Public Health department

Part of health sciences at AUT, the Public Health department covers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes – from public and environmental health to disaster risk management, health care ethics, and violence and trauma studies.

Our academic staff are widely known for their expertise across the field of public health, and our coursework and research programmes attract local and international students and academics. The programmes strengthen practice and research expertise in public health, environmental health, emergency and disaster management, health care ethics, and violence and trauma studies.

Research in health sciences

We believe in high-quality research that has impact, and have world-class researchers and research strengths across health sciences.

More about our research

Research associations

The National Institute for Public Health and Mental Health Research contributes to the reduction of health disparities and improves the health of New Zealanders.

department-staff-with-visiting-scholar
Department staff with Professor Robert Field (Drexel University, Philadelphia), visiting Fulbright Scholar and speaker at AUT's 2018 food symposium, 'Our Food. Our People. Our Future.'.
Mulisa Debela
Phoutthanaphone Nedthongsavanh
Ainda Piako Kepon
Najmah
Ei Mon Thinn Kyu
Mulisa Debela
Great graduatesMulisa DebelaFacilities Assistant Manager, Mangere Refugee Resettlement CentreMaster of Public Health
Bachelor of Health ScienceWhen Mulisa Debela first came to New Zealand, he arrived at the Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre. Now he works there himself and enjoys supporting others.When Mulisa Debela first came to New Zealand, he arrived at the Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre. Now he works there himself and enjoys supporting others.
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Phoutthanaphone Nedthongsavanh
Great graduatesPhoutthanaphone NedthongsavanhMedical Doctor & Health Researcher, Mittaphab Hospital, Ministry of Health, Vientiane, LaosMaster of Public HealthHealth research is important because it can improve the lives of large-scale populations, says AUT public health alumnus Phoutthanaphone Nedthongsavanh.Health research is important because it can improve the lives of large-scale populations, says Phoutthanaphone Nedthongsavanh who came to AUT as an international student from Laos to study a Master of Public Health. His studies were supported by a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade New Zealand – Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship.
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Ainda Piako Kepon
Great graduatesAinda Piako KeponMaster of Public HealthShe wants to help the women and girls of Papua New Guinea, says Master of Public Health student Ainda Piako Kepon who came to AUT as an international student.She wants to help the women and girls of Papua New Guinea, says Master of Public Health student Ainda Piako Kepon who came to AUT as an international student, supported by a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade New Zealand – Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship. For her Master of Public Health research, Ainda is investigating how to strengthen the sexual and reproductive health of displaced women and children in Melanesia.
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Najmah
Great graduatesNajmahLecturer, Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health, Sriwijaya University, South Sumatra, IndonesiaDoctor of PhilosophyShe wanted to gain international experience and knowledge at the doctoral level to share with her students and colleagues, says public health alumna Dr Najmah.She wanted to gain international experience and knowledge at the doctoral level to share with her students and colleagues, says public health alumna Dr Najmah.
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Ei Mon Thinn Kyu
Great graduatesEi Mon Thinn KyuPublic Health Consultant, MyanmarMaster of Public HealthShe is dedicated to improving the wellbeing of communities, says Ei Mon Thinn Kyu who came to AUT from Myanmar to study a Master of Public Health degree.She is dedicated to improving the wellbeing of communities, says Ei Mon Thinn Kyu who came to AUT from Myanmar to study a Master of Public Health degree.
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Contact us

Contact our public health team
Phone: +64 9 921 9999 ext 7154

sihs.administration@aut.ac.nz

View department staff

News
Covid vaccine
Marsden group photo
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Te Tiriti: Two perspectives
Heather Came
News pattern
Covid vaccine
How effective were vaccine mandates?
29 Feb, 2024
AUT Researchers looked at whether the vaccine mandates increased COVID-19 vaccination rates and their impact on employees.
Marsden group photo
Marsden Fund success for AUT
09 Nov, 2022
The Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences had two grants approved with total funding of $1.6 million in the 2022 round of Marsden funding.
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Depression in Pacific adolescents
30 Sep, 2022
A new study uses network analysis to demonstrate how connectedness with family, friends, and school can prevent depression in Pacific adolescents.
Te Tiriti: Two perspectives
Te Tiriti: Two perspectives
15 Mar, 2022
Q+A with ‘Te Tiriti-based futures + Anti-racism 2022’ event organisers – Heather Came (Pākehā activist-scholar) and Eridani Baker (Māori student-activist).
Heather Came
Public Health Champion 2021
26 Nov, 2021
Associate Professor Heather Came has been named this year’s Kāhui Hauora Tūmatanui Public Health Champion.
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