The Gold Coast Public Health Unit (GCPHU) continuously undertakes research and training to stay up to date with best practice and ensure the continual safety of the Gold Coast community.
Research
The GCPHU regularly conducts research activities to address public health issues on the Gold Coast. This often involves the development, implementation, and evaluation of a public health interventio
Some current research projects include:
- The effect of free Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) screening at youth events on the Gold Coast.
- Understanding the social perceptions of vaping and illicit tobacco in Gold Coast youth.
- The impact of an SMS reminder on the uptake and timeliness of childhood immunisations.
- Evaluating the Gold Coast Gastrointestinal Syndromic Surveillance System.
- Reviewing the School Immunisation Program electronic consent form process.
Journal articles and conference presentations are a way of sharing public health information with the scientific community.
Recent GCPHU publications include:
- Q Fever infection is a preventable risk associated with pet food manufacturing.
- Several confirmed and probable zoonotic cases toxigenic Corynebacterium ulcerans, Queensland, Australia.
- Wave of COVID-19 outbreaks in Gold Coast Residential Aged Care Facilities after easing travel restrictions into Queensland.
- Protocol for the Winter Respiratory Viruses Sentinel Surveillance Program in Queensland.
- Defining the peak: Point prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 using randomised sampling.
Research collaborations
The GCPHU collaborates with local organisations and research partners including:
- Gold Coast Sexual Health Unit
- Gold Coast Primary Health Network
- Bond University
- Griffith University
- University of Queensland
- Active and Healthy Alliance Gold Coast
For more information on research collaboration opportunities with GCPHU, please contact GCPHU@health.qld.gov.au.
Training and supervision
Each year the GCPHU supports students and trainees with university or industry placements, research projects or specialist training.
In 2023, 26 students/trainees were supported by the GCPHU for training in:
- Health Promotion
- Environmental Health
- Public Health nursing
- Public Health medicine – Advanced Training in Public Health Medicine (Public Health Medicine)
- Epidemiology and data – Master of Philosophy, Applied Epidemiology (MAE Program)
For more information on public health training opportunities at the GCPHU, please contact GCPHU@health.qld.gov.au.