Melbourne Health Economics undertakes a range of health economics work, including economic evaluation, measuring and valuing health and wellbeing, health systems research, economic modelling and risk prediction, health inequality, and methodological research. We use health economics research and training to support national and international improvements in health and health equity.
Our projects have informed policy-making decisions in a range of areas, at State, Commonwealth and International levels. We work within the Centre for Health Policy at the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health.
Our Research Units
Four Melbourne Health Economics Research Units were announced in November 2023
Latest MHE News
Newsletters
Further highlights and updates from the Health Economics Unit can be found in our past newsletters
Upcoming Opportunities
Learning
We offer a range of short courses in health economics, from one-day introductory level courses to three-day practical courses in economic evaluation.
Virtual Visitor Program
We have established a Virtual Visitor Program to enable PhD students and early career researchers from low and middle-income countries (LMIC) to be selected to participate online for free in our selective academic activities.
Contact Us
Address
Melbourne School of Population and Global Health,
207 Bouverie Street
The University of Melbourne
Victoria, 3010, Australia
Our research aims to improve health and healthcare delivery in Australia and internationally.
Our Research Projects
Research projects at Melbourne Health Economics span across four key research units:
Whether you're just starting out or a seasoned professional, we have Health Economics study options to suit your needs and schedule.
For more information on the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health's research, visit their study page.
Featured content
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Graduate Certificate in Health Economics
The Graduate Certificate of Health Economics and Economic Evaluation offers students the opportunity to develop core skills and knowledge in health economics. Students will learn the fundamental principles of health economics, gain an awareness of the Australian health care system and the complexities of health care finance and resource allocation within a global context.
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Health Economics/Economic Evaluation Stream within the Master of Public Health
We offer specialisation in health economics within the Master of Public Health. The health economics/economic evaluation (HE/EE) stream is for students who want to specialise in health economics and economic evaluation. There is no prior background knowledge in economics required to select this stream.
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PhD in Health Economics
We are a world class group of researchers producing cutting-edge research of high quality and impact. We provide an active and growing PhD program with structured mentoring and an active seminar series. A talented and dynamic current PhD cohort provides a great community of support and will enhance your PhD experience. Here is why you should study a PhD with the Health Economics Unit.
Melbourne Health Economics has a range of Australian and international engagements. These exist across the health sector and include other academic and research institutions, hospitals and healthcare delivery providers, industry, media, and government ministries and departments.
Methods and Implementation Support for Clinical and Health research (MISCH)
The Methods and Implementation Support for Clinical and Health (MISCH) research platform provides services including help in the early stages of grant writing, consultations on cost and outcome measurements and delivery of in-house health economic courses.
Melbourne Health Technology and Value Assessment Collaboration (HTA/M-VAC)
The Centre for Health Policy is the coordinating home to M-VAC, established to conduct value-based assessments and evaluations of pharmaceuticals, health services and technologies, preventive and curative programs, and digital health applications.
We offer a range of short courses in health economics, from one-day introductory level courses to three-day practical courses in economic evaluation.
Introduction to Cost Effectiveness Analysis in Health
In a climate of increasing budgetary pressures, organisations are required to take into account economic considerations when making decisions. Economic analysis provides information that can strengthen a case for funding and is designed to be directly relevant to policy makers. This is a course that provides an introduction to the application of cost effectiveness analysis in health.
Introduction to Health Economics for Health Technology Assessment
Every decision to fund a new medicine or medical device involves trade-offs — between cost and benefit, innovation and affordability, individual need and population impact. Health technology assessment (HTA) is the structured, evidence-based process through which these trade-offs are navigated — and it sits at the centre of some of the most consequential decisions in modern health systems.
Health Inequality and Health Care Equity Research Workshop
This one-day workshop brings together Australian and international researchers to present and discuss work on health inequality, inequity, and equity across access, utilisation, and financing. A key aim is to identify shared interests and future collaborative opportunities, with particular attention to what Australia's emerging integrated data infrastructure — including PLIDA — can offer for health inequality research.
Health Inequality Measurement: Concepts, Methods, and Applications (1-day In-Person)
This one-day course provides a solid grounding in the theory and practice of health inequality measurement, covering core concepts such as relative and absolute measures, health poverty, and the distinction between avoidable and unavoidable inequalities. Participants will learn how to design and conduct health inequality analyses — from defining research questions and sourcing data to applying advanced measurement techniques and critically evaluating empirical evidence.
Health Inequality Measurement: Concepts, Methods, and Applications (3-day Online)
Delivered online across three days, this course covers the theory and practice of health inequality measurement, exploring relative and absolute measures, health poverty, and avoidable and unavoidable inequalities — equipping participants to design, conduct, and critically appraise real-world analyses.
Introduction to Health Economic Evaluation Alongside Clinical Studies
This course provides an overview of cost-effectiveness analysis and examples of economic evaluations that have been conducted of trials. Practical information on methods for prospectively collecting costs and outcomes data through administrative data linkage and patient surveys will be provided. It will also explain the techniques used to analyse economic data and illustrate this through examples.
Practical Methods for Health Economic Evaluation
Economic evaluation is widely used to assess many new health care interventions and technologies and is routinely used to allocate scarce health care resources. This course aims to familiarise participants with the methods and techniques that are currently routinely used in evaluations with an emphasis on cost-effectiveness analysis. The course will cover the common steps in an evaluation, from methods for collecting cost and outcome data to analysing, reporting and interpreting the final results.
More Short Courses
For more information about short courses offered by the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, visit the Micro-credentials and Short Courses section on the Study website.