The MAE is an on the job training program. Therefore scholars spend the majority of their time (approximately 20 months of the 22-month degree) in their field placement and the majority of their learning occurs there. People interested in the MAE do not need to organise a field placement.

Applicants are matched with field placements through the MAE application process which usually opens around July each year.

Each year a number of organisations, primarily health departments and research institutes offer to host an MAE scholar. This commitment includes:

• Funding the MAE scholar via scholarship
• Releasing the scholar to attend coursework intensives at ANU (including covering accommodation and transport costs)
• Providing a qualified field supervisor
• Ensuring the student is able to meet the competencies required by the degree

There are generally between 15-18 field placements per year that offer to host an MAE scholar. 

Occasionally a field placement will sponsor an internal candidate (usually an existing staff member) through the MAE Program. This needs to be discussed with and approved by the MAE Director.

Current field placements 

Field placements change each year depending on the capacity of field placements organisations to host scholars. 

2023 field placements:

• ACT Health
• Austin Health
• Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care Communicable Disease Epidemiology and Surveillance Section
• Burnet Institute
• Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services
• Gold Coast Public Health Unit
• Hunter New England Local Health District
• Institute of Urban Indigenous Health
• North Coast Population and Public Health
• Northern Territory Government, Department of Health
• Melbourne Health
• South Eastern Sydney Local Health District
• NSW Health
• South Australia Department of Health and Wellbeing
• The Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
• Queensland Health
• The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, New South Wales
• Joint placement: Antimicrobial Resistance Policy Section, Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care and the University of Melbourne (as represented by the Microbiological Diagnostic Unit Public Health)
• Joint placement: The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research  and Melbourne Health

Australian placements (2021 & 2022):

• Australian Government Department of Health – Communicable Disease Epidemiology and Surveillance Section, Health Emergency Management Branch, National Incident Centre
• ACT Health
• Central QLD Public Health Unit
• Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology and Public Health
• Country Health WA
• Health Protection NSW
• Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation
• National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, ANU
• National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance
• Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
• QLD Health
• Tas Health
• SA Health
• SAHMRI
• Victorian Department of Health
• WA Health
• Joint Placement: Victorian Department of Health and Microbiological Diagnostic Unit Public Health Laboratory
• Joint Placement: Menzies School of Health Research NT and Northern Territory Primary Health Network
• Joint Placement: National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, ANU and Gold Coast Public Health Unit

ASEAN Placements (2019 & 2020):

• Institute de Pasteur, Cambodia
• National Centre for Laboratory and Epidemiology, Laos
• National Institute for Hygiene & Epidemiology, Vietnam
• Myanmar Ministry of Health, Myanmar