Health Promotion and Social Inclusion
PostgraduateACU-HLSC6522024
Course information for 2024 intake
Give people experiencing mental illness an equal chance to be healthy and well. You’ll study the determinants of health, uncovering inequalities and barriers to wellbeing. Promote physical and mental wellness across different cultures and communities.
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- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 10 weeks
- Loan available
- FEE-HELP available
Health Promotion and Social Inclusion
About this subject
On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:
LO1 - Explain the determinants of health and the physiological, personal, cultural and social factors that contribute to health and well-being;
LO2 - Utilising a multidisciplinary approach, critically examine the physical health inequalities, access and equity issues and coexisting needs of individuals with mental illness;.
LO3 - Evaluate strategies that will support individual recovery through sensitive, effective and evidence-based mental health care for people from diverse backgrounds, cultures, communities, language groups, gender and sexual identities.
- Determinants of health
- Coexisting conditions
- Health promotion policy & plans
- Health promotion
- Health maintenance and prevention
- Health resources
Individuals experiencing mental illness are reported to experience a significantly increased prevalence of physical health inequalities. Mental health practitioners must therefore be able to recognise and respond to these needs through the provision of holistic person-centred recovery-oriented interventions.
Within a cultural perspective the physical health of individuals with an underlying mental health condition, who experience the phenomenon of diagnostic overshadowing, will be explored. Challenges associated with coexisting health conditions, including alcohol and other drug use, psychopharmacological agents and the impact on the individual will be examined. Students will identify strategies and policies for health promotion, prevention and early intervention. Within a multidisciplinary team approach students will explore issues related to access and utilisation of health resources for recovery. This subjectwill broaden and enhance students' knowledge and skills in applying effective health promotion strategies for individuals with a mental health condition.
The aim of this subject is to provide students with the opportunity to critically evaluate the relationship between mental health and physical health, and the social inequalities of health experienced by individuals experiencing mental illness.
The assessment strategy used allows for the progressive development of knowledge and skills necessary for the student to be able to demonstrate ethical and effective professional practice in the delivery of recovery-oriented models of care to people experiencing physical health issues.
The assessments tasks are designed to align with the learning outcomes and content to ensure that students demonstrate an understanding of health promotion issues and social inclusion for the person with mental illness. Assessment 1, 2 and 3 are scaffolded to provide students with opportunity to first demonstrate their understanding of health promotion in mental health care through collaborative dialogue with peers and lecturers. The second assessment task requires students to demonstrate their understanding of social determinants that impact on the physical and mental health of a vulnerable population. The final assessment task is a capstone activity which requires students to draw on their learning from this unit in the application of health promotion and social inclusions strategies to clinical practice.- Written Assessment: Enables students to critically examine the social determinants that impact on the physical and mental health of a vulnerable population. (50%)
- Case Study: This task provides an opportunity for students to apply health promotion and social inclusion strategies drawing on content from the topics coverd in the unit. (50%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
Established in 1991 after amalgamating four eastern Australian Catholic tertiary institutes, Australian Catholic University now has seven campuses, from Brisbane to Melbourne and welcomes students of all beliefs. Specialising in arts, business, education, health sciences, law, theology and philosophy, ACU encourages its students to think critically and ethically and bring change to their communities and offer this online through Open Universities Australia.
Learn more about ACU.
Explore ACU courses.
- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 35
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 26
Entry requirements
To enrol in this subject, you must be admitted into a degree.
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.