New competencies for public health graduates: a useful tool for course design.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this paper is to provide a brief overview and context for the new Australian Network of Public Health Institutions (ANAPHI) Foundation Competencies for Master of Public Health Graduates in Australia, and to outline the current status of the quality agenda for public health training and competency standards for Master of Public Health (MPH) education in Australia. APPROACH: We summarise the complex history and process of developing competency standards for Master of Public Health courses in Australia, including the logic for a competency-based set of training guidelines. An abridged example of a competency and its underpinning knowledge is provided. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: This set of competency standards will be useful for MPH course designers, and critical to maintaining the standard of MPH courses in the current (and changing) health policy context, both in Australia and internationally.