Population & Health theme area:

Teaching and Research in this theme area are carried out in the Faculty of Health Science (with its Schools of Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing & Midwifery, and Human Life Sciences, and its Dept of Rural Health and Rural Clinical School) as well as in the Schools of Psychology, Sociology & Social Work, Computing & Information Systems, and Economics & Finance. This theme area incorporates the work of the expanding Menzies Research Institute and the Centre for Clinical Research and is enhanced by the Partners in Health strategic relationship with the Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and by the active support of health professionals nationally and internationally.

The health and wellbeing of Australians is a significant national priority. Our research and teaching programmes utilise the advantages of working with the Tasmanian population, which has unique characteristics being dispersed in a rural island environment. The programmes range across the basic biomedical sciences, epidemiology and clinical studies as well as the social sciences that are critical in understanding the behaviour of people in relation to their health. Preventative health, education and health promotion play an important role in this theme, as do the social and economic factors that are also determinants of health and wellbeing. Many of the studies take advantage of well-established links with the Tasmanian population.