School of Population Health

Internship (PHCM9143)

Internship Banner

The internship program provides students with the opportunity to gain real-world experience in a relevant organisation through a workplace internship.

 

The internship course (6UOC) aims to provide students enrolled in the Master of Public Health, Master of Global Health, Master of Infectious Disease Intelligence or Master of Health Leadership and Management degree programs (or dual degrees), with the opportunity to gain real-world experience in a relevant health organisation through a workplace internship of 6 weeks full-time equivalent duration (168 hours).

During the course, interns will have an opportunity to make valuable contributions to organisational initiatives that may involve areas such as policy development, planning, or evaluation associated with the delivery of public health or healthcare services, or the preparation, appraisal, implementation of health related projects. The activities and focus of the internship placement will be relevant to the organisation and student and can be either project or normal operations-based.

On successful completion of the internship placement, students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate capacity to contribute to an organisation within the parameters of an agreed internship placement
  • Identify and delineate a significant practice based area for inquiry and focus, within the internship placement
  • Systematically collect and synthesise relevant information about the practice based area of inquiry drawing on relevant literature and workplace activities and experiences
  • Analyse, interpret and evaluate the outcomes from engagement with the practice based area of inquiry
  • Demonstrate capacity for self and professional reflection
  • Provide a reflexive interpretation on the implications for future professional practice drawing upon the internship experience and relevant themes within the Master’s program

This is a merit based course and placements will be awarded based on the outcomes of a written application and interview. In order to be eligible to enrol, students must have completed at least 24 units of credit (UOC) prior to enrolling and achieved at least a credit point average. Note, single degree full-time students are eligible to apply before completing 24 UOC.

Prior to commencing on the placement, students will be required to meet with the course convener to discuss their placement including timing, responsibilities, OHS and risk management etc. The student will also be required to complete the relevant paperwork prior to departure i.e. risk assessment forms. The following costs will be the responsibility of the student: travel to and from the placement, accommodation (if applicable), visa/immunization (if applicable), food and other sundries etc. Items of expenditure connected with the completion of placement tasks will be borne by the organisation. Interns will not receive any remuneration.

If you are interested in undertaking an internship, it is important that you contact the course conveners to indicate your interest in this course.

This course is only available to currently enrolled School of Population Health students.

 

Internship Application Process

All applications must be submitted by email to Vanessa Green v.green@unsw.edu.au.  Please ensure to attach the following:

  • Completed Internship application form
  • Academic Statement from myUNSW
  • Personal Statement of 500 words clearly explaining why you are applying for the internship program and what you hope to achieve by completing an internship
  • CV

Please note: Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

Prior to commencing on the placement, students will be required to meet with the course convenor to discuss their placement including timing, responsibilities, OHS and risk management etc. The student will also be required to complete the relevant paperwork prior to departure i.e. risk assessment forms. The following costs will be the responsibility of the student: travel to and from the placement, accommodation (if applicable), visa/immunisation (if applicable), food and other sundries etc. Items of expenditure connected with the completion of placement tasks will be borne by the organisation. Interns will not receive any remuneration.

Further enquiries can be directed to Vanessa Green via v.green@unsw.edu.au

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Placements

Since the School of Popluation Health commenced offering the opportunity to undertake an internship, students have attended a range of placements including:

1.Domestic Placements:

  • Australian Government Department of Health: Office of Health Protection and Response Division
  • Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)
  • Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM)
  • Biosecurity Program, The Kirby Institute, UNSW
  • CMMB - Catholic Medical Mission Board
  • COVID-19 Public Health Response - Intergovernmental Liaison Team, NSW Ministry of Health (particular activities will depend on the current situation for the pandemic at the time)
  • Football United, School of Population Health, UNSW
  • Homelessness Health Program, Priority Populations Unit, Population & Community Health Directorate, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District
  • Integrated Systems in Epidemic Response (ISER) - NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence
  • NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation
  • NSW Refugee Health Service
  • NSW Sexually Transmissible Infections Program Unit (STIPU)
  • NSW Users and AIDS Association (NUAA)
  • Prevention Education & Research Unit (PERU)
  • Royal Life Saving Society (Australia)
  • Sydney Institute for Women, Children and their Families
  • The Centre for Health Equity Training, Research and Evaluation (CHETRE)

2. International Placements:

  • Epidemiology Unit, Ministry of Health (Sri Lanka)
  • Faculty of Public Health Diponegoro University (Indonesia)
  • National Institute for Communicable Diseases (Johannesburg, South Africa)
  • Renji Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine (Shanghai, China)
  • SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Department of Community Medicine (Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India)
  • The George Institute for Global Health (Hyderabad, India)
  • The George Institute for Global Health (New Delhi, India)
  • Think Pacific Foundation (Fiji)
  • United Nations University International Institute for Global Health

Occasionally, placements may change or become unavailable due to issues beyond the control of the School.

Placements vary per term, please contact Vanessa Green by email v.green@unsw.edu.au for a current list of placements. 

 

Internship Student Profiles

Find out what students have to say about their experiences in our internship program. Click on the names below to read testimonials about what they enjoyed in their program and how it will make a difference to their careers.

 
Caitlin Swift

Caitlin Swift

Master of Public Health (MPH) / Master of International Public Health (MIPH) (Dual Degree)

I decided to enrol in the internship program as part of my degree at the School of Public Health and Community Medicine as I was very keen to get some real-world experience in public health to supplement my university Master of Public Health (MPH) / Master of International Public Health (MIPH) studies. I had previously only worked in clinical environments and felt that completing some work experience in a supportive environment would assist me with successfully shifting towards working in a public health environment.

I would definitely recommend the internship program to other students who would like to consolidate the knowledge and skills they have learnt during their studies, gain practical public health experience and strengthen their professional networks in public health.

I completed my internship during the last semester of my studies and was fortunate that a job opportunity I was newly eligible for actually arose during the last week of my placement. I applied for this job with my internship experience prominent within my application and am sure that the experience and skills I gained during my internship helped me to secure this position and transition smoothly into the public health workforce.

See full profile
 

Image - Preethi-Pandalaneni

 
 

Preethi Pandalaneni

Master of Public Health (MPH) with International Health Specialisation

I decided to enrol in the internship because I had been working on the Master of Public Health (International Health Specialisation) through distance education whilst practising as a pharmacist. The internship was a great opportunity to actively engage with the field of international public health by learning and building new skills, networking with professionals working in public health, contribute to projects in the international health sphere and help inform future career decisions.

The most rewarding aspect of the internship was being able to contribute to health policies that were affecting populations on a global scale and being guided through the process by professionals who have invaluable insight and knowledge in the field. It also offered the opportunity to get involved in wider regional events run by the United Nations to gain an idea of the scope of work that the organisations do and meet people from various career pathways working in international health.  

See full profile

 

 

Key Contacts

Dr Holly Seale (Domestic placements)
Course Convenor
T +61 (2) 9385 3129
E h.seale@unsw.edu.au

Dr Abrar Chughtai (Domestic placements)
Course Convenor
T +61 (2) 9385 1009
E abrar.chughtai@unsw.edu.au

Dr David Muscatello (International placements)
Course Convenor
T +61 (2) 9385 8659
E david.muscatello@unsw.edu.au

Vanessa Green
Administrator
T +61 (2) 9385 1928
E: v.green@unsw.edu.au