28 October, 2026
Our society needs public health professionals. Socially minded strategic thinkers who can apply their knowledge to shape and improve health systems and services.
Here are the stories of current students who are working to do just that.
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Improving the health of Pacific Islander communities
Luisa Takataka’s story
I chose to study public health because I want to make a positive difference in the health and wellbeing of Pacific Islanders in community.
Being of Tongan heritage and working as a Registered Nurse, I've seen firsthand the health challenges many of our people face and how often they end up in hospital with conditions that could be better managed or prevented.
There aren't many health programs that are specifically designed for Pacific Islanders and that is something that I hope to change.
Engaging learning experiences
The learning experiences I've found most helpful have been the full-day workshops. They gave me the opportunity to engage with my peers, share ideas and learn through real-life scenarios.
Working through different scenarios has helped me build a deeper understanding of the concepts and allowed me to see how they can be applied in practice.
It also gave me the chance to ask questions, learn from others' perspectives and strengthen my knowledge; which has really supported my learning throughout the course.
Studying health promotion has reinforced my passion for this field. I've enjoyed learning about ways to improve community health, build strong partnerships and communicate effectively with different groups of people.
These skills are important for the work I hope to do in Pacific Islander communities.
From epidemiology to a new passion
Alyssa Fourmile’s story
I decided to study public health because I’ve always been interested in the human body, specifically how the body gets sick, and how it recovers from illness.
While studying in high school just before the COVID-19 pandemic, I found a bunch of documentaries about different infectious diseases that have caused disease outbreaks in communities.
After going down a rabbit-hole of documentaries, I found a movie about an Ebola outbreak, and a movie about a pandemic. Both movies were so fascinating to me because they explored how a pathogen can completely takeover a person’s immune system.
They also showed me how health officials work together diligently to quickly prevent the further spread of disease through a community.
During my final year in high school, the COVID-19 outbreak occurred and that completely solidified my interest in both infectious diseases and public health.
The plot twist
I studied the Bachelor of Biomedical Science for my undergraduate degree before taking the leap into advanced education pursuing the Master of Public Health.
Initially when starting my master, I thought my dream was to be in the epidemiology sector. Especially because I love learning about infectious diseases.
After completing the introductory units of the degree, I realised I was super passionate about health promotion.
For example, I am interested in preventing the public from developing chronic or severe illnesses. Many of these long-term health conditions can be prevented early through proper educational systems or government supported programs.
I loved learning about how an individual’s life trajectory is heavily influenced by a combination of factors. It’s fundamental that these factors are understood so that vulnerable communities are not left behind.
While I’m still fascinated by diseases and the public health approach towards these diseases, I realised my interests are in disease prevention and in improving community health.
Creating safer working conditions for nurses
Nicole Wally’s story
I have been a nurse for 18 years and working in healthcare for 28. I have worked both in Queensland and interstate across private, aged care and the public sectors.
When I was a teenager, my dad told me that I would make a good nurse, but I wasn’t convinced.
After I graduated high school, I started studying an arts degree and saw a job at a nursing home as an assistant in nursing. I got the job and loved it much more than the degree so quickly changed to study an undergraduate degree in nursing at QUT.
I have always loved connecting with people and feel that caring for them when they are sick and vulnerable is a genuine privilege. After I graduated, I worked clinically for many years and loved the stimulating and fast paced environments of healthcare.
A change in direction
Fast forward to 2021 and my mum passed away very suddenly, then Covid happened which felt like an impossibly stressful time.
I decided to think about different pathways within nursing that would lead me out of the clinical sphere.
I became a Union delegate and found myself pushing for changes to make our workplace safer which then led me to working for an advocacy organisation in a professional and research position.
I am completing my master's in public heath to compliment and consolidate my clinical experience with up-to-date knowledge and to acquire new skills that strengthen my academic foundations.
Finding the right path in public health
Jenai’s story
I’ve always known I wanted to work in health and help people. After completing my undergraduate degree in Clinical Exercise Physiology, I realised that while I loved the theory, working directly with patients almost all the time wasn’t the right fit for me.
It took me a while to discover public health, which has allowed me to combine my interest in health with a broader approach to improving people’s lives. I chose QUT for its reputation and the career opportunities it could open up.
Learning to make a difference
One of the things I’ve enjoyed most about studying public health is discovering how the different areas of the field fit together. I particularly enjoyed epidemiology and health promotion, and I’m hoping to pursue a career in health promotion when I graduate.
The course has also reinforced how important health equity is and how much of a difference we can make to other people’s health outcomes. Knowing I’ll have the opportunity to contribute to that change is really rewarding.
I’ve also valued learning from lecturers with industry experience, as well as guest lecturers who bring practical insights into the classroom. Understanding how theory translates into real-world practice has made the learning experience even more valuable.
Balancing study, work and family
Balancing postgraduate study with family life has been challenging, especially while pregnant and caring for my now 14-month-old. Having the flexibility to join classes online or catch up on recordings, often early in the morning or late at night, has made a huge difference.
Be the hero of your own public health story
Whether you’re interested in epidemiology, see yourself responding to disasters, or want to advocate to improve health access for groups of people, there’s a pathway to take you to your new career.
Take your next step in public health with QUT’s Master of Public Health. Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) are available for eligible domestic students.