Integrating exposure to regional public health units into health professions practice and research placements

Local Public Health Units (LPHUs) were established in Victoria in 2020, amid the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Gippsland Region Public Health Unit (GRPHU), hosted by Latrobe Regional Health, is one of nine LPHUs and six regional units. GRPHU services the Gippsland region, working across the outer south-eastern aspects of metropolitan Melbourne to the eastern most point of Gippsland, Victoria. With the establishment of LPHUs in Victoria, there is a unique opportunity to expose health professions and research students to public health – the multidisciplinary team and wide-ranging nature of the work across health protection, health promotion, emergency management and environmental health. Public health placements provide a valuable opportunity for students to observe the broader impact of health issues at a population level. Since 2023, GRPHU has hosted students from a range of disciplines including health sciences, dietetics, public health and medicine. To further develop, strengthen and expand our education and training program going forward, it is important to understand the value and impact of these public health placements for health professions and research students. Various projects are available for research students to work with GRPHU and Monash Rural Health Gippsland. Projects would allow the successful candidate to gain experience in public health and education research, program evaluation and qualitative methodologies, with view to a scientific publication.