COURSE CURRICULUM

In the first semester, students develop essential skills in locating, critically appraising, and applying research evidence to support decision making at the level of individuals, communities, and populations. The curriculum provides a comprehensive understanding of Australia’s health system, enabling students to evaluate and benchmark health systems and practices and to consider strategies that promote equity and fairness in healthcare delivery. Students also explore organisational behaviour, learning how to understand, predict, and influence behaviour within organisations through theoretical perspectives, empirical research, and shared practical experiences. This foundation supports effective collaboration, leadership, and evidence-informed practice in complex health settings.The second semester builds on this knowledge by focusing on the practical translation of research into real-world healthcare practice. Students learn to identify appropriate theories of change and understand the science of implementation, which helps accelerate the uptake of evidence into practice. Core skills are developed in identifying gaps between knowledge and practice, assessing barriers and enablers to change, and applying behaviour change frameworks to support sustainable improvements. Students also learn to synthesise their work into a logic model, strengthening their ability to plan, implement, and evaluate health initiatives. In addition, the semester emphasises workforce development, with a focus on educating and supporting the health workforce using sound learning theories and practices, while deepening understanding of leadership roles and the challenges faced in health management.Across both semesters, students have the opportunity to select one elective subject per semester to further broaden or specialise their knowledge. Elective options span diverse areas such as research methods, systematic reviews, health data analytics, entrepreneurship and innovation, project innovation, and planetary health, allowing students to tailor their studies to their professional interests and career goals.