Economics of Mixed Health Systems 2026
Date and time
Wednesday 27 May 2026, 9.30am – 5pm
Location
Monash College, 750 Collins St, Docklands VIC 3008
Overview
The Economics of Mixed Systems short course introduces participants to the economic principles underlying Australia's complex public-private health care system. Topics include understanding the role of private health insurance, consumer demand for public and private care, waiting time dynamics, supply-side factors such as physician dual practice and cream-skimming, and contemporary issues facing the sector.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Understand how economists conceptualise demand for public and private health care, including the costs of waiting.
- Evaluate the rationale for—and effectiveness of—private health insurance incentives.
- Analyse supply-side dynamics including dual practice, co-location, and cream-skimming behaviour.
- Apply economic thinking to assess intended and unintended effects of policy interventions.
- Critically assess claims about the role of private health in relieving public system pressures.
Who should attend?
The course is designed for those seeking to apply economic concepts and evidence to current health policy issues. No prior economics knowledge is required; material is presented in a non-technical way with opportunities for group discussion.
Suitable for:
- Public servants and health policy analysts.
- Health service managers across public and private sectors.
- Health professionals.
- Consultants in health and human services.
Cost
- $950AUD for a single course, or $1800AUD for the two-course package.
- Volume discounts are also available for more than three participants from the same organisation. Please contact us directly for further information about how to take advantage of the volume discounts.
Fees include attendance at a full day of face-to-face seminars and group work, catered lunch, morning and afternoon tea.
Teaching staff
Associate Professor Terence Cheng, Theme Lead (Health Financing and Market Organisation), Centre for Health Economics, Monash Business School
A/Prof Cheng is an expert on the economics of public and private health systems. He has published extensively in leading international journals on topics covering public and private healthcare and insurance, medical labour markets, international markets for healthcare, and health and well-being. He is currently on the editorial board of the international journal Health Systems and Reform.
A/Prof Cheng has held academic and research appointments at universities in Australia, Singapore and the United States. He returned to Australia in 2024 after a three-year stint as a Research Scientist of Health Systems Research and Policy at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He has consulted for the World Health Organisation, the World Bank and various government departments in Australia.
Program
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 9.00am | Arrival and registration |
| 9.30 – 10.40am | Overview and Australia's hybrid system through a comparative lens |
| 10.40 – 11.15am | Morning tea break |
| 11.15am – 12.30pm | Understanding consumer demand & group work |
| 12.30 – 1.10pm | Lunch break |
| 1.10 – 2.20pm | Financing private health: private health insurance & group work |
| 2.30 – 3.30pm | Supply-side perspectives |
| 3.30 – 3.50pm | Afternoon tea break |
| 3.50 – 4.30pm | Discussion "A future for private health" and Q&A |