About the Department of Public Health
The Department of Public Health is committed to advancing health and wellbeing for all by solving public health challenges.
We are building capacity for sustainable and impactful solutions through excellence in interdisciplinary teaching, research and partnerships.
Our Department is part of the School of Psychology and Public Health.
We offer education programs in Health Sciences, Public Health, Occupational Health and Safety, Health Services Management, Digital Health and Health Information Management.
Our undergraduate, postgraduate and Higher Degree by Research programs are student-centred, inclusive and flexible, and foster lifelong learning.
We also provide students with a range of professional work experiences, producing graduates who are equipped with the skills and experience they need to enter their chosen profession.
We value lifelong learning and the opportunity to support our graduates through ongoing education and training. Our postgraduate research degrees and continuing professional development programs give professionals the opportunity to upskill, reskill, advance into leadership roles or pursue research.
The result: Our graduates have a significant impact on the communities they serve. They improve health outcomes, promote access to high-quality healthcare and undertake research that builds evidence-based practice and informs policy decisions.
Building on our strong industry engagement and research excellence, our programs offer students the opportunity to make a real difference to the health and wellbeing of populations – from promoting good health to improving health services management, and advancing digital health and information management.
Educating the health workforce
Whether you are wanting to become a health project manager, health promotion officer, policy officer, health information manager, digital health professional, environmental health officer or occupational and safety professional, a La Trobe degree is the gateway to a rewarding career.
Our programs in Health Sciences, Public Health, Occupational Health and Safety, Health Services Management, Digital Health and Health Information Management build the full range of public health capabilities to prepare students for professional practice.
We offer the right combination of theory and practice to give students an authentic learning experience and real-world experience in the health sector. Students undertake placements and Work Based Learning in hospitals, government departments, the community sector, not-for-profit and non-governmental organisations. They build professional skills, as well as disciplinary expertise, that sets them up for future career success.
Our programs are accredited by the Australian Occupational Health and Safety Education Accreditation Board (Master of Occupational Health and Safety), the Health Information Management Association of Australia (Bachelor and Master of Health Information Management) and the Australasian College of Health Services Management (Master of Health Administration).
Find out more about our courses.
Impactful research
Our innovative research uses interdisciplinary and intersectoral approaches to address contemporary public health challenges, the structural and socio-environmental-cultural-political factors impacting health and wellbeing, and the health-related needs of underserved people, communities and populations.
We have a strong history of interdisciplinary collaboration, working together with national and international partners to produce high-quality research.
Our long history of excellence in research includes a high level of success in attracting Higher Degree by Research students and competitive grant funding.
Our research explores sustainable improvements to population health in many international settings, with our academics leading international developments in policy, regulation and practice – funded by organisations including World Health Organization – and supporting programs in Asia, the Pacific and Europe.
Our contribution aligns with La Trobe University's research themes: Social change and equity, Healthy people, families and communities and Understanding and preventing disease.
Our research is grouped into six key areas:
Our researchers investigate service use across the life course, service delivery and management, models of care, quality of services, service provision availability and mapping, stakeholder engagement and health service performance.
Our researchers specialise in digital health innovations including data linkage, big data, virtual care and digital applications to support the provision of healthcare provided by health professionals and healthcare services. Research also focuses on digital solution design and implementation, and health information including clinical classification, data quality, data analysis and information governance.
Our researchers investigate the impact of commercial determinants of health, trade agreements, public health policies, politics of public health policies, public health law, regulation and ethics, health systems studies and policy evaluation, policy effects (such as taxation and pricing policies), licencing and outlet density control, and systems thinking for population health and wellbeing outcomes.
Our researchers investigate graduate employability and outcomes, competency for practice and strengthening Work Integrated and Work Based Learning, enhancing student experiences and satisfaction, and design and evaluation of innovations in Teaching and Learning.
Our researchers explore environmental impacts on health (for example, climate change and allergens) and environments for health (for example, sport, recreation and leisure environments, green space and the built environment). They also examine work as a determinant of health, work demands, ergonomics, work design, risk mitigation, the impact of the workplace environment on physical and mental health and wellbeing, occupation/work and people with a disability and ageing.
Our researchers use an intersectionality lens to identify and address the determinants of health for improved population health. Areas of interest include in/equity, in/equality, social justice, human rights, social in/exclusion and the role of power.
Department Centres
The Department of Public Health is home to three centres:
Established in 1987, the Centre for Ergonomics and Human Factors is an international leader in the translation of research evidence into more effective workplace risk management practices to protect and promote workers’ health. The Centre has led international initiatives on behalf of both the International Ergonomics Association and the World Health Organization.
Find out more about the Centre.
The Centre for Health Communication and Participation aims to improve health communication with and participation by consumers through evidence-informed policy and decision-making. The Centre is also home to Cochrane Consumers and Communication which evaluates the evidence on how people interact with and experience healthcare.
Find out more about the Centre.
Established in 1999, the Public Health Palliative Care Unit aims to improve experiences and outcomes at the end-of-life through teaching, research and evidence-informed practice. We partner with industry to produce practice frameworks that increase societal participation in serious illness, dying, death and bereavement, across diverse settings and populations.
Find out more about the Unit.
Research Centres
Additionally, our staff make significant contributions to several of La Trobe University’s research centres and institutes.
The Australian Centre for Evidenced Based Aged Care specialises in person-centred, evidence-based care of older people. Centre staff are involved in research, education and professional practice. Research involves collaboration with a mix of disciplines and consumers.
Find out more about the Centre.
Through research, consultancy and educational activities, the Australian Institute for Primary Care and Ageing promotes quality improvement and consumer driven, evidence-based practice in all areas of primary health, community health and aged care. The Centre's goal is to make a significant, positive and enduring impact on the way health, community and aged care is delivered and accessed.
Find out more about the Institute.
The Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society conducts world-class research and education on the social dimensions of sexuality, gender, health and human relationships. The Centre works collaboratively with other researchers, communities, community-based organisations, government and professionals to advance knowledge and promote positive change in policy, practice and people’s lives.
Find out more about the Centre.
The Care Economy Research Institute was established in 2023, in recognition of the crisis facing our care sectors and our conviction that, together, researchers and industry partners can make a positive difference. The Institute’s goal is to break down silos in the health and social care sectors and create a platform to co-design and implement the next generation of services across all care economy domains.
Find out more about the Institute.
The Centre for Alcohol Policy Research is at the forefront of alcohol research. The Centre’s discoveries are used to promote and inform the development of evidence-based, effective alcohol policy in Australia and internationally.
Find out more about the Centre.
The Judith Lumley Centre conducts interdisciplinary, applied research to improve the health and wellbeing of women, children and families. The Centre leads research in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family health; breastfeeding; child, family and community health; mother and infant health and maternity services; reproductive health and planned parenthood; preventing and reducing violence against women and children; transition to contemporary parenthood, preparation and support; and work and family.
Find out more about the Centre.