Thangarajah, Dharshi2020-12-092020-12-09b71500303http://hdl.handle.net/1885/216785The Queensland Health Communicable Diseases Branch (CDB) is responsible for the surveillance, prevention, and control of communicable diseases in Queensland. From February 2018 to December 2019, I undertook my MAE field placement within the CDB. This thesis presents the projects undertaken during this 22-month field placement. My projects comprise of: investigating the impact of funded pertussis vaccination strategies designed to protect young children in Australia on the epidemiology of pertussis in young children; evaluating the invasive group A streptococcal (iGAS) disease surveillance system in Queensland; assessing effectiveness of the influenza vaccine in children eligible for the state-funded vaccine during the 2018 flu season in Queensland; and characterising the first cases of invasive meningococcal disease due to serogroup E in Queensland. This thesis also describes other experiences and public health activities undertaken during my placement: investigation of a Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak in Queensland; involvement in trachoma screening activities in remote areas Queensland; technical writer for the assessment of iGAS to be considered as a nationally notifiable condition in Australia; contribution to a global assessment of the burden of iGAS in women and children. These projects and experiences fulfil the core requirements of the Australian National University Master of Philosophy (Applied Epidemiology) program.en-AU202010.25911/6PHA-QT48