The light at the end of the tunnel is getting close for Fatima Salman, who is on track to complete her degree in less than six months. The Bachelor of Health Science was a great choice for her, as someone who didn’t foresee a clear career path at the end of Year 12, but enjoyed science, has a deep interest in healthy lifestyles, and wanted to explore some study options relevant to those interests.

“I’m really interested in the science of health and wellbeing, but also sharing that knowledge and enthusiasm through writing and journalism activities.”

To help scratch that itch, it’s fair to say that Fatima has thrown herself into a host of voluntary activities throughout her study, including with UN Youth Victoria, being an Allied Health Peer Mentor at Monash, and serving as Vice President for the Monash Health Science Society.

“The Health Science Society creates a community of like-minded students, providing academic support and social activities and networking events like Cheers to Careers. It’s been a great opportunity that’s given me a chance to develop my event management skills, interpersonal skills, leadership ability and more.

“Volunteering has kept me busy, but it’s really complemented my learning, and allowed me to make friends and connections I wouldn’t otherwise have had.”

She’s also taken up a lot of other extra-curricular activities on offer through Monash. A funded trip to Indonesia through the University’s Global Immersion Guarantee was a stand-out enrichment event, as was volunteering to create digital content covering the 2024 World Health Summit Regional Meeting. Hosted by the Monash School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine in Melbourne, this unique global health event brought 1,250+ world leaders in public health together in Australia for the first time.

“That was a surreal experience. I found myself interviewing some incredible international leaders in the field, and people like Associate Professor Lucas de Toca, who is Australia’s Ambassador for Global Health, and our Ambassador for Gender Equality, Stephanie Copus Campbell AM. Sitting in on some of the sessions was brilliant too, covering topics like how we can limit the impacts of the climate emergency and geopolitics on health, and how we can bolster the health of First Nations people in our region in culturally sensitive ways.”

In terms of knowledge gained directly from her studies, she says, “Aside from all the practical skills I can take with me into my future job roles, I think a key learning for me has been just how pervasive public health is in every day lives. Prevention in the community is just so important, and I’ve also learnt how good health policy at a government or council level shapes that.

“We’ve also learnt a lot about the importance of evidence-based practice, and how that evidence base is formed. Something that I’m also really intrigued by is the deep partnerships and collaborations involved in public health. Because so much of a person’s health is determined by social, cultural and economic factors, it’s a field that needs people with a huge range of expertise working together. Not just doctors and nurses, but people with expertise in economics, linguistics, anthropology, forensic science… the list goes on.”

With course completion now on the horizon, she’s considering her next move. “I really like that this course has given me a range of highly transferrable skills, and I can take them in so many directions. Right now I’m interested in nutrition, and I can see that one day I might continue into further study in that field. But if I change my mind, I can see that I have plenty of options.

“The Bachelor of Health Sciences is an amazing degree with various pathways that help shape your future career. It’s well-structured with excellent teachers and tutors. If you are looking for a broad degree, health science can be an excellent choice. It offers many electives and options to explore, helping you find something you are passionate about.”