Upskilling the public health workforce in communicable disease control

Authors

  • Michelle McPherson Graduate Certificate in Health Protection Team, Tasmanian School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
  • Silvana Bettiol Graduate Certificate in Health Protection Team, Tasmanian School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
  • Nicola Stephens Graduate Certificate in Health Protection Team, Tasmanian School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2022.46.74

Keywords:

public health response, communicable disease control, training, health care workers, Tasmania

Abstract

In several Australian jurisdictions, including Tasmania, there were not enough workers trained in communicable disease control to meet the needs of the COVID-19 response. Despite surging experienced health workers from within and outside of public health, many did not have background or context in communicable disease control. In this letter, we describe our efforts in addressing this shortfall.

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References

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Universities Australia. 17,000 uni jobs lost to COVID-19. [Media release.] Canberra: Universities Australia; 3 February 2021. Available from: https://www.universitiesaustralia.edu.au/media-item/17000-uni-jobs-lost-to-covid-19/.

Tjia T, Marshman I, Beard J, Baré E. Australian university workforce responses to COVID-19 pandemic: reacting to a short-term crisis or planning for longer term challenges? Melbourne: University of Melbourne, LH Martin Institute/Melbourne Centre for the Study of Higher Education; 25 September 2020. Available from: https://melbourne-cshe.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/3501987/HE-Response-to-COVID-19-2020-09-25-Final-rev.pdf.

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Published

17/11/22

How to Cite

McPherson, Michelle, Silvana Bettiol, and Nicola Stephens. 2022. “Upskilling the Public Health Workforce in Communicable Disease Control”. Communicable Diseases Intelligence 46 (November). https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2022.46.74.

Issue

Section

Letter to the Editor

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