GLOH5115: Semester 1, 2026

Units GLOH5115 Semester 1 2026 [Online]

Unit outline_

GLOH5115: Advocacy for Women's and Children's Health

Semester 1, 2026 [Online] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Women's and children's health are critically important for the health of a population, as healthy women give birth to healthy babies, who then grow into healthy adults. Ensuring advocacy and equity in their healthcare is essential to providing all individuals, regardless of their circumstances, with access to the resources and support they need. This unit explores why gender-focused advocacy, and its resulting community mobilisation, is such a valuable tool for global health to amplify the voices of communities not yet heard and introduces key approaches to support students to develop their practical skills. This unit provides an introduction to the health status of women and children in resource-poor settings, and highlights the interconnectedness of women's and children's health, and why it is important to monitor and report women and children's health outcomes. This unit presents some of the major causes of morbidity and mortality for women and children around the world, with an overview of the interventions and approaches to improving outcomes from a public health perspective. Throughout the semester a range of experts describe some of the major issues related to the health of women and children. In the tutorials students facilitate a weekly discussion and thus get a deeper understanding of one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality and apply advocacy tools to support skill development.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Public Health
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	MIPH5115
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Elizabeth Kirkwood, elizabeth.kirkwood@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 March 2026

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Practical skill	Tutorial facilitation Facilitation of one tutorial on designated topic and week (1 hour +prep)	25%	Ongoing	One tutorial on designated week	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Assignment 1 Written assignment, essay style, topic provided	25%	Week 07	2000 - 2500 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Assignment 2 - Group report Written assessment of a question we provide	30%	Week 12	8 pages + 2 pages of references	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Evaluation	Peer evaluation of participation in group report Peer evaluation of participation in group report	10%	Week 12	N/A	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Contribution	Participation in tutorials and attendance each week Participation in tutorials and round-up each week	10%	Weekly	Contribution to discussions	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Please see rubric
Distinction	75 - 84	Please see rubric
Credit	65 - 74	Please see rubric
Pass	50 - 64	Please see rubric
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 02	Weekly tutorials 1 hour	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 02	There will be an online object based learning short exercises for students who cannot attend the Chau Chak Wing field trip	Self-directed learning (1 hr)
Week 03	Weekly tutorials 1 hour	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 04	Weekly tutorials 1 hour	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 04	This is a fortnightly 'round-up' discussion preference for in person/zoom attendance, however OL available	Workshop (1 hr)
Week 05	Weekly tutorials 1 hour	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 06	Weekly tutorials 1 hour	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 06	This is a fortnightly 'round-up' discussion preference for in person/zoom attendance, however OL available	Workshop (1 hr)
Week 07	Weekly tutorials 1 hour	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 08	Weekly tutorials 1 hour	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 08	This is a fortnightly 'round-up' discussion preference for in person/zoom attendance, however OL available	Workshop (1 hr)
Week 09	Weekly tutorials 1 hour	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 10	Weekly tutorials 1 hour	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 10	This is a fortnightly 'round-up' discussion preference for in person/zoom attendance, however OL available	Workshop (1 hr)
Week 11	Weekly tutorials 1 hour	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 12	Weekly tutorials 1 hour	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 12	This is a fortnightly 'round-up' discussion preference for in person/zoom attendance, however OL available	Workshop (1 hr)
Week 13	Weekly tutorials 1 hour	Tutorial (1 hr)
Weekly	The lectures will be pre-recorded and available weekly	Self-directed learning (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance and participation in the weekly tutorial and round-up is complusory. There is one field trip to the Chau Chak Muesum, on campus.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through canvas, and the library site embedded in canvas..

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. demonstrate an enhanced understanding of the magnitude, and major causes of morbidity and mortality for women and children in low resource settings
LO2. demonstrate familiarity with some of the current public health approaches to improving women’s and children’s health in resource poor settings
LO3. consider advocacy issues for women and children with a public health lens, in particular issues related to the social, cultural, and economic status of women and children
LO4. demonstrate advanced understanding of some of the major causes of mortality, and programs to reduce mortality related to a particular low or middle income country.
LO5. develop higher-level thinking, oral communication, self-management, and leadership skills.
LO6. practice collaborative skills and effective teamwork

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

In 2024, we are providing more learning material for working in groups, and how to facilitate a tutorial. We have restructured the facilitation timetable to be more student friendly and align with weekly modules. We have added allowable use of AI and rules of how you can use it.

Additional information

Additional costs

No additional costs

Site visit guidelines

Please attend the site visit and be on time.

Disclaimer

Important: the University of Sydney regularly reviews units of study and reserves the right to change the units of study available annually. To stay up to date on available study options, including unit of study details and availability, refer to the relevant handbook.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Site visit guidelines

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links