Enrolments for 2021 have closed.
Humanitarian Assistance and Health
Postgraduate | ACU-PUBH641 | 2021
Course information for 2021 intake View information for 2024 course intake
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 13 weeks weeks
FEE-HELP available
Humanitarian Assistance and Health
About this subject
On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Demonstrate advanced knowledge of humanitarian principles, theory, definitions and law, as well as the history of humanitarianism
- Compare and contrast health-related issues encountered in humanitarian assistance efforts
- Evaluate the roles and responsibilities of various actors within the international humanitarian relief system
- Critique current issues and debates in humanitarian assistance, particularly as they relate to health and humanitarian assistance in different contexts
- Integrate public health methods and approaches with humanitarian crisis interventions, with an emphasis on supporting attainment of humanitarian objectives
- Critically reflect on learnings about humanitarian assistance and health and identify opportunities for applying this in current practic
- Humanitarianism and humanitarian assistance
- Legal frameworks for humanitarian assistance
- Assistance and relief operations
- Current issues in humanitarian assistance
Humanitarian assistance is intended to “save lives, alleviate suffering and maintain human dignity during and after man-made crises and disasters caused by natural hazards, as well as to prevent and strengthen preparedness for when such situations occur”. Furthermore, humanitarian assistance should be governed by key humanitarian principles, namely: humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence. In 2016, it was estimated that over 164 million people living in 47 countries were in need of humanitarian assistance. Over a quarter of these people were in Yemen, Syria and Iraq. Most countries with humanitarian need experience complex emergencies, in which disaster, conflict and refugee displacement occur simultaneously. Across the world, there were an estimated 65.6 million displaced people in 2016. Humanitarian assistance is highly relevant today. This subject will enable students to gain an understanding of humanitarian principles, theory and definitions, along with an appreciation of the history of humanitarianism and significant events that have shaped modern humanitarian assistance. Student will build their understanding of the global architecture of humanitarian assistance, in terms of international relief systems, roles and responsibilities of relevant actors (government and non-government) and the principles of international humanitarian law. Students will then explore the health-related dimensions of humanitarian assistance, with emphasis on prevention and management of acute health risks during a humanitarian emergency. Students will conclude the subject by exploring other critical issues of humanitarian assistance, including relief operations, planning and needs assessment, disaster resilience and risk reduction, security issues, humanitarian workforce, relationship to long-term development, emergent humanitarian needs and confidence in humanitarian organisations. The aim of the subject is to give students a deep understanding of the continuing relevance of humanitarian assistance to public health.
A range of assessment procedures will be used to meet the unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes consistent with University assessment requirements. For PUBH641, assessments will consider both theoretical and practical aspects relating humanitarian assistance and health at local and global levels.
- Short Answer Task (40%)
- Evaluation of humanitarian response (50%)
- Practice Reflection (10%)
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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- QS Ranking 2024:
- 34
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 29
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.