NICOLE MACKEE freelance journalist and editor at Croakey
Alarm over how the pandemic response is undermining public and preventive health research and teaching A driving force in dealing with COVID-19
‘Like the rest of the Australian community, the
‘Public health academics have been proud to help
higher education sector has taken a financial hit
keep Australians safe’, Dr Devin Bowles, Executive
because of the coronavirus’, Tehan said.
Director, Council of Academic Public Health
‘These reforms will help universities pivot towards
Institutions Australasia says. ‘They have trained
a closer alignment of domestic industry and student
the huge number of contact tracers, advised
demands through innovative micro-credentials
governments with epidemiological modelling,
delivered flexibly online.’
and educated the community in cooperation with the media.’ In its higher education COVID relief plan, the
Bowles said at least seven universities are believed to have taken up the government-funded short courses initiative and are offering undergraduate
Federal Government guaranteed $18 billion funding
and postgraduate certificates in public health and
for the sector, regardless of domestic enrolments,
related areas.
and announced a series of short courses. Announcing the relief package in April, Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan said the plan would not only support Australians who were looking to
‘Universities and lecturers have done an amazing job of shielding students from the financial effects of decreased international students’, he said. Public Health Association of Australia president
retrain but would provide an income stream for
David Templeman said lack of access to the
universities.
JobKeeper program was a further blow to both the university and public health sectors.
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The Health Advocate • AUGUST 2020