Bronwyn Hine

As a nurse and midwife, I was always interested in cultural diversity and health promotion. In 1992, I had an opportunity to go to the Republic of the Marshall Islands with Australian Volunteers Abroad. Although initially recruited as an advisor in maternal and child health, I moved to National Health Planning Office, where I found the work challenging and exciting. I decided to pursue a career in international health, and set about getting the skills and experience I needed to achieve this.

I chose the Centre for Public Health at UNSW for my MPH studies for a number of reasons. It attracted a large number of international students, it included the WHO Regional Training Centre in the School of Medical Education, it had a reputation as a Centre of academic excellence but with a focus on application, and it came highly recommended by a number of colleagues.

I had high expectations of my studies, and the program more than met them. This was not "ivory tower" academia, but rigorous studies linked to the realities of practice and application, taught by people who had been out and done it! The small size of many classes also gave ample opportunity for me to learn from other students, some of whom were very senior health officials from other countries in the Asia-Pacific region with valuable lessons to share.

After graduating, I returned to work at UNSW as a project officer in the School of Medical Education. The international network of contacts I had formed during my studies grew even stronger, and with support and encouragement from the School, short-term consultancies in Australia and overseas followed. Career planning and support is another extra offered at the Centre.

I am now working in Cambodia for the World Health Organization as an Advisor in Human Resource Development, and find particular pleasure in the ongoing links I have with the Centre for Public Health. The Deputy Director General of Health in Cambodia is a fellow student from my MPH days and staff from the Centre visit from time to time as consultants in a wide range of fields from HIV/AIDS to health workforce planning. I would recommend UNSW Centre for Public Health to anyone with an interest in international health development.