The Master of Applied Epidemiology (MAE) is a training program designed to help develop Australia?s public health capabilities and systems. The Program is based at the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health (NCEPH), at the Australian National University (ANU). More information about NCEPH and the MAE Program can be found at: http://nceph.anu.edu.au. The primary goal of the MAE is to foster the professional development of field-trained epidemiologists who are competent in the practical application of epidemiologic methods to a wide range of contemporary public health problems.

The model for the MAE is ?learning-by-doing.? Students for the MAE must develop critical thinking and professional epidemiologic skills relevant to the needs of the public health system. These skills are acquired through a combination of focused classroom work and supervised practical field work over a 21 month period. MAE students are placed in Federal, State or Territory health departments or health research institutions. The student?s epidemiologic skills are developed in the context of workplace activities.

The MAE Program aims to:

• strengthen national and regional public health capacity to respond to emerging and current disease threats;
• maintain and enhance rigour in surveillance and outbreak investigation;
• develop sustainable and flexible communication and networking capacity in disease control practice;
• contribute to local and national policy development;
• develop a national capacity to investigate and to report upon disease related to environmental factors; and
• develop a cadre of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander graduates with skills in applied epidemiology and an appreciation of current issues in Indigenous public health for all graduates.

Note that information about admission and Program structure is provided in the Guide for Prospective Students, available at http://nceph.anu.edu.au.

Students are selected on the basis of their academic qualifications, work experience, and communication skills. The minimum academic requirement is normally a graduate qualification in a health-related discipline and at least two years? previous experience in a health-related setting.

Applications from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are highly encouraged. In order to address the recognised lack of trained Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander professionals in the field of applied epidemiology, up to two MAE positions in each intake have been made available for suitably qualified Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.