"I chose to study with Menzies as they have a great research history and I have read and referred to many of the staff research publishing’s over the years."
Why did you choose to study public health?
Public health offers a broad range of health and community focused areas which I could see being beneficial for different career opportunities. In my current position I was allocated a public health unit to teach so this also offered the chance to become more informed with my teaching.
Why did you choose to study through Menzies?
Menzies has a great research history and I have read and referred to many of the staff research publishing’s over the years. After looking around at different public health courses I chose Menzies for a few reasons: its research esteem, there was a focus with Indigenous health challenges (an interest area of mine), based in Darwin it was local so allowed me to attend classes if/when scheduled, they had a sound set of relevant core units to complete and a very interesting/varied selection of elective units to choose from. There was a flexibility to exit at the Graduate Diploma level and come back to complete my Masters with credit granted- having young children this flexibility was really important in allowing me to successfully enroll and complete units at my own pace.
What qualification did you graduate from Menzies with?
I completed a Graduate Diploma in Public Health and then came back to complete my Masters in Public Health
Have your studies with Menzies led to further study, and if so what course are you enrolled in or have you completed?
I have actually become a little addicted to self-education since completing my MPH. I have been completing some MOOCs, the latest one focused on e-learning in health and am currently completing my Graduate Certificate in University Teaching & Learning with CDU. I aim to complete a PhD in the future.
What were the highlights of your studies with Menzies?
I really enjoyed the short courses offered that you could complete and have credit transferred towards your MPH, the sexual and reproductive health course and community development and public health course for example offered some excellent guest presenters who had amazing knowledge and expertise to share. All the units were relevant with current information and trends in public health, both locally and globally. It was obvious the unit coordinators were focused and informed on changes in their unit topic areas and incorporated these for student learning.
Has your public health qualification opened up career opportunities?
Yes- I previously coordinated a unit in the Bachelor of Health Science- stepping sideways from nursing (a nice change).
I also developed the public health unit in the Bachelor of Nursing and it is now scoring as one of the best units rated by student survey.
I was also part of the Public Health Study Tour Advisory Panel with ACICIS to look at offering scholarship/overseas tours in public health to Indonesia.
What is your role/position now?
I am currently a researcher in the new CDU Menzies School of Medicine.