Applied Epidemiology in Queensland: An infectious theme

Abstract

This thesis describes the projects and activities I completed to fulfil the core requirements of the Master of Philosophy, Applied Epidemiology (MAE) at the Australian National University.

I undertook my MAE field placement with the Communicable Diseases Branch (CDB) at Queensland Health from February 2021 to December 2022. CDB is responsible for the surveillance, prevention, and control of communicable diseases in Queensland. My projects included an investigation into an outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium across Queensland; an early assessment of compliance with the Queensland Border Restrictions Direction (No. 56); an analysis of latent tuberculosis in Queensland 2016-2020; an interrupted time series analysis of sexually transmitted infection notifications in Queensland 2015-2021; and the establishment and evaluation of a system to recommend and monitor the use of pneumococcal vaccines after a notification of invasive pneumococcal disease in Queensland.

During my MAE training, I also participated in other public health activities and minor competencies of the program. From October to November 2022, I participated in the Field Epidemiology Fellowship Program operated through the Western Pacific Regional Office of the World Health Organization in Manila. All projects and additional training experiences are detailed through this thesis. Show more