University qualification to meet health-sector job demand

Victoria University of Wellington’s Bachelor of Health is designed to produce skilled graduates for emerging and in-demand jobs in the wider health sector.

Enrolments are now open for the Bachelor of Health in 2019. This non-medical degree offers students the chance to make a difference to people’s lives and to become leaders in the field of health. The degree is led by passionate teachers and researchers from across Victoria University of Wellington and has strong support from health-sector leaders to build future capability. The Bachelor of Health gives students a foundational understanding of health services, policy and strategy, the social aspects of health and how health issues affect populations in New Zealand and beyond. Students will learn how to critically evaluate health issues and needs and consider action plans that will lead to lasting improvements to health and wellbeing. This includes a focus on health and wellbeing in Māori and Pasifika communities, as well as considering the international context. The choice of five majors opens the door to a range of roles such as health promotion practitioner, health researcher, or health information manager, to name a few. For example, students taking the Health Informatics major will learn about applying information technology to the business of healthcare to help solve problems and make decisions about healthcare and services. This is one of the largest growing areas in healthcare, and having this qualification will open doors in careers such as in health consultancy, health project management and business analysis. Shayne Hunter, CIO of Capital & Coast Hutt Valley and Wairarapa DHBs says the Health & Disability sector is emerging as a significant opportunity for the digital revolution. “We are entering possibly one of the most exciting times to be a working in the sector. We have an immense challenge ahead and we will increasingly digitise the consumer experience and our processes, and use data and insights to improve services and outcomes. We need a workforce that includes people who understand health informatics, information systems and emerging technologies, and the broader context within which these have been or could be applied.”