Graduate Certificate in Sexual Health

Course code: GC-SEXHLTH

This course is available to domestic students only

Duration

1 year part time

Mode (Location)

Mixed Attendance Mode (Parkville)

Intake

March, July

Key dates

Fees

AUD $18,000 (2026 indicative first year fee). Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) are not available

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How to apply

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Overview

Understand the epidemiology, diagnosis and management of sexually transmissible infections and sexual and reproductive health issues relevant to Australia
Learn about the public health control of sexually transmissible infection
Apply conceptual and practical learnings to your own professional practice
Graduates are employed in careers related to sexual health in the fields of clinical care, research, the pharmaceutical industry or hospitals

Sample course plan

View some sample course plans to help you select subjects that will meet the requirements for this certificate.

50 point program

Four subjects taken over one or two years part-time (one or two subjects per semester)

Year 1

50 pts

Semester 1 · 25 pts

Clinical Sexual & Reproductive Health – core – POPH90070 – 12.5 pts
Adolescent Sexuality and Sexual Health – elective – POPH90169 – 12.5 pts

Semester 2 · 25 pts

Prevention and Control of STIs and HIV – core – POPH90068 – 12.5 pts
Sexual and Reproductive Health – core – POPH90069 – 12.5 pts

Explore this course

Explore the subjects you could choose as part of this certificate.

Core

Students must complete at least 2 of the following 3 core subjects

Accordion
Clinical Sexual & Reproductive Health · 12.5 pts	This is a public health and clinical subject for health professionals working or hoping to work in the area of sexual and reproductive health (SRH). The subject is focused on the clinical and practical aspects of providing sexual and reproductive health clinical services within the Australian health care setting. It introduces clinicians to the concept that the design and management of these clinical services is crucial in maximising the public health of their community and explores this theme through case examples of those most at risk of poor SRH. This includes CALD communities, young people, LGBTQI, Indigenous Australians and those affected by sexual violence amongst others. It specifically explores how to set up cervical cancer screening, STI screening and HIV screening and equips practitioners with requisite knowledge and skills in sensitive communication in order to provide accessible services. In addition, it invites critique on policies that support such practices and highlights the importance of establishing such policies in one’s own workplace. The subject is divided into 5 themes: Clinical SRH services and their impact on public health of communities At risk groups and priorities in clinical SRH services Screening: cervical cancer, STIs and BBVs Fertility control: contraceptive choices and services, unplanned pregnancies and access to services SRH Policies in the clinical workplace Students who are Division 1 nurses and have current registration in Australia and who complete this subject successfully are able to undertake additional training to become accredited as nurse cervical screening providers and accredited HIV and Hep C test advisors. This clinical accreditation is not part of the subject but can only be undertaken when this subject has been completed. This additional training is run by Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, not the University of Melbourne. View detailed information in the Handbook
Sexual and Reproductive Health · 12.5 pts	This subject provides an introduction to the fundamentals of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) from a public health perspective. Globally minded but locally focused, this subject examines the burden of disease associated with SRH and critically analyses significant factors of influence on SRH at the community and broader societal levels, including sexuality, violence, gender and sexual rights. Topics such as unmet need for contraception, fertility control, sex work and female cutting will also be covered. The development, implementation and evaluation of effective public health programs aimed at improving the SRH of communities will also be explored in the subject. View detailed information in the Handbook
Prevention and Control of STIs and HIV · 12.5 pts	This subject provides an introduction to the fundamental concepts of HIV and STI prevention and control. The basic epidemiology of STIs and HIV is considered along with some of the relevant clinical characteristics of these infections. The subject also introduces the concept of core groups and its importance to transmission dynamics, explores the factors that influence STI and HIV control and examines the public health consequences of these infections. It also provides examples of interventions and programmes to prevent and control HIV and STIs and critically examines and analyses such programmes. This subject is organised into the following themes: Introduction to the subject: this includes basic epidemiology, diagnosis and management of the common STIs and HIV STI Control theory: this includes detailed exploration of the 3 important factors: partner change, period of infectiousness and transmissibility Impact and importance of STIs and HIV prevention and control in public health Prevention and Health promotion (social media, public health campaigns, sexuality education etc) Stakeholders, programs and application examples in the field of STI and HIV prevention and control. View detailed information in the Handbook

Accordion

Clinical Sexual & Reproductive Health · 12.5 pts

This is a public health and clinical subject for health professionals working or hoping to work in the area of sexual and reproductive health (SRH). The subject is focused on the clinical and practical aspects of providing sexual and reproductive health clinical services within the Australian health care setting. It introduces clinicians to the concept that the design and management of these clinical services is crucial in maximising the public health of their community and explores this theme through case examples of those most at risk of poor SRH. This includes CALD communities, young people, LGBTQI, Indigenous Australians and those affected by sexual violence amongst others. It specifically explores how to set up cervical cancer screening, STI screening and HIV screening and equips practitioners with requisite knowledge and skills in sensitive communication in order to provide accessible services. In addition, it invites critique on policies that support such practices and highlights the importance of establishing such policies in one’s own workplace. The subject is divided into 5 themes:

Clinical SRH services and their impact on public health of communities
At risk groups and priorities in clinical SRH services
Screening: cervical cancer, STIs and BBVs
Fertility control: contraceptive choices and services, unplanned pregnancies and access to services
SRH Policies in the clinical workplace

Students who are Division 1 nurses and have current registration in Australia and who complete this subject successfully are able to undertake additional training to become accredited as nurse cervical screening providers and accredited HIV and Hep C test advisors.

This clinical accreditation is not part of the subject but can only be undertaken when this subject has been completed. This additional training is run by Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, not the University of Melbourne.

View detailed information in the Handbook

Sexual and Reproductive Health · 12.5 pts

This subject provides an introduction to the fundamentals of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) from a public health perspective. Globally minded but locally focused, this subject examines the burden of disease associated with SRH and critically analyses significant factors of influence on SRH at the community and broader societal levels, including sexuality, violence, gender and sexual rights. Topics such as unmet need for contraception, fertility control, sex work and female cutting will also be covered. The development, implementation and evaluation of effective public health programs aimed at improving the SRH of communities will also be explored in the subject.

View detailed information in the Handbook

Prevention and Control of STIs and HIV · 12.5 pts

This subject provides an introduction to the fundamental concepts of HIV and STI prevention and control. The basic epidemiology of STIs and HIV is considered along with some of the relevant clinical characteristics of these infections. The subject also introduces the concept of core groups and its importance to transmission dynamics, explores the factors that influence STI and HIV control and examines the public health consequences of these infections. It also provides examples of interventions and programmes to prevent and control HIV and STIs and critically examines and analyses such programmes.

This subject is organised into the following themes:

Introduction to the subject: this includes basic epidemiology, diagnosis and management of the common STIs and HIV
STI Control theory: this includes detailed exploration of the 3 important factors: partner change, period of infectiousness and transmissibility
Impact and importance of STIs and HIV prevention and control in public health
Prevention and Health promotion (social media, public health campaigns, sexuality education etc)
Stakeholders, programs and application examples in the field of STI and HIV prevention and control.

View detailed information in the Handbook

Electives

Additional elective subjects can be drawn from any public health/sexual health related subject within the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences but will need to be approved by the Course Coordinator before the student enrolls in it and in agreement with the appropriate other course authority.

Accordion
Adolescent Sexuality and Sexual Health · 12.5 pts	This subject explores two main themes: 1. The social construction of sexuality - how our understandings of sexuality are developed in socio-cultural contexts; and 2. Sexual health - how it is defined and measured, what factors contribute to it, and practical issues to consider when interacting with adolescents and trying to have an impact on their sexual health and wellbeing. View detailed information in the Handbook

Accordion

Adolescent Sexuality and Sexual Health · 12.5 pts

This subject explores two main themes:
1. The social construction of sexuality - how our understandings of sexuality are developed in socio-cultural contexts; and
2. Sexual health - how it is defined and measured, what factors contribute to it, and practical issues to consider when interacting with adolescents and trying to have an impact on their sexual health and wellbeing.

View detailed information in the Handbook