VICDOC Autumn 2023 - Magazine - Page 29
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CAREER
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I’M CURRENTLY THE DIRECTOR OF THE
GRAMPIANS PUBLIC HEALTH UNIT (GPHU),
ONE OF VICTORIA'S NINE LOCAL PUBLIC
HEALTH UNITS.
In my role I work in close partnership
with clinicians, civic and health leaders,
and the people of our region to protect
our population’s health and prevent
disease. In 2021, together we managed to
keep COVID-19 case numbers low while
achieving a >95% double vaccination rate
in all local government areas. In 2022 the
GPHU’s brief expanded across the breadth
of health protection, health promotion and
disease prevention, and population health.
BEFORE I BECAME A DOCTOR, I STUDIED
COMMUNICATIONS AND THEN WORKED AS
A JOURNALIST IN TELEVISION, NEWSPAPERS
RADIO AND ADVERTISING.
I became interested in promoting health
through mass communication. After
working for a year in health promotion,
I began medical school and, having no
science background, I didn't expect to love
it as much as I did. I started my Masters
of Public Health while I was a medical
student. My 2006 PhD combined all study
to that point: I researched how language
used by politicians characterised Australia’s
First Nations people in ways that influenced
government policy and health outcomes
for decades.
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