Graduate Diploma in Environmental Health

Overview

• Pathway into professional practice as an Environmental Health Officer, accredited by Environmental Health Australia.
• Study local and global environmental challenges, including climate change, pollution, communicable diseases and Indigenous health.
• Complete in 2 semesters full-time or 4 semesters part-time.
• Opportunity to progress to the new Master of Health, Safety and Environment .

Details

The Graduate Diploma in Environmental Health provides an entry pathway into environmental health professional practice for students with an undergraduate degree in public health, nutrition, nursing or science. Students are highly skilled to combat a range of local and global environmental challenges including climate change, pollution, communicable diseases and Indigenous health.

Course structure

Students complete eight core units. The course is available full-time and part-time. Internal and external modes are available.

Career outcomes

Practitioners working in the field of environmental health are involved in promoting healthy environments and managing environmental factors that affect human health. Issues that practitioners deal with include: environmental degradation, climate change, contaminated food and water, waste management, disaster management, and dangerous goods, chemicals and drug safety management.

Most graduates initially find employment as environmental health officers (EHOs). Some of the roles of an EHO include: auditing of food safety and standards, environmental (eg. air, water, noise) monitoring, investigations of environmental health complaints/issues, investigation of infectious disease outbreaks (eg. food borne illness, Legionnaires disease, lead poisoning, Q fever, meningococcal disease), infection control auditing, mosquito and vector control, implementing tobacco control initiatives, working with Indigenous communities, policy development, health promotion, and prosecutions for breaches of health and environmental legislation.

Demand continues for environmental health graduates both throughout Queensland and around the country. Most graduates gain employment with local councils or state government departments (Agency), with positions also available with various Commonwealth Government agencies and with the Australian Defence Force. There are an increasing number of private sector positions being created particularly in the areas of environmental and food safety auditing/management. There are also a range of employment opportunities in other countries, such as the UK, USA and Canada, as well as in developing countries.

Professional recognition

This course was the first postgraduate course to be accredited with Environmental Health Australia and graduates are eligible to practise as environmental health officers. 

Course articulation

The Graduate Diploma in Environmental Health articulates into the new Master of Health, Safety and Environment.

Units

Course structure

Students complete eight core units. The course is available full-time and part-time. Internal and external modes are available.

Entry requirements

• A bachelor degree in a relevant area (e.g. science, environmental science, nursing, health science, public health) or equivalent
• Minimum 48 credit points of basic science units (e.g. chemistry, microbiology, physics, anatomy and physiology, life science).

Course fees

Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. All fees are based on current fixed fee prices. We review fees annually.

Scholarships and financial support

You can apply for scholarships to help you with study and living costs.

View all scholarships