History and Principles of Public Health
PostgraduateACU-PUBH6102024
Course information for 2024 intake
Enrolments for this course are closed, but you may have other options to start studying now. Book a consultation to learn more.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Loan available
- FEE-HELP available
History and Principles of Public Health
About this subject
On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:
- Demonstrate advanced knowledge of the history and principles of 'public health' as well as public health values, principles and scope of practice (GA5)
- Critically analyse research evidence for public health in priority setting and policy development (GA4, GA5)
- Critique the role of public health principles and community engagement in improving population health (GA2, GA5)
- Apply methods and assessment tools used in contemporary practice to public health challenges (GA6, GA7, GA8)
- History of public health
- Public health values, principles and scope of public health practice
- Evidence for public health prioirity setting and policy development
- Community engagement and behaviour change for improving population health
- Contemporary public health challenges and approaches
An in depth understanding of the history and principles of public health is vital to becoming an effective public health professional. In this unit, students will examine the principles of public health and consider key historical developments that have shaped public health, with an emphasis on the broader social and economic influences. Students will examine public health values and ethical principles indicating how they support public health scope of practice. The assessment of evidence used in public health will be introduced particularly as it relates to priority setting and policy development in health care. . Students will apply their understanding of the principles for public health in activities that exemplify key debates, difficulties and resourcing dilemmas of contemporary public health challenges. The aim of this unit is to provide students with the opportunity to evaluate the historical milestones in public health that have shaped it as a discipline and through critical analysis of the key principles that underpin public health practice develop experience in using tools used in the discipline.
A range of assessment procedures will be used to meet the unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes consistent with University assessment requirements. In order to successfully complete this unit, students need to complete and submit three graded assessment tasks and obtain an aggregate mark of greater than 50%.
ACU-PUBH610 assessment tasks 1 and 2 are designed to simulate the work of public health practitioners. In Assessment Task 1, students act as population health consultants contracted to perform a health inequality audit of a local area in Victoria. Students apply a standard audit tool to available data on the health status of the local population, and provide an analysis of health inequality in the area. In Assessment Task 2, students will consider factors that influence priority setting and resource allocation in Victoria, informed by their health inequality audits.
Assessment Task 3, a learning reflection, allows students to consider the unit content as a whole, in terms of its relevance to public health and its applicability to situations students have observed in practice and its practical effects.
All assessment tasks will be submitted electronically.- Journal article response (20%)
- Health Inequality audit (40%)
- Priority setting activities (40%)
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.
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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.