Skip to main content
Unit of study_

HSBH3011: Rural Health

Semester 1, 2021 [Distance education/intensive on campus] - Remote

This unit introduces students to a range of practice and research issues in rural health care. Topics covered include: the nature and variety of rural settings; special populations and cultural safety; rural health needs and access to health services; relevant models of health service delivery; and the rural health workforce and inter-professional practice.

Unit details and rules

Unit code HSBH3011
Academic unit Health Sciences
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
HSBH1007 or HSBH2007
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Leigh Wilson, leigh.wilson@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Kylie Crnek-Georgeson, kylie.crnek-georgeson@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Individual report
Written assessment
30% Week 06 1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment group assignment Group project
Written assessment with presentation
45% Week 13 1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO7 LO8 LO9
Participation Participation
Attendance and contribution to online discussions
25% Weekly n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO9 LO8 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • Participation: Participation in this unit consists of two components - mandatory lecture attendance in week 1 and online participation through online discussion board, and online quizzes.
  • Individual report: You will select a case study of your choice and based on the client and their health issue, formulate an intervention plan, and discuss two social determinants of health that impact on the suggested intervention plan.
  • Group project: For this assignment you will work in groups of four to come up with a research question relating to rural health. Your team will conduct a systematic review and present your findings in a poster presentation format.
Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

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.

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.

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 to rural health Lecture (2 hr)  
Discussion Online class (2 hr) LO1
Week 02 1. Social determinants of health; 2. Discussion Online class (2 hr) LO1
Week 03 1. What is culture?; 2. Quiz Online class (2 hr) LO2
Week 04 1. Health needs of special populations; 2. Discussion Online class (2 hr) LO3
Week 05 1. Health needs and access to services; 2. Discussion Online class (2 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 06 1. Models of rural health service delivery; 2. Discussion Online class (2 hr) LO4 LO5
Week 07 1. Rural health workforce; 2. Discussion Online class (2 hr) LO4 LO5
Week 08 1. Rural and remote practice; 2. Quiz Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 09 1. Interprofessional practice; 2. Discussion Online class (2 hr) LO5 LO6
Week 10 1. Research in rural areas part 1; 2. Quiz Online class (2 hr) LO7 LO8
Week 11 1. Research in rural areas part 2; 2. Discussion Online class (2 hr) LO7 LO8
Week 12 1. IT infrastructure and eHealth; 2. Discussion Online class (2 hr) LO8 LO9
Week 13 1. Evaluation of rural health; 2. USS evaluation Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: There is one face-to-face lecture for this unit, and attendance is mandatory. Attendance will be recorded as part of the participation assessment. This mandatory lecture will be in week 1 of the semester where students will be introduced to the unit content and form their groups for the group project. The time and location of the lecture will be announced on Canvas. A participation mark is part of the unit’s assessment tasks described below. Substantial participation marks will not be earned for missing this mandatory lecture. All other material will be presented in an online format through the Canvas site.
  • Required materials: Online/distance education units of study have the following computer requirements: desktop computer or laptop (not tablet), webcam and microphone (built-in or external), and connection to network with sufficient internet speed (at least 3 Mbps download speed and 3 Mbps upload).

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.

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. identify and discuss the factors that impact health (the social determinants), and apply how these impact upon the health status of rural and remote populations
  • LO2. understand the nature of “culture”, and reflect on the influence of cultural contexts in health service delivery, including the concept of cultural safety, what it means, and why it is important for health professionals
  • LO3. demonstrate an understanding of the different types of health services available in rural and remote Australia
  • LO4. identify and describe who the rural and remote health workforce are, what they do, and identify the factors impacting on recruitment and retention of health care workers in regional, rural, and remote Australia
  • LO5. describe the essential skills and needs of health professionals working in multi/interdisciplinary teams in rural areas
  • LO6. reflect on new technologies and infrastructure including telehealth and eHealth to move health care forward in rural areas
  • LO7. reflect on the importance of research in rural areas, and identify key areas of research required for the health of rural populations
  • LO8. identify and discuss benefits and key challenges of conducting research in rural areas
  • LO9. apply research skills in identifying and discussing the most up to date reports and scientific literature in the field of rural health.

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.

Additional video recordings and more interactive online learning

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.