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Unit of study_

HSBH1012: Introduction to Health and Health Care

Semester 1, 2023 [Normal day] - Remote

This unit will develop students' broad understanding of the different approaches to health (e.g. biomedical, psychological, sociological). This would include understanding the different factors which impact health; how different approaches may lead to different strategies for developing and evaluating health solutions; and different ways of measuring health. Students are then enabled to consider how these different approaches to health are reflected in health systems, both locally and internationally. Students will explore different healthcare systems locally and internationally, whilst gaining knowledge of current and future challenges for health systems and health policy in Australia and abroad.

Unit details and rules

Unit code HSBH1012
Academic unit Participation Sciences
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
HSBH1006 or HSBH1008 or HSBH1009
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Erin Fearn Smith, erin.fearnsmith@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Portfolio Assessment
Portfolio assessment
45% Formal exam period
Due date: 05 Jun 2023 at 23:59
1400 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Presentation group assignment Group presentation + individual reflection
Group presentation and individual written submission
30% Multiple weeks See Canvas for details
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Skills-based evaluation IPL Introductory Workshop
Compulsory attendance week 3 or week 4.
0% Multiple weeks 2 hours (plus written activities).
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO5 LO4
Assignment Short answer question
Written assessment
25% Week 06
Due date: 02 Apr 2023 at 23:59
750 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

We hope to inspire you with these assessments – to help you draw connections between your everyday encounters with the health sector and your experiences of health and health care with evidence and theory. They are also created to introduce you to assessments at university – to the expectations, writing style, and strategies for learning effectively at uni. 

The assessments are designed to provide you with feedback on your learning early and throughout the unit of study. Please use this feedback as you complete subsequent assessments. 

The course Canvas site contains the specific assessment questions, marking criteria, and additional resources to help you complete your assessments. If you have questions, please share them on the course discussion board (Piazza) – it’s the fastest way to get a response from your teachers. 

The marking criteria will outline the expectations for each assessment. Please note that each assessment must be attempted. If you do not submit a serious attempt for any assessment, you will be automatically awarded an Absent Fail grade. 

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

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard, or do not submit a serious attempt at any of the assessment tasks. 

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

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.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

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 Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

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.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction: What is Health? Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 02 Patterns of health and disease Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1
Week 03 Measuring Health Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1
Week 04 Social Determinants of Health Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 05 Health as Social Justice: Western and Aboriginal Perspectives Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 06 Health Promotion Campaigns Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 07 Rural and Regional Australian Health Approaches Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 08 Australian Health System & Organisation of Health Care Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3
Week 09 Organising the Australian Digital Health Care System Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO5
Week 10 Financing Health Care Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO5
Week 11 Introduction to Global Health Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO5
Week 12 Health Literacy Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 13 Lived experience: Navigating the health care maze Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3

Attendance and class requirements

You are required to attend one weekly 2-hour lecture via zoom and your scheduled tutorial. You will also be required to complete weekly online tasks between face-to-face classes. These can include readings, watching videos and completing online activities.

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.

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.

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

  • LO1. Discuss the effectiveness of national and global health systems in supporting the different approaches to health
  • LO2. Apply your understanding of the social determinants of health to evaluate the effectiveness of health systems and approaches to improving health and wellbeing.
  • LO3. Explain the complexity of factors influencing healthcare decisions at individual, community, and systems levels
  • LO4. Communicate effectively in a range of contexts, using different writing styles as appropriate
  • LO5. Critically evaluate and synthesise evidence to draw conclusions about contemporary issues in health and health care

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
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

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

We are introducing the following based on 2022 student feedback: 1. Greater opportunities in the tutorials for discussion of ideas raised in lectures and readings 2. More support for developing critical analysis skills. 3. More opportunities for you to check your understanding and receive feedback early and throughout the semester.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

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