Master of Health Science (Occupational & Environmental Hygiene)

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 80 credit points including the units listed in the recommended sequence below.

Full-time (Start year intake)

Autumn session

Public Health, Policy and Society

This unit examines the nature of public health and develops a systemic understanding of various public health policy frameworks and issues. The unit provides the context and history for understanding public health approaches, explores the cultural and social dimensions of health and illness and the economic and political environment in which health policies and strategies are developed and implemented. The unit advocates a view of health that includes an implicit recognition of the physical, social and economic environment, affirms the importance of social justice and equity in health care, and emphasises the importance of inter-sectoral collaboration.

Health Financial Management

This Unit provides health leaders with an introduction to financial management in health and aged care settings as a basis for understanding the impact of leadership decision-making on financial outcomes and how financial decision-making impacts on clinical service delivery. Content includes an overview of health economics and economic evaluation, health care funding models, the principles, practices and tools for financial planning and management, basic accounting principles and financial terminology and using financial information and reporting for negotiating financial plans, tracking and evaluating financial performance and using financial information in decision-making within the clinical environment.

Air, Water and Noise Management

This unit introduces the student to a range of skills required to assess the environment in relation to air, water and noise. Students will be introduced to the legislative framework that supports pollution control and environmental management in NSW. Methods of controlling air, water and noise pollution will be covered. The concept of indicators and their use will be introduced. Students will select either an air, water or noise issue to undertake a more in-depth study for assessment purposes.

Occupational and Environmental Hygiene

The unit will expose students to the various methods used in measuring exposures to chemical pollutants, biological pollutants, ergonomics, noise, heat & cold and lighting in both the workplace and general indoor environment. In addition to assessing the exposures student will explore the various methods available of controlling the different types of exposures. The unit will involve measuring various types of potential hazards and comparing the results to current standards before recommending methods of controlling the hazard/s.

Spring session

Methods of Researching

This unit aims for postgraduate students to apply scientific methods to a variety of research situations and questions; to understand the range of ways in which additions to knowledge in the applied sciences are initiated, validated and communicated and to prepare and trial research designs best suited to the particular type of issue each student wishes to address. The unit is taught through self-paced, self-directed learning. Class contact will be a three-day workshop, in the first and second half of session, respectively. Students will have the opportunity to field test their own research design.

Building Organisational Capacity in Health Care

The concept, form and structure of health care organisations are explored. Organisational theory is used to analyse contemporary health care structures. Factors which influence organisational design, function and effectiveness are discussed including: organisational behaviour, strategy, culture, power and politics, technology, sustainability and effectiveness. A major focus is planning for strategic organisational development to meet the challenges of rapid change and the need for performance improvements in patient care delivery. Concepts related to the strategic development of workforce capacity in the health care arena considered through the application of theories including the learning organisation. Leadership is examined with emphasis on change management.

Students may exit with a Graduate Diploma in Health Science (Occupational & Environmental Hygiene Specialisation) at this point.

Choose one of

Professional Topic

This unit is designed to allow high achieving students who have an interest in potentially undertaking higher degree research after graduation the opportunity to comprehensively explore a relevant topic of interest to them.

Or one elective

Elective

Part-time (Start year intake)

Year 1

Autumn session

Public Health, Policy and Society

This unit examines the nature of public health and develops a systemic understanding of various public health policy frameworks and issues. The unit provides the context and history for understanding public health approaches, explores the cultural and social dimensions of health and illness and the economic and political environment in which health policies and strategies are developed and implemented. The unit advocates a view of health that includes an implicit recognition of the physical, social and economic environment, affirms the importance of social justice and equity in health care, and emphasises the importance of inter-sectoral collaboration.

Health Financial Management

This Unit provides health leaders with an introduction to financial management in health and aged care settings as a basis for understanding the impact of leadership decision-making on financial outcomes and how financial decision-making impacts on clinical service delivery. Content includes an overview of health economics and economic evaluation, health care funding models, the principles, practices and tools for financial planning and management, basic accounting principles and financial terminology and using financial information and reporting for negotiating financial plans, tracking and evaluating financial performance and using financial information in decision-making within the clinical environment.

Spring session

Methods of Researching

This unit aims for postgraduate students to apply scientific methods to a variety of research situations and questions; to understand the range of ways in which additions to knowledge in the applied sciences are initiated, validated and communicated and to prepare and trial research designs best suited to the particular type of issue each student wishes to address. The unit is taught through self-paced, self-directed learning. Class contact will be a three-day workshop, in the first and second half of session, respectively. Students will have the opportunity to field test their own research design.

Air, Water and Noise Management

This unit introduces the student to a range of skills required to assess the environment in relation to air, water and noise. Students will be introduced to the legislative framework that supports pollution control and environmental management in NSW. Methods of controlling air, water and noise pollution will be covered. The concept of indicators and their use will be introduced. Students will select either an air, water or noise issue to undertake a more in-depth study for assessment purposes.

Year 2

Autumn session

Building Organisational Capacity in Health Care

The concept, form and structure of health care organisations are explored. Organisational theory is used to analyse contemporary health care structures. Factors which influence organisational design, function and effectiveness are discussed including: organisational behaviour, strategy, culture, power and politics, technology, sustainability and effectiveness. A major focus is planning for strategic organisational development to meet the challenges of rapid change and the need for performance improvements in patient care delivery. Concepts related to the strategic development of workforce capacity in the health care arena considered through the application of theories including the learning organisation. Leadership is examined with emphasis on change management.

Occupational and Environmental Hygiene

The unit will expose students to the various methods used in measuring exposures to chemical pollutants, biological pollutants, ergonomics, noise, heat & cold and lighting in both the workplace and general indoor environment. In addition to assessing the exposures student will explore the various methods available of controlling the different types of exposures. The unit will involve measuring various types of potential hazards and comparing the results to current standards before recommending methods of controlling the hazard/s.

Students may exit with a Graduate Diploma in Health Science (Occupational & Environmental Hygiene) at this point.

Spring session

Choose one of

Professional Topic

This unit is designed to allow high achieving students who have an interest in potentially undertaking higher degree research after graduation the opportunity to comprehensively explore a relevant topic of interest to them.

Or one elective

Elective

Full-time (Mid-year intake)

Spring session

Methods of Researching

This unit aims for postgraduate students to apply scientific methods to a variety of research situations and questions; to understand the range of ways in which additions to knowledge in the applied sciences are initiated, validated and communicated and to prepare and trial research designs best suited to the particular type of issue each student wishes to address. The unit is taught through self-paced, self-directed learning. Class contact will be a three-day workshop, in the first and second half of session, respectively. Students will have the opportunity to field test their own research design.

Building Organisational Capacity in Health Care

The concept, form and structure of health care organisations are explored. Organisational theory is used to analyse contemporary health care structures. Factors which influence organisational design, function and effectiveness are discussed including: organisational behaviour, strategy, culture, power and politics, technology, sustainability and effectiveness. A major focus is planning for strategic organisational development to meet the challenges of rapid change and the need for performance improvements in patient care delivery. Concepts related to the strategic development of workforce capacity in the health care arena considered through the application of theories including the learning organisation. Leadership is examined with emphasis on change management.

Air, Water and Noise Management

This unit introduces the student to a range of skills required to assess the environment in relation to air, water and noise. Students will be introduced to the legislative framework that supports pollution control and environmental management in NSW. Methods of controlling air, water and noise pollution will be covered. The concept of indicators and their use will be introduced. Students will select either an air, water or noise issue to undertake a more in-depth study for assessment purposes.

Choose one of

Professional Topic

This unit is designed to allow high achieving students who have an interest in potentially undertaking higher degree research after graduation the opportunity to comprehensively explore a relevant topic of interest to them.

Or one elective

Autumn session

Public Health, Policy and Society

This unit examines the nature of public health and develops a systemic understanding of various public health policy frameworks and issues. The unit provides the context and history for understanding public health approaches, explores the cultural and social dimensions of health and illness and the economic and political environment in which health policies and strategies are developed and implemented. The unit advocates a view of health that includes an implicit recognition of the physical, social and economic environment, affirms the importance of social justice and equity in health care, and emphasises the importance of inter-sectoral collaboration.

Occupational and Environmental Hygiene

The unit will expose students to the various methods used in measuring exposures to chemical pollutants, biological pollutants, ergonomics, noise, heat & cold and lighting in both the workplace and general indoor environment. In addition to assessing the exposures student will explore the various methods available of controlling the different types of exposures. The unit will involve measuring various types of potential hazards and comparing the results to current standards before recommending methods of controlling the hazard/s.

Health Financial Management

This Unit provides health leaders with an introduction to financial management in health and aged care settings as a basis for understanding the impact of leadership decision-making on financial outcomes and how financial decision-making impacts on clinical service delivery. Content includes an overview of health economics and economic evaluation, health care funding models, the principles, practices and tools for financial planning and management, basic accounting principles and financial terminology and using financial information and reporting for negotiating financial plans, tracking and evaluating financial performance and using financial information in decision-making within the clinical environment.

And one elective

Part-time (Mid-year intake)

Year 1

Spring session

Methods of Researching

This unit aims for postgraduate students to apply scientific methods to a variety of research situations and questions; to understand the range of ways in which additions to knowledge in the applied sciences are initiated, validated and communicated and to prepare and trial research designs best suited to the particular type of issue each student wishes to address. The unit is taught through self-paced, self-directed learning. Class contact will be a three-day workshop, in the first and second half of session, respectively. Students will have the opportunity to field test their own research design.

Building Organisational Capacity in Health Care

The concept, form and structure of health care organisations are explored. Organisational theory is used to analyse contemporary health care structures. Factors which influence organisational design, function and effectiveness are discussed including: organisational behaviour, strategy, culture, power and politics, technology, sustainability and effectiveness. A major focus is planning for strategic organisational development to meet the challenges of rapid change and the need for performance improvements in patient care delivery. Concepts related to the strategic development of workforce capacity in the health care arena considered through the application of theories including the learning organisation. Leadership is examined with emphasis on change management.

Autumn session

Public Health, Policy and Society

This unit examines the nature of public health and develops a systemic understanding of various public health policy frameworks and issues. The unit provides the context and history for understanding public health approaches, explores the cultural and social dimensions of health and illness and the economic and political environment in which health policies and strategies are developed and implemented. The unit advocates a view of health that includes an implicit recognition of the physical, social and economic environment, affirms the importance of social justice and equity in health care, and emphasises the importance of inter-sectoral collaboration.

Health Financial Management

This Unit provides health leaders with an introduction to financial management in health and aged care settings as a basis for understanding the impact of leadership decision-making on financial outcomes and how financial decision-making impacts on clinical service delivery. Content includes an overview of health economics and economic evaluation, health care funding models, the principles, practices and tools for financial planning and management, basic accounting principles and financial terminology and using financial information and reporting for negotiating financial plans, tracking and evaluating financial performance and using financial information in decision-making within the clinical environment.

Year 2

Spring session

Air, Water and Noise Management

This unit introduces the student to a range of skills required to assess the environment in relation to air, water and noise. Students will be introduced to the legislative framework that supports pollution control and environmental management in NSW. Methods of controlling air, water and noise pollution will be covered. The concept of indicators and their use will be introduced. Students will select either an air, water or noise issue to undertake a more in-depth study for assessment purposes.

And one elective

Autumn session

Occupational and Environmental Hygiene

The unit will expose students to the various methods used in measuring exposures to chemical pollutants, biological pollutants, ergonomics, noise, heat & cold and lighting in both the workplace and general indoor environment. In addition to assessing the exposures student will explore the various methods available of controlling the different types of exposures. The unit will involve measuring various types of potential hazards and comparing the results to current standards before recommending methods of controlling the hazard/s.

Choose one of

Professional Topic

This unit is designed to allow high achieving students who have an interest in potentially undertaking higher degree research after graduation the opportunity to comprehensively explore a relevant topic of interest to them.

Or one elective