What is Public Health (and what sort of jobs does it include?)

Ah... this question.

Anyone who has studied Public Health will have had this discussion at family gatherings and struggled to convey the purpose of public health or health promotion.

First, what public health isn't.

It isn't the opposite of Private Health Insurance (it isn't Medicare).

It isn't an Arts Degree.....although job opportunities.... anyway,

It is...

Health on everything from a community scale to a global scale.

The importance of healthy eating, immunisations, seatbelts, physical activity, drinking in moderation, avoiding cigarettes and illicit drugs, tackling the rise and rise in gambling, creating good sexual health, promoting social inclusion and encouraging good mental health... and so much more! It's everywhere! And the jobs? They are promoting these important messages!

And where are the jobs?

Well, I'm not a leading authority on that quite yet. Maybe ask someone else that one.

But typically, they are in local or state government, or non-for profits such as The Cancer Council, The Asthma Foundation, The Heart Foundation etc.

The good news is that Victoria and Australia are the world leaders in this! Plain packaging? Yeah that was us. Seatbelt laws in cars? Us too! The first town in Victoria to add fluoride to the water - my hometown! I was born to do this.

Now, all that remains is some sexy employer (yes, I'm looking at you, future employer, with your great taste in blazers and dresses/perfectly manicured facial hair (literally just read whatever you want to read in that section) to see how enthusiastic I am - and that I know my stuff, and to give me a job! Easy, right?