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Unit of study_
NURS3015: Australian Health Care System
2024 unit information
This unit of study takes a big-picture perspective to explore the political dimensions of health and healthcare in the Australian context. It focuses on the ways in which political imperatives influence conceptualisations of health and illness, and the organisation and delivery of healthcare. Students will be introduced to the key structural and funding components of the Australian healthcare system, their interrelationships and implications for the way care is conceptualised and delivered in Australia. This unit is designed to enhance awareness and understanding of ways in which the health care system can both facilitate and limit access to health care for particular population groups, providing a focus on access and equity issues that contribute to patient experiences and their health outcomes. The unit will critically compare the Australian system with other national health-care systems to develop students’ understanding of how the Australian system is situated, and perceived, internationally. Workforce issues will be explored, including the various roles of healthcare professionals and the ways in which these roles, and associated inter-professional relationships, may change over time. There is a focus on developing students' ability to critically assess current issues and challenges facing the Australian health system, including pressures for reform. Throughout the unit, there is an emphasis on nursing as a critically important profession within the broader healthcare arena.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Nursing and Midwifery
| Code | NURS3015 |
|---|---|
| Academic unit | Nursing and Midwifery |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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48 credit points of 1000 level units and 36 credit points of 2000 level units |
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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None |
| Assumed knowledge:
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None |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. demonstrate a thorough understanding of the ways in which the Australian health-care system is structured and funded, and a critical awareness of the strengths and weaknesses of the system.
- LO2. analyse the political nature of healthcare in Australia and the ways in which this affects the experiences of particular groups of people in need of care, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
- LO3. critically analyse trends in the Australian healthcare system performance in relation to quality, safety and cost effectiveness, and how these trends in compare with other national systems’ performance, the factors shaping these trends and how they impact patient outcomes and satisfaction.
- LO4. engage in contemporary debates that focus on health-care reform, quality and safety and sustainability in Australia and elsewhere.
- LO5. demonstrate a thorough understanding of current Australian and international health workforce issues including their impact on the nursing profession.
- LO6. demonstrate a critical awareness of political influences, the importance of patients as partners, interprofessional collaboration and contemporary health care challenges in Australia and their implications for the nursing profession.
Unit availability
This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.
The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
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Semester 2 2024
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Normal day | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.
