Surveillance is the collection, analysis and interpretation of health or related data for public health action. This course aims to teach students about public health surveillance in four domains: establishment, maintenance, reporting, and evaluation of surveillance systems.

Topics will include:

1. Introduction to surveillance: Why do we have it?; Different types and uses
2. Legislation and guidelines for public health surveillance
3. Surveillance in Australia
4. Establishment of surveillance and how it can be enhanced surveillance
5. Analysis and reviewing outputs
6. Communicating results
7. Evaluating surveillance systems
8. Surveillance in special situations and populations, such as: humanitarian crises, public health emergencies, and mass gatherings.

The course will rely on understanding these concepts and skills by applying them to real-life surveillance settings managed by the course staff and invited guest lecturers. Teaching will be through case studies, lectures and small group tutorials.

On satisfying the requirements of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1.         Describe why public health authorities conduct surveillance.

2.         Identify the main types of surveillance and their uses in Australia.

3.         Describe how surveillance is managed and systems are established.

4.         Analyze surveillance data and communicate results.

5.         Formulate a plan to evaluate a surveillance system.

6.         Describe the use of surveillance in special situations, such as public health emergencies.

Course participation (10%)

Short assignments x 2 (20% each)

In class assessment (50%)

Attendance and participation at a four day intensive program (approx 32 hours) and additional face-to-face and on-line teaching sessions throughout the semester. Students will be required to spend time on pre-reading, self-directed study and completing the assessment requirements as per a 6-unit course load.

Students enrolled in this course are required to have completed an undergraduate degree.

Permission from Program Convener required.

• POPH8100 Fundamentals of Epidemiology

• POPH8101 Biostatistics in Population Health

• POPH8313 Analysis of public health data

• POPH8316 Outbreak Investigation

• POPH8315 Methods in Applied Epidemiological Research

Lee LM, Teutsch SM, Thacker SB, St Louis ME. Principles and Practice of Public Health Surveillance (3rd Ed.) Oxford University Press Ltd, New York, 2010

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