ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵapp

ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵapp of ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵapp (UOW) graduate Dr Amy Bestman is a passionate advocate for positive change in the public health system.  

An accomplished academic, Dr Bestman has earned a Bachelor of Medical Science, an Honours in Public Health, and a PhD in philosophy, more than equipping her to tackle dual roles as Academic Program Director in Public Health and Lecturer at UOW.  

Having worked as a consultant to the World Health Organization throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr Bestman understands all too well what is required to create long-term, positive change for those relying on the public health system.  

“With increased demand on the health system, everything had to pivot and change to respond,” she said. “And I think in some ways for the better, because in public health we should be responsive to community need.” 

Dr Bestman’s current research focuses on violence, injury and addiction.

“I work in gambling and alcohol harm prevention and also injury prevention,” she explained. 

“When we are making policies and programs, it's important to think about what other factors are causing that health condition so that we're preventing harms and addressing the broader determinants of health, not just putting a band aid over something.” 

Dr Amy Bestman

Why public health?

The role of public health professionals is to prevent and respond to health challenges at a population level using evidence-based strategies and policies to promote change that sticks.

Dr Bestman believes there is a role for prevention at all levels of health and that it’s important to take a birds-eye view of issues, rather than addressing each condition individually. By focusing on prevention, education and promoting healthy behaviors, public health professionals can work proactively rather than reactively.

“It is important to understand the underlying causes of health harms,” Dr Bestman explained. “We need to understand the condition to prevent it. For example, if somebody has an unhealthy diet, why? Is it because they don't have access to healthy food, or is it because they don't know how to cook, or another reason we haven’t considered? We also need to look at how we can change systems to promote good health outcomes.”

By addressing the causes of health issues, rather than the symptoms as they appear, public health workers focus on creating a healthier, happier population, with a view to reduce the demands on hospitals, urgent care and surgery waiting lists.

UOW postgraduate study

As Academic Program Director, Dr Bestman oversees UOW’s postgraduate courses in public health. With passionate teaching staff who live and breathe a proactive view, students in these courses are well placed to adopt a similar approach when they graduate.

Whether students are already working in the sector or looking to make a career change, the flexibility of a postgraduate degree in public health creates opportunities that were previously not available for those working full-time.

As well as being able to choose to study on campus or online, students enjoy the flexibility to follow their passions, with a broad range of specialisations available, including Indigenous health, and climate and environment.

“I always say to students when they're starting, pick the ones that sound really interesting to you, because if you find it interesting, you're going to do well,” Dr Bestman said.

“Whether it's a specific topic of interest – like climate change or mental health or violence prevention – or a specific way of working, like community driven or more epidemiology, there's something for everyone.”

This diversity is reflected in the various cohorts that choose to study public health.

“You've got people from different backgrounds, which create a diverse learning environment,” Dr Bestman said. “Students can learn from the experiences of a unique cohort which they can then apply into their public health career.”

Students can benefit from practical experiences embedded in subjects and through membership of UOW’s Public Health Student Association.

“They provide volunteer opportunities and different events,” Dr Bestman said. “It is a good network to be part of. A few years ago, the group lead advocacy around successfully banning smoking on campus.”

  
Those studying a Master of Public Health gain lived experience and on-the-job training through work placements.

“Our staff are very keen to provide those real-world experiences,” Dr Bestman said. “I think it's also part of helping you decide what you want to do, you can gain experience in different public health roles.”

Career opportunities for graduates

Dr Bestman says that holding a postgraduate qualification in public health opens a world of opportunities, with UOW graduates taking on roles outside of health, including in the education or environmental sectors.

“They are using the knowledge they gain in their master’s to translate into that work directly,” she said.

“Public health is a very broad discipline and we like to say there's a place for everyone. If you're a person that's more data science oriented, you could go into epidemiology. Or we have people who want to move into strategic policy and planning, or health service work.”

While diverse careers are available, Dr Bestman says that many students are already working in the health sector and might even be doing public health in their roles.

“They come to us to build on that experience and formalise and embed those skills into the work that they're already doing. We also have people who want to make a complete career change”

Ultimately, most students undertake the programs because they have a shared passion to make a difference in the world around them.

“I do think that those who work in public health do it because we have a passion for helping people and changing things. I always say, follow that passion.”