Inherent requirements for Master of Public Health and Master of Health Science

Students need to understand and act in ways consistent with the recognised values of society and in line with public health and health science standards.

Student demonstrates:

• Safe and bioethical behaviour towards colleagues, clients and consumers, research participants, the wider community and the environment;
• Understanding of ethical principles and their application to the conduct of research, public health and health management practice.

Justification of inherent requirement:

• Compliance with the recognised values of society facilitates safe, competent interactions and relationships for students and/or the people with whom they engage. This supports the physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of all.
• Compliance with privacy legislation, and related policies and procedures, ensures that the privacy rights of individuals and groups are not placed at risk.

Exemplar:

Complying with information security procedures such as NSW Cyber Security Policy , Privacy Act 1988 and other relevant legislative instruments when handling potentially identifiable information to ensure that data are stored and transmitted securely while preserving the confidentiality and integrity of such data.

Professional behaviour can be demonstrated through the following attributes:

Honesty, Respect, Trust, Integrity, Courtesy, Sensitivity Empathy, Open-mindedness and Confidentiality

Student is responsible and accountable for demonstrating professional behavioural as it relates to their academic , research  and interpersonal relationships at the university

Justification of inherent requirement:

• Behavioural stability is required when working individually and in groups in the academic / research environment.
• Students will be required to maintain professional behaviour to enable them to manage their academic/ research responsibilities.

Exemplars:

• Being receptive and responding appropriately to constructive feedback.
• Coping with and effectively managing own emotions and behaviour when dealing with individuals in the academic setting and, if applicable, in course-related placements.

Effective verbal communication, in English that is of a high academic level, is a fundamental requirement of advanced professional practice in this program of study.

Student demonstrates capacity to construct accurate and coherent verbal communication appropriate to the academic and professional context.

Justification of inherent requirement:

Communicating in such a way that conveys high level knowledge and understanding of the relevant subject matter.

Exemplar:

• Structures arguments clearly and concisely, producing evidence in defence of ideas.
• Communicate effectively in the research community to contribute to constructive discourse.
• Demonstrates ability to initiate contact, influence and lead, by communicating confidently and convincingly.

Student demonstrates capacity to construct accurate and coherent written communication appropriate to the academic and professional context.

Justification of inherent requirement:

Construction of written text based assessment tasks to required academic standards are necessary to convey knowledge and understanding of relevant subject matter for professional practice.

Exemplar:

• Constructing a variety of academic assessments that demonstrate the ability to critique existing knowledge, and identify problems and challenges in health surveillance, and related research and policy fields.
• Interpreting and recording statistical data accurately.
• Meeting threshold assessments as outlined in learning guides

Consistent knowledge and effective cognitive skills must be demonstrated for advanced professional practice.

Student demonstrates:

• Capacity to locate appropriate and relevant information.
• Ability to process and undertake sustained critical analysis relevant to practice.
• Ability to critique, integrate and implement knowledge in practice.

Justification of inherent requirement:

Competent practice requires the sourcing, understanding and application of knowledge and skills relevant to the area.

Exemplars:

• Ability to conceptualise and use appropriate knowledge and information in response to academic assessment items.
• Ability to select appropriate statistical analyses to address a given research question and carry out analysis in statistical software.

Student demonstrates:

• The ability to acquire information and accurately convey appropriate, effective messages.
• Ability to read and comprehend a range of literature and information in English.
• The capacity to understand and implement academic conventions to construct written information in an appropriate manner for the intended audience.

Justification of inherent requirement:

• The ability to acquire information and to accurately convey messages is fundamental to public health and health science studies.
• The ability to read, decode, interpret and comprehend multiple sources of information is fundamental to public health and health science studies.

Adjustments must demonstrate a capacity to effectively acquire, comprehend, apply and communicate accurate information. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Campus Disability Advisor.

Exemplars:

• Paraphrasing, summarising and referencing in accordance with   appropriate academic conventions in written assignments.
• Ability to compare and contrast conceptual approaches to the conduct, design and analysis of epidemiological studies.

Competent and accurate numeracy skills are essential for sound and effective professional practice.

Student interprets and correctly applies/analyses data, measurements and numerical criteria.

Justification of inherent requirement:

Competent numeracy skills to analyse and synthesise complex information, problems and concepts that contribute to professional practice.

Adjustments must demonstrate a capacity to interpret and apply concepts and analytic processes appropriately in a timely, accurate and effective manner. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Campus Disability Advisor.

Exemplars:

• Analyse critically, evaluate and transform information to complete a range of activities.
• Performing calculations and statistical analyses in response to academic tasks and assessment items.