Handbook

The health of a nation’s people depends on complex interplays of social, economic, environmental and institutional factors. An accessible, well managed, health care system can play a vital part in the prevention and management of ill health, protecting and promoting population health and wellbeing and equitable, effective and efficient system performance. Health system universal access, and consistent use of opportunity cost and community net benefit principles are highlighted in guiding budget constrained optimal public health policy and decision making. That is, comparing health and health system effects of best alternative strategies and associated adoption and financing actions given constrained resource use and costs across the health care system continuum.  Students will overview health protection as a specialist area of public health and the need for systems that identify, prevent or respond to threats to population health.  Health education, promotion and communication strategies for establishing healthy environments and supporting the health behaviours of individuals, communities and populations are also focused on