Combined Master of Health Administration/Master of Public Health Recommended Website:

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1 LA TROBE UNIVERSITY Combined Master of Health Administration/Master of Public Health Recommended Website: This double master degree is delivered by the Department of Public Health. The course is designed for professionals currently working in health program delivery and service provision settings of policy roles and who are seeking to expand their career pathways into senior management roles in public or private sector organisations. Students will acquire knowledge, skills and perspectives in public health practice, health services management and leadership. They will undertake a combination of core and elective subjects from the Master of Public Health (MPH) and Master of Health Administration (MHA) programs. Part-time study is available for domestic students. Formal recognition of prior learning is possible upon demonstration of required competencies in relevant areas. Core units Epidemiology and Demography PHE5EPI In this subject, students are provided with basic quantitative and qualitative skills necessary for the practice of general public health and to enable students to critically evaluate the published epidemiological literature. The subject provides students with an introduction to descriptive and analytical epidemiology, epidemiologic methods and theory (such as case-control studies, cohort studies, clinical trials), problems (including risk and causation, bias, confounding) and social epidemiology. At the completion of this subject, students should be able to: (a) explain the methods and applications of descriptive and analytical epidemiology;(b) explain uses of different epidemiological study designs; (c) solve problems relating to the use of the principal epidemiological concepts; (d) critically appraise epidemiological papers; and (e) explain the uses of epidemiology in the practice of public health. Introduction to Biostatistics PHE5IST In this subject, students are introduced to basic statistical concepts and methods as they are applied in the field of health. At the completion of the subject, students should be able to: distinguish basic data types (binary, categorical, continuous) and summarise them Elective Units Australia s International Health Relations PHE5AHR Health Economics and Finance PHE5HEF Introduction to Health Policy PHE5IHP Policy, Planning and Practice GER5PPA Health Law & Ethics PHE5LAE Comparative and Historical Study of Health Systems PHE5CHS Public Health Promotion PHE5PHP Health Management Strategy and Operations PHE5HSO Applied Quality and Safety in Health and Community Services PHE4CQM Health Policy Analysis PHE5HPA Contemporary Debates in Public Health PHE5CTD or other electives approved by the

2 appropriately using tables and graphs; understand the concept of sampling variability and describe how simple statistical analyses of data from a sample can be used to draw inferences about population parameters; calculate standard errors and confidence intervals for estimated means and proportions; obtain p-values from tables and understand their role as measure of evidence; distinguish between clinical relevance and statistical significance; and appreciate the importance of statistical power and perform a sample size calculation. Course Coordinator PHE5HRM Human Resource Management in Health Services In this subject, students are introduced to human resources management (HRM) in the health sector. In particular, it situates the function of human resource management inside a broader perspective of management theory and practice. The responsibilities of HRM are identified and discussed, including recruitment and selection, equal opportunity in employment, training and development, performance appraisal, and occupational health and safety. Specific skills pertaining to the management of people are examined. The subject also includes an introduction to industrial relations in Australia and the changing nature of industrial relations in the health industry. PHE5HOR Healthy Organisations In this subject students will evaluate, observe and recognise factors with an impact on the health of staff, volunteers and patients/clients within organisations in the health sector. Organisational issues such as culture, teamwork, conflict and individual and organisational change will be examined. Students are introduced to various theories of management linked with public health and health promotion concepts related to healthy organisations. Throughout the subject students will develop management skills and promote healthy workplaces. Social and Cultural Perspectives in Public Health PHE5SCP In this subject, students explore the multidisciplinary partnerships between public health and the social science disciplines including sociology and anthropology with particular

3 attention to the ways in which cultural beliefs and practices shape population risks for both infectious and non-infectious diseases and how social factors such as social status, ethnicity and gender impact on health inequalities. Thus this subject will provide students with a solid grounding in understanding the different ways in which the social sciences contribute to public health theory and practice. PHE5HSR Health Service Resource Management In this subject students are introduced to financial management in health services, in particular, systems of finance and budgeting. Topics covered include accounting principles, the analysis and interpretation of financial data and quantitative performance data for management control, and basic techniques of quantitative decision making and operations research for dealing with health service resource utilisation decisions. Students are also introduced to costing and casemix funding. Environmental Influences on Health PHE5ENV In this subject, students learn about the ways in which we assess, manage and communicate risks to human health from a broad range of environmental hazards in natural, urban, workplace and other environments. The subject is underpinned by an overall concern for promoting sustainable development. In the first part of the subject, students learn about essential environmental health concepts and tools. This is then followed by an exploration of how these concepts and tools are applied to managing environmental threats in media such air, water, food, soil and from climate change. Students also gain insight into the special concerns of vulnerable groups, such as indigenous communities, as they relate to changing environmental conditions. Field visits will be an integral part of the subject. Public Health Policy PHE5POL In this subject, students are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to participate competently in the development, implementation and analysis of health policy at a level appropriate to a generalist public health

4 practitioner. Students will: analyse the impact of the major state, national and international institutions, and arrangements on health policy making; locate the factors in the contemporary public policy environment and political landscape which influence health policy making; demonstrate familiarity with the arguments and the politics associated with major contemporary health policy issues; demonstrate competence in policy analysis, policy development and policy advocacy skills needed to achieve public health objectives. This subject is taught as part of the Victorian Consortium of Public Health. Wellbeing and Prevention in Health PHE5WPH In this subject students will focus on five themes: (i) health promotion and prevention in the context of a complex health system; (ii) evidence-based interventions with a focus on tobacco, nutrition and physical activity and alcohol, mental health and violence, and interventions with at risk population groups such as indigenous peoples and low income groups; (iii) health inequalities, community settings, enhancing community wellbeing, including disaster recovery and problem gambling; (iv) risk populations; (v) approaches to applying evidence in context. Students completing this subject will be familiar with the national prevention agenda in Australia. PHE5HEF Health Economics and Finance In this subject students will be given the opportunity to gain a fundamental understanding of economic principles and their application in health and health care. Basic concepts in economic analysis and the allocation of resources in health care are introduced. The application of economic analysis to health policy issues are explored, e.g. technology assessment, the pharmaceutical industry, health care planning and developments in health finance. This subject should enable students to: provide an economic perspective to key issues in health and health care; critically appraise health economic evaluation studies; and analyse the financial implications of proposals for new programs or delivery arrangements at the local level.

5 Evidence Based Public Health PHE5EBP In this subject, students in Public Health and Health Promotion learn to use available evidence on the benefits and problems of interventions in policy and practice. In particular, the subject will equip practitioners in public health to contribute to, and benefit from, world-wide initiatives to produce, disseminate and utilise systematic reviews of effectiveness of public health and health promotion interventions. Participants will learn about evidence-based approaches to public health, and develop their skills in analysing and using systematic reviews. Health Law and Ethics PHE5LAE In this subject students are introduced to legal principles, ethical principles and professional codes of practice governing health practices. Building on this introductory framework the subject also examines other aspects of health practice where the law has a role to play. Topics include: the regulation of health professionals, accidents and injuries relevant to healthcare, coronial law, health system failures, liability and managerial issues. Informed analysis of law is promoted by examining the case law, statutes and policy developments. Students are equipped with a general understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks governing the health work force. This subject is designed for practitioners in the health work force. Program Development and Evaluation PHE5PDE This subject is intended for professionals who have responsibility for planning, monitoring and evaluation of program and service in public health, health care and human services sectors. Students will develop their understanding of and gain experience in applying jajor frameworks, models and approaches for planning and evaluatin health programs in different contexts. Students will learn how to undertake needs assessments and interpret the influence of contextual factors on program design and implementation. Ways to anticipate and deal with technical, resource and other issues and problems that may arise during planning, implementation and evalution will be addressed. Students will gain skills in using project management methodology and

6 program logic models. Real-world case studies will be used extensively. Practice method 2 electives Action Learning Study PHE5ALS In this subject, students gain practical experience, applying analytical and problemsolving strategies to real health care and public health problems using an action learning framework. This subject is the capstone subject for MHA/MPH students enabling them to complete an action research project in public health, health promotion and health services management directed to improving health by integrating skills and knowledge gained in the postgraduate programs of the School of Public Health and deepening skills in reflection, project management, planning and evaluation. The concept of reflective practice is applied and students have the opportunity to examine their styles and practice, consider their development needs and how they might ensure ongoing learning throughout their careers. In the process, the students are supported to produce a conference poster and to publish an article from the work undertaken. Research method Advanced Research Skills PHE5ARS Qualitative Methods in Health Research PHE5QMH or Quantitative Research Methods in Health PHE5QRM Minor Thesis PHE5THA Minor Thesis PHE5THB Minor Thesis PHE5THC In this subject, students enrol in a research project plus thesis is equivalent to 60 credit points for the MGero (15,000 words) and 45 credit points for the MPH and double degrees (12,500 words). Enrolment is through PHE5THA, PHE5THB, PHE5THC, PHE5THD (each 15 credit points). Students must have enrolled in at least three or four Minor Thesis subjects (depending on their course) as a precondition for thesis submission. Students must be enrolled while they are working on

7 their research and thesis and must be enrolled at the time of submission. A research supervisor will be negotiated for all students. Thesis students are supported by five thesis workshops, held at approx six-week intervals. The Minor Thesis is supported by a supervisor (to be appointed in consultation with La Trobe Uni staff as appropriate) and by attendance at the Minor Thesis Workshops. Core RACMA Requirements Health Law - Health Law and Ethics PHE5LAE (Core) Health Economics - Health Economics and Finance PHE5HEF (Core) Health Care Systems -The Australian Health System PHE5AHS (Core) Financial Management in Health Health Service Resource Management PHE5HSR (Core) PHE5HEF Health Economics and Finance Epidemiology and Statistics - Epidemiology and Demography PHE5EPI (Core) Introduction to Biostatistics PHE5IST (Core) Research Methodology Practical Method -Action Learning Study PHE5ALP (Core) Research Method - Qualitative Methods in Health Research PHE5QMH or Quantitative Research Methods in Health PHE5QRM Leadership Health Management Strategy and Operations PHE5HSO Research Project Practical Method - Action Learning Study PHE5ALP (Core) Research Method Minor Thesis Contact details Professor Sandra Leggat Ph: (03) s.leggat@latrobe.edu.au