Home
Employment
Training Programs
NSW Biostatistical Officer Training Program

NSW Biostatistical Officer Training Program

Background

The growing emphasis on evidence-based public health, and the collection of vast amounts of increasingly complex health data, have resulted in an increasing requirement for high-level biostatistical skills within the public health workforce. In recognition of this need, the NSW Department of Health has established a three year Biostatistical Officer Training Program within the Centre for Epidemiology and Research.

The Program offers a career path for biostatisticians working in public health by bridging the gap between academic studies and development as a professional biostatistician.

The Program is a three-year competency based training program offering supervised on-the-job training. The trainees are supported by way of payment of their University fees and offering study leave to undertake a Masters degree in Biostatistics part-time through distance learning. During their training, the Biostatistical Officers rotate through a range of placements throughout the NSW public health system.

Since the first Trainees commenced in 2001, six Biostatistical Trainee Officers have graduated and a further twelve are in various stages of the program.

Career Outcomes

Upon graduation, the Biostatistical Officers should have completed the necessary requirements for the relevant Masters degree, as well as have three years' working experience as a Biostatistician. The Program provides a broad training that will enable graduates to subsequently apply their biostatistical expertise to many different spheres of public health practice. Graduates should be capable of working as senior Biostatisticians in a range of public health services, research, development, policy and planning positions.

Competencies

The training addresses 5 core competencies, in the areas of:

Biostatistical methods and study design.
Data management and analysis.
Professional Practice.
Communication.
Management.

For the full Competency Curriculum see Competency Standards for Biostatisticians, NSW Biostatistical Training Program

Competency Standards for Biostatisticians

Projects

Some typical placements:

Centre for Physical Activity and Health, South West Sydney Area Health Service;
Cancer Institute NSW;
Centre for Public Health Nutrition;
InforMH (Mental Health Information);
NSW Injury Risk Management Research Centre, University of NSW;
The George Institute;
Clinical Excellence Commission.

and within the NSW Department of Health:

NSW Health Survey Program;
Population Health Indicators and Reporting Branch;
Population Health Information Branch;
Surveillance Methods Branch;
Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Advancement
Rural Health Information Group (based in Sydney);
Environmental Branch.