Master of Public Health in Sexual Health

The University of Melbourne

The program will appeal to those who want to move into the field of public health, as well as those who already work within a public health or health related field and are preparing for advancement in their organisation or field, or seeking to broaden their knowledge and skill set. Within the course students are exposed to the core foundations of public health theory and practice and also have the opportunity to specialise in the advanced public health training specialisations offered through the University of Melbourne. The Master of Public Health programs at the University of Melbourne are delivered by academic staff with extensive experience and depth of knowledge, who are leaders in their chosen fields of public health.Students taking subjects from this specialisation will be immersed in ‘content and thinking’ relevant to the current practice and theory of sexual and reproductive health from a public health perspective. This includes current thinking around adolescent sexuality and wellbeing, recent and emerging threats to STI control, as well as current research and practice in all aspects of sexual and reproductive health. Australia is used as a case example and comparisons are made with other similar countries as well as with dissimilar environments and communities worldwide. International experts from Australia and overseas with contrasting expertise in the field contribute to the teaching adding a broad and diverse approach to understanding the varied influences on sexual health. Global issues, such as HIV control and prevention, reproductive health rights (including abortion and unmet need for contraception), social determinants, cultural differences, rising STI rates and increasing antibiotic resistance are addressed. Clinicians, social scientists, researchers, epidemiologists and health promotion experts all contribute to a broad-based public health approach to sexual health. Possible roles in the field include government roles in notification and disease control, health promotion, sexuality educators, clinical roles in sexual health in hospitals and community settings and research roles in social science and epidemiological aspects of sexual health. Organisations that employ people in the sexual health field include Health promotion organisations, community health, public hospitals, state government infectious diseases departments, surveillance and notification departments and public health departments of universities.

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