Health Policy

Maryanne
Master of Health Policy 2011

“At the commencement of the course, I was working as an Occupational Therapist in NSW and received a rural allied health scholarship through NSW Health for the initial component of my study. I studied part-time as a distance student however, the majority of the Health Policy Program was delivered in intensive workshop mode over a Friday and Saturday which allowed for face to face attendance.

I’ve recently taken up a position as a Senior Policy Officer with the Older People’s Mental Health Policy Unit, Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Office, NSW Department of Health. The responsibilities associated with this position include the provision of high-level strategic policy advice on older people’s mental health issues and developing, promulgating and reviewing policies and clinical service delivery approaches relevant to older people with mental health problems. The role also involves developing, implementing, monitoring, reporting and evaluation of key initiatives and management of various projects.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Master of Health Policy Program as content was current, relevant and provided a high-level overview of the fundamentals in health policy. Of particular benefit was the coverage of the interaction between politics and public policy, economics and global health influences on Australian healthcare.
The teaching staff were fantastic and inspirational – a variety of academic staff, former politicians or government advisors, public health advocates and policy makers.

The intensive delivery format allowed me to complete the course whilst working full-time and living in a rural area.

The course has benefited me in many ways and will continue to do so throughout my career. At a fundamental level, the course provided me with a sound understanding of the Australian health care system and the role of health policy. Throughout the course, I developed skills in health policy development, analysis, integration of evidence into policy and the role of budgets, economics and legislation in healthcare. These are skills I use constantly in my work.

My capacity for critical and strategic thinking was heightened throughout the course, and these skills are not only transferrable but beneficial to my current and future work.”

Linda
Graduate Certificate in Health Policy

“Although I have extensive commercial experience as a director of a global pharmaceutical company, I wanted to better understand how our health system works, and how my industry could help improve and support public health initiatives.

I particularly valued the aspects of the course that focused on how governments, the private sector and the community interact. I regularly picked up ‘jewels of insight’ during our discussions and lectures.

Since completing the program I have been invited to join the National Medicines Policy Committee where I frequently draw upon the information and lessons from my course.”