UQ Ipswich will play a central role in the launch of a new health degree by The University of Queensland next year.
The Bachelor of Health Sciences will be offered from the Ipswich campus and a partnership with the local health sector will be a unique aspect of the program.
UQ Faculty of Health Sciences Director of Studies, Professor Helen Chenery said the program was a generic health degree that was designed in response to industry demand and would provide graduates with entry into a range of fields.
“The Bachelor of Health Sciences was designed to meet industry demand for skilled graduates with a foundation in basic health sciences, such as human biology and human behaviour, and with a capacity to understand, research and address significant health patterns in the population. In response to the rapidly ageing population, the prevalence of more chronic and complex health conditions, and an increased rate of technological change, the health environment is increasingly focused on improving health and well being, and this degree aims to provide graduates to meet this need”.
“The program will provide graduates with access to a range of health careers in the public and private sector. Graduates will be employed in positions such as community health officers, health promotion officers and educators, policy makers and research assistants. The degree could also act as a launch pad for postgraduate study in traditional health disciplines like occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech pathology, audiology and medicine” Prof Chenery said.
The courses offered reflect broad input from multiple Schools across the Faculty of Health Sciences and the University. Other contributing Faculties include Social and Behavioural Sciences, Biological and Chemical Sciences, and Business, Economics and Law.
Professor Chenery said students would undertake a number of health industry placements to provide students with experience working in a health environment. Senior students in the program will gain hands-on experience in the design and evaluation of health promotion activities in both government agencies and non-government organisations. They will also learn by contributing to evaluation of the performance of specific health services, such as checking the proportion of patients with diabetes who undergo regular checks of their eyes, and of broader health programs, such as food safety and water quality.
More information on this new program will be available at the Ipswich Campus Open Day this Sunday from 10am to 2pm. For online information, visit www.uq.edu.au/opendays .
For more information please contact Faculty Communications Officer Marlene McKendry at telephone (07) 33464713 OR 0401 996847.
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