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Unit of study_

HSBH3011: Rural Health

Semester 1, 2024 [Online] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

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 Participation Sciences
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
48 Cred points of units
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Scott Denton, scott.denton@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Scott Denton, scott.denton@sydney.edu.au
John Gilroy, john.gilroy@sydney.edu.au
Kim Bulkeley, kim.bulkeley@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Individual report
Written assessment
45% Formal exam period
Due date: 03 Jun 2024 at 23:59
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment group assignment Group project
Presentation and written submission
35% Multiple weeks Multimedia task, individual reflection
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Participation Tutorial and discussion board participation
Contribution to tutorials -weeks 1,4,8,12; weekly discussions -other weeks
20% Weekly Weekly participation Weeks 1-13
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • Participation: Participation is assessed via the online tutorials (1-2pm Thursdays in Weeks 1, 4, 8, 12) and weekly discussion board posts in all other weeks. This is a compulsory activity that you are required to contribute to, commencing in Week 1. Students are expected to contribute to at least 10 weekly tutorial and discussion board activities.
  • Individual report: You will create an individual research project on an assigned topic in relation to the delivery of health and social care services in rural Australia. Due week 15.
  • Group multimedia presentation and individual written submission: For this assignment you will work in groups of 3-4 to develop a 10 minute multimedia presentation on rural health care. You must meet with your group weekly until you present your topic (weeks 6-13). The group presentations, when submitted, will be added to the the discussion boards, and subsequently will form part of the learning materials for the unit. You are required to contribute to discussions around other groups’ presentations. There is also an individual written component of the project that needs to be completed. 
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.

It is a requirement of this Unit of Study that all assessment items are attempted.

Failure to attempt any assessment item will result in you being awarded an Absent Fail grade (0-49 AF), regardless of your cumulative marks in the Unit of Study.

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.

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:

Written work submitted electronically after the due date will be considered to have been submitted late. For every calendar day up to and including ten calendar days after the due date, a penalty of 5% of the maximum awardable marks will be applied to late work. For work submitted more than ten calendar days after the due date 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.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 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 2023. 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

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction to rural health Individual study (2 hr) LO3
Compulsory attendance. Familiarisation with unit content and assessments. Selection of groups for group activity. Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO6 LO7
Week 02 Models of rural health service delivery Individual study (2 hr) LO3 LO4
Discussion board participation. Must be completed weekly. Online class (1 hr) LO7
Week 03 Social determinants of rural health Individual study (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Discussion board participation. Must be completed weekly. Online class (1 hr) LO7
Week 04 Service delivery for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability in rural Australia Individual study (2 hr) LO2 LO3
Tutorial class - live activities and assessment check in. Tutorial (1 hr) LO7
Week 05 Reflection on research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in rural Australia Individual study (2 hr) LO2 LO6
Discussion board participation. Must be completed weekly. Online class (1 hr) LO7
Week 06 Interprofessional practice Individual study (2 hr) LO4 LO5
Discussion board participation. Must be completed weekly. Online class (1 hr) LO7
Week 07 Health needs of different populations Individual study (2 hr) LO2 LO3
Discussion board participation. Must be completed weekly. Online class (1 hr) LO7
Week 08 Health and wellbeing for people with disability in a rural setting Individual study (2 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Tutorial - live class activities. Catch up on assessment. Tutorial (1 hr) LO7
Week 09 Health needs and access to services Individual study (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Discussion board participation. Must be completed weekly. Online class (1 hr) LO7
Week 10 Rural health workforce Individual study (2 hr) LO3 LO4
Discussion board participation. Must be completed weekly. Online class (1 hr) LO7
Week 11 Research in rural areas Individual study (2 hr) LO6
Discussion board participation. Must be completed weekly. Online class (1 hr) LO7
Week 12 Rural and remote practice Individual study (2 hr) LO3 LO4
Tutorial - live class activities. Catch up on assessment. Tutorial (1 hr) LO7
Week 13 IT infrastructure and eHealth Individual study (2 hr) LO5
Discussion board participation. Must be completed weekly. Online class (1 hr) LO7

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance

All material will be presented in an online format through the Canvas site. There are scheduled tutorial classes for the unit in weeks 1,4,8 and 12 only (1-2pm Thursdays, via zoom). For all other weeks you must work through the materials for the week in the week in which they are assigned, and complete the discussion board work during that week. Students are required to attend and participate in the online tutorials and complete the discussion board tasks in order to receive a participation mark. Students are expected to contribute to at least 10 weekly tutorial and discussion board activities.Discussion contributions will be graded. From week 2 you must also meet weekly with your group to prepare your group presentation. You may do this during the scheduled workshop time.

Required materials

Online 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.

Required readings

Refer to the Canvas page for unit readings for each week. 

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 these to the health status of rural and remote populations
  • LO2. reflect on the influence of community and 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
  • LO5. reflect on the role of infrastructure and new technologies on health, including telehealth and eHealth in rural areas
  • LO6. reflect on research relevant to rural areas, and identify key areas of research required for the health of rural populations
  • LO7. Discuss and collaborate with others to develop your knowledge 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
LO1         
LO2         
LO3         
LO4         
LO5         
LO6         
LO7         

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

Additional video recordings and more interactive online learning has been built into the unit content based on the USS results for 2022. The class now includes timetabled online tutorials for weeks 1, 4, 8 and 12.

Teaching and learning style

This unit is taught in asynchronous mode apart from the 4 online tutorials in weeks 1,4,8 and 12. This means that you largely work through the class materials at your own pace each week. You access the materials and work through them at times that are most convenient to you. Each week there will consist of:

  • recorded lectures and/or interviews and videos
  • readings
  • quizzes
  • discussion boards that you must contribute to (see below)
  • group assessment development and design (in small groups of 3-4)

Discussion board

In weeks 2,3,5,6,7,9,10,11 and 13 there will be a discussion board that you must engage with at multiple points in order to discuss key topics with your classmates. Your contributions will be graded and this grade will contribute to part of your 20% participation mark for your overall grade for the unit.

Discussion boards will become available at 9am on Monday each week and available until 12 midnight Friday each week. You will not be able to contribute after this time but may read the discussion boards. If you cannot contribute to a week’s discussion you must let the unit coordinator know as soon as possible.

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.