 WIL hours, of which 120 hours are placement and practical workplace experience. These experiences provide you with an opportunity to transfer your knowledge and skills to a practical setting, where you can further your learning through realistic field experience. These enable you to consolidate your skills under the supervision of qualified practitioners, which assists you to be work-ready after graduation.

Other course information

Course duration

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.

Further information

Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.

Contact Student Central

Third party arrangements

Placement agreements are compliant with the Student Placement Procedure

Nature of third-party arrangements

Placement partners establish and operate facilities with the capacity to educate Deakin students relevant to the partner’s core business (which is health and course related), supervising the development of industry skill sets and training for each individual over 120 hours.

Quality assurance arrangements

External benchmarking with Curtin University has been completed.

Other learning experiences

Students are invited to participate in study tours – previous examples have included Cambodia and India.