Monash University Library supports innovative open textbook on health data
Left to right: Kelly Allen, Basia Diug and Penny RobinsonMonash University Library is proud to announce the first successful proposal from its Open Educational Resources (OERs) grant initiative, supporting the creation of a new open-access textbook titled Health Data in Practice.
Led by Professor Basia Diug from the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, the project brings together a multidisciplinary team including Kelly Allen, Senior Lecturer and Director of the Bachelor of Public Health and Penny Robinson, Lecturer and Biostatistician.
Health Data in Practice is a practical, interactive guide designed to help students and practitioners apply biostatistics to real-world health contexts. It emphasises the human stories behind the numbers, using global datasets and case studies from Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond.
The textbook will feature interactive activities, worked examples using a statistical software package, and guidance on ethical data use – including the role of generative AI in health research. Approximately 2,600 Monash students per year will benefit from this open textbook.
The Library will support the project with expertise in copyright, open licensing, and OER platform (Pressbooks) formatting and publishing (including accessibility compliance) to help create a more inclusive student experience. As part of the grant, the Library will also organise peer review, copy editing and promotion.
Go to the Library’s OER grant program webpage to learn more about the initiative.