Applied epidemiology of communicable diseases and injury in the Northern Territory of Australia

Abstract

This thesis described my experience in the Master of Philosophy (Applied Epidemiology) (MAE) program between February 2023 - October 2024, during which I was placed with two public health agencies within the Northern Territory (NT) Department of Health: the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) and Health Statistics and Informatics (HSI). My work with the CDC included a retrospective cohort study of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 severe disease (hospitalisation and/or death) in the NT, an evaluation of the NT Notifiable Diseases System, an investigation of a gastroenteritis outbreak, publications on the epidemiology of COVID-19 and influenza, posters advising on cleaning to prevent scabies, and many other public health activities. At HSI, I conducted a retrospective time-series study of alcohol-related injury hospitalisations in the NT in relation to alcohol policy changes between 2007-2022, prepared ministerial briefs, and engaged in statistical teaching activities. I presented two major projects at national public health conferences and one major project at the NT CDC conference. The projects and public health activities I completed fulfilled the requirements of the MAE degree at the Australian National University. Show more