How to become a Public Health Physician

Provides the medical input into population-level planning for the prevention of health conditions, threats and disasters to maximise health across and within populations.

Main tasks

• Assesses and responds rapidly to urgent and evolving public health issues
• Leads teams, public health responses, programs, projects and organisations designed to address health inequity and population health outcomes
• Collects, analyses and applies data related to public health issues, and researches possible causes and links to other health determinants operating at the community level
• Develops strategies to assist the implementation of programs that will prevent disease or promote health in the community
• Advises senior public health officials about legislation and other strategies to improve the health and wellbeing of communities
• Designs and evaluates disease screening programs and disease and hazard surveillance systems
• Evaluates health services and public health programs, health technologies and interventions
• Advises and manages the public health management of environmental health risks
• Informs the management of public health emergencies and infectious disease outbreaks and control measures
• May advise and work in partnership on the public health issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Ways in

• University: Medicine & Dentistry degrees, Offered by 34 universities in Australia
• University: Health & Public Health degrees, Offered by 39 universities in Australia
• Licence or registration: Registration or licensing is required.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Typical full-time pay: $188,240 a year
• About 16,100 people work in this job group now, and about 21,400 are projected by 2035. (+32.8%)
• AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Related jobs

• General Medicine Physician
• Cardiologist
• Endocrinologist
• Gastroenterologist
• Geriatrician
• Haematologist

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Public Health Physician?

Ways in include: Medicine & Dentistry degrees; Health & Public Health degrees.

How much does a Public Health Physician earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $188,240 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is a Public Health Physician a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 33% by 2035, from about 16,100 to about 21,400 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Public Health Physician?

Usually. 94% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Public Health Physician?

AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Sources

• Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04