phe6ais advanced issues in health

ADVANCED ISSUES IN HEALTH AND WELLBEING

PHE6AIS

2016

Credit points: 15

Subject outline

In this subject, students will develop understanding of core areas of public health knowledge and practice, enabling them to apply a population-level perspective on health issues, including the focus of their doctoral research project. Students will gain critical skills as they examine historical origins of public health practice, persistent tensions in the field, contemporary trends and developments in public health policy, practice and research, and 'heath futures' -health and public health practice in 2030. Students with interests in health care practices, services and systems will gain insights into health care as part of the 'organised effort' in public health. Seminal materials in the global development of the field will be reviewed, along with contemporary commentaries. Activities and readings will engage students in an historical-analytical perspective on the major knowledge bases contributing to public health. Actual or virtual site visits will bring theoretical materials to life, and link what has been learned to real-life contexts and issues.

SchoolSchool of Psychology & Public Health

Credit points15

Subject Co-ordinatorSally Fawkes

Available to Study Abroad StudentsNo

Subject year levelYear Level 6 - Doctoral

Exchange StudentsNo

Subject particulars

Subject rules

PrerequisitesN/A

Co-requisitesN/A

Incompatible subjectsN/A

Equivalent subjectsN/A

Special conditions Offered subject to sufficient enrolment numbers.

Learning resources

Readings

Resource TypeTitleResource RequirementAuthor and YearPublisher
ReadingsThe Australian health care systemRecommendedDuckett S and Willcox, S, 2011MELBOURNE: OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, 3RD EDN., 2007.
ReadingsPublic health practice in Australia: The organised effortPrescribedLin V, Smith J and Fawkes SSYDNEY: ALLEN AND UNWIN
ReadingsHuman frontiers, environments and disease: past patterns, uncertain futures.RecommendedMcMichael AJ.CAMBRIDGE: CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS, 2001.
Discipline SpecificVarious resourcesRecommendedHistorical and contemporaryVarious

Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes

01. Critically analyse the historical development of public health principles, practice, systems and research, the relationship of public health to health care and how changes in socio-cultural and political values and ethics relate to public health action

Activities:
Reading/ viewing, analysing and discussing prescribed materials and undertaking further independent investigation through desktop research
Related graduate capabilities and elements:
Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Inquiry/Research)
Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Inquiry/Research)
Personal and Professional Skills(Ethical behaviour,Study and Learning Skills)
Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)

02. Contextualise proposed doctoral research projects in terms of 'the bigger picture' - national, regional and global efforts to improve health, wellbeing and equity of populations.

Activities:
Analysing and discussing key reports from international and national institutions, organisations and commissions, discussing the links between these efforts and the student's proposed area of research
Related graduate capabilities and elements:
Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Inquiry/Research)
Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Inquiry/Research)
Personal and Professional Skills(Ethical behaviour,Study and Learning Skills)
Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)

03. Compare and contrast selected contemporary examples of public health action on issues for health and wellbeing such as communicable diseases (eg HIV, Ebola), noncommunicable diseases (eg cancers, heart disease, obesity) and other health issues (eg food insecurity, family violence, gambling, trade regulation).

Activities:
Analysing prescribed materials, undertaking further desktop research and speaking with colleagues involved in the design of efforts to act on contemporary examples of public health action Peer-led discussion
Related graduate capabilities and elements:
Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Inquiry/Research)
Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Inquiry/Research)
Personal and Professional Skills(Ethical behaviour,Study and Learning Skills)
Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)

04. Distinguish public health action that uses a people-centred approach

Activities:
Undertaking actual or virtual field visits to exhibits and centres (eg for example, Koorie Heritage Trust, Immigration Museum and Melbourne Museum) that provide educational opportunities to gain deep insight into the diverse populations that make up Australian society and trends shaping demographic change
Related graduate capabilities and elements:
Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Inquiry/Research)
Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Inquiry/Research)
Personal and Professional Skills(Ethical behaviour,Study and Learning Skills)
Personal and Professional Skills(Ethical behaviour,Study and Learning Skills)
Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)

05. Apply core principles of public health to design an approach to addressing or solving a particular health issue of interest to the student.

Activities:
Using research to devise a set of public health measures Critically assessing these measures with peers and experts in the field
Related graduate capabilities and elements:
Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Inquiry/Research)
Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Inquiry/Research)
Personal and Professional Skills(Ethical behaviour,Study and Learning Skills)
Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)

06. Demonstrate understanding of the responsibilities and duty of care that health practitioners, organisations and institutions have to research participants and data.

Activities:
Reviewing and discussing selected articles and books that examine a range of ethical aspects of research in public health and health care
Related graduate capabilities and elements:
Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Inquiry/Research)
Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Inquiry/Research)
Personal and Professional Skills(Ethical behaviour,Study and Learning Skills)
Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)

07. Explain how scenarios are developed and used in public health policy and practice to anticipate issues, risks, opportunities and challenges.

Activities:
Independent investigation followed by discussion of findings in online discussion postings
Related graduate capabilities and elements:
Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Cultural Literacy)
Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Inquiry/Research)
Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Inquiry/Research)
Personal and Professional Skills(Ethical behaviour,Study and Learning Skills)
Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)

Subject options

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Start date between: and    Key dates

City, 2016, Week 11-26, Online

Overview

Online enrolmentYes

Maximum enrolment sizeN/A

Enrolment information

Subject Instance Co-ordinatorSally Fawkes

Class requirements

Block ModeWeek: 11 - 26
Five 5.0 days block mode per study period on any day including weekend during the day from week 11 to week 26 and delivered via online.

Assessments

Assessment elementComments%ILO*
One 2000-word essay4001, 02, 03
One 2000-word commentary Students will be invited to participate in an online discussion of their commentaries, to gain insight into the work and learning of peers3004, 05, 06
One 20-minute oral presentation3001, 07