Alumni profile: Oskar Sachs
Discover Oskar's insights and experiences from our programs. Published on the 21/5/2026 by Naomi Crain
A mid-life career pivot leads to an unexpected passion for public health research.
How undertaking a Master degree research project led to enrolling in a PhD.
Oskar Sachs had spent over 20 years nursing in various clinical settings. He’d reached management level, finding the caring and patient-contact aspects of his career rewarding and meaningful.
But a personal loss in 2020 led him to begin considering different career options. He wanted something that would provide the sense of purpose and helping people in need that his nursing career had provided, but without the personal stress and burnout he felt coming if he were to continue down his current path.
UNSW’s School of Population Health (SPH) postgraduate programs appealed to Oskar for several reasons. He could begin study from Tasmania, where he lived at the time, but could transition to on-campus studies if he moved to Sydney (which he did). The SPH offered a double Master degree program, which would allow him to undertake a Master of Public Health and a Master of Health Management & Leadership. SPH also offered the option to pivot from his original enrolment as he went along, which became central to his decision.
“If I’d been looking at returning to clinical management, my original choices would have been suitable. But ... going through the course, I just gravitated towards the epidemiology side of things. Subjects were taught in a way that really piqued my interest and helped me form the idea of doing mixed methods research in the future. So, I changed my enrolment after about six months, and I know of other students have done this also. It’s fine not to have a perfect career path, or idea of exactly what you want to do when you begin.”
Knowing he wanted to progress on to a PhD, Oskar needed to undertake a research component as part of his Master degree. With no prior experience in research, this felt daunting at first, but the expertise and support of his teachers made it easier.
“I was fearful of biostatistics, in particular. However, I had an amazing biostatistics lecturer, Associate Professor Timothy Dobbins. A lot of students really like his approach. Associate Professor Kathleen Falster, my lecturer in epidemiology was another standout academic. Their teaching styles were so supportive and encouraging, and they understand that students may be apprehensive and have anxiety around these subjects. I credit both for my success in biostatistics and epidemiology and my continued interest in quantitative research. However, I knew I wanted to take subjects that would provide further grounding for a PhD, so I took an elective in qualitative research as well.”
Oskar also found that UNSW, and SPH in particular, really nurture students and help them build confidence, develop academically, and work towards their career goals.
“They’re not there to hold your hand, but to teach you the skills you need to find your own way. I heard the academics’ own stories of how their careers had progressed, which gave me perspective and insight into what might be possible for myself. The course is taught in such a good way that it gave me the confidence that I could also achieve my goals. And when you’re struggling, the staff and the University support students very well. Students also have access to an Equitable Learning Plan for example, if they’re facing learning difficulties, disabilities, or personal difficulties, which is important as well. They’re just very supportive of everybody.”
Wanting to experience research firsthand, with the view to undertaking a PhD, Oskar looked to the Research Projects course. The SPH provides a list of available research projects for Master degree students enrolled in various postgraduate SPH courses, and Oskar found a project with Associate Professor Sally Nathan, and Scientia Professor Alison Ritter, from the Drug Policy Modelling Program. It aligned with his future research goals, so was a great fit.
“I was very, very lucky to have had this opportunity. The project looked at the [then] upcoming 2024 NSW Drug Summit. I chose a thematic and framing analysis of the Summit. I would encourage students to look for a research project that they’re inspired by, something that they’re passionate about, and to bring their own ideas and their own twist on the topic, knowing that they can always propose an to modify a project to suit their interest and skillset.”
Oskar’s project reviewed how third sector organisations (advocacy organisations) framed drug policy issues in the lead up to the Summit, and during the Summit. These were then analysed and compared to the content of the final Summit report. The goal was to compare how the advocacy framing was reflected in the report. The findings revealed a disappointing reality.
“We found that the recommendations of the advocacy organisations were quite filtered and muted in the report. Only some of the service level improvements were even included. More contentious issues, such as decriminalisation or needle and syringe programmes in custodial settings, which were big issues for third sector groups, were not reflected in the report at all. I’ve learnt about the political constraints faced, not only by those third sector advocacy groups, but also in how I wrote about it in our paper, which has now been published”
This area was not simple to understand; it was a steep learning curve and exercise in scholarship for Oskar. But, as with his coursework studies, he felt the support and mentorship of his project supervisors.
“This area is Professor Alison Ritter’s bread and butter, and she’s wonderful. It was so good to be mentored by her. Her knowledge on Australian drug policy in particular is boundless. I’d meet with Sally Nathan too, to discuss concepts central to qualitative research, such as reflexivity, transferability and transparency, along with having debriefs among other students doing projects on the Summit.”
Oskar’s paper from this project is published in the International Journal of Drug Policy, a top tier international journal. With the help of his co-authors, he was able to be a first-time lead author– an exceptional achievement. The paper is available to read here.
Oskar’s positive experience of the Research Projects course gave him the platform to begin his PhD in 2026. To those considering a UNSW SPH Master’s degree with a research component, he has this to say:
“I’d recommend students try and find a mentor, reach out to people. Generally, they’re very receptive to this. I reached out to the Kirby Institute’s Dr Mo Hammoud. He took me under his wing, and gave me a job with him, part-time, to help pay my way through university, and to develop my skills in real-world research. I’m forever grateful to him.”
And to students feeling they may be too old or it’s too late to study again and pivot careers, he has this advice:
“I was 48 when I began my Master degree, and I’d had a 20-year career in clinical nursing. But if you’re driven by something and passionate about it, it really doesn’t matter. There are so many niche subjects and specific research topics available. Just bring some flair and colour of your own. Because when you see your work published, you think ‘wow, that’s really me’ – it’s a pinch me moment. Research is impactful, it can change health outcomes for people who may not have a voice for themselves or may be underserved in our community. I just feel like I’m doing something impactful that will leave a lasting legacy and 30 years ago I would never have thought I’d be here. You’re never too old.”
Oskar is now undertaking his PhD, through UNSW, with The National Drug & Alcohol Research Centre, just as he’d hoped at the start of his Master degree. He’s looking at missed opportunities for opioid agonist treatment among people with opioid dependence in New South Wales, under the supervision of Scientia Professor Louisa Degenhardt.