Outline

Overview

This unit of study will provide foundational knowledge about primary health care with an emphasis on the application of the principles to practice. The World Health Organization (WHO) framework of primary health care as a philosophy, a set of activities and a strategy for organizing health services will be critiqued and how it relates to individuals, families and communities will be explored. The importance of (i) holistic understanding and recognition of social determinants of health, (ii) equality, affordability, availability, appropriateness, accessibility and acceptability in health care service provision, (iii) the application of primary health care to different health care settings.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Nursing and Midwifery
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Debra Jackson, debra.jackson@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
Written work	Assessment 1: PHC Interventions to reduce health inequities Critical appraisal	20%	Week 07 Due date: 15 Apr 2026 at 23:59	1250 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Assessment 2: Designing a new PHC service-in class group assessment Oral presentation (in class) plus written reflection	20%	Week 10 Due date: 05 May 2026 at 23:59	15 minutes plus 500 word reflection	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Assessment 3: Primary health care and equity report Report	60%	Week 12 Due date: 20 May 2026 at 23:59	2500 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Assessment 1: PHC Interventions to reduce health inequities: Students will explore an example of current research in PHC and critique the applicability of the intervention to local needs.
Assessment 2: Social determinants of health, access and equity in-service presentation: In groups, students will collaborate to discuss how social determinants of health (SDH) can affect access to health care, and how principles of PHC support equity. Social determinants of health, access and equity reflection: Individually, students will write a reflection that describes key learnings from the presentation and their personal contribution to the group presentation.
Assesment 3: Primary health care and equity report: Students will apply the principles of PHC to identify the key service requirements in a vulnerable population group of their choice.

Please note: Each student is required to submit all assessment items in order to pass this unit.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2021 (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.

Grade	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard.
Distinction	75 - 84	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard
Credit	65 - 74	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard
Pass	50 - 64	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard
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.

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:

*Where an assignment is submitted late without an approved extension, a late penalty will apply. 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 marks 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 03	Social Determinants of Health	Lecture (1 hr)
	How do social determinants of health affect health equity	Lecture (1 hr)
	Primary Health Care in rural and remote Australia	Lecture (1.5 hr)
	National Health Priorities	Tutorial (0.6 hr)
	How to critically appraise a research paper (Assess 1 preparation)	Workshop (0.5 hr)
	Poverty in Australia	Tutorial (0.5 hr)
	PHC Research: Health and wellbeing for Gay middle-aged men	Lecture (1 hr)
	Poverty in Australia	Workshop (1 hr)
	Nurse led models to enhance the health of people in rural and remote Australia	Lecture (0.75 hr)
	Sexual Health in Primary Health Care	Lecture (1 hr)
	National Heath Priorities	Tutorial (0.5 hr)
	Principles of PHC	Lecture (1 hr)
	Group assignment: preparation and planning	Workshop (1 hr)
	Vaccination and PHC	Lecture (0.5 hr)
Week 10	Policy approaches to addressing social determinants of health in PHC	Lecture (1 hr)
	Group presentations and discussion	Seminar (2.5 hr)
	National Health Priorities	Lecture (0.5 hr)
	Small group work: Health inequality	Seminar (1 hr)
	The Primary Health Care workforce	Workshop (0.5 hr)
	PHC and Mental Health	Lecture (1 hr)
	Falling through the cracks: severe mental illness, stigma and survival in the community, and Nurse-led PHC: changing policy and practice	Workshop (1 hr)
	First Nations Peoples and PHC	Lecture (1 hr)
	Group activity: Applying the Principles of PHC in Aboriginal and Torres Strait lslander Health	Workshop (1 hr)
	PHC, Equity and Systems Analysis	Seminar (1 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: Attendance and participation are monitored. Students are expected to attend, engage and participate in scheduled classes and required learning activities. Students must notify the school if they are, or will be, unable to attend a required learning activity; and apply for special consideration or special arrangements; or have an academic plan with relevant adjustments, where appropriate.

(a) Students who fail to attend a required learning activity will be recorded as absent.

(b) Students must attend/participate in all intensive study days and related in-person or synchronous online required learning activity scheduled per unit of study.

(i) no absences without permission from the Unit of Study Coordinator or Program Coordinator are permitted

(c) At the discretion of the Unit of Study Coordinator, where relevant, an alternative (catch-up) learning activities may be approved and provided to students absent from all/part of an intensive study day or other scheduled learning activity, due to unforeseen circumstances or with an approved planned absence:

(i) maximum two intensive study day absences permitted per unit of study where an approved alternative (catch-up) learning activities are completed.

(ii) where a student satisfactorily completes an approved alternative learning activity, this will be recorded

Note: Students must apply for Special Consideration for absence from any scheduled required learning activity which includes an assessment.

Referencing style: The Sydney Nursing School has adopted the American Psychological Association (APA) Referencing style, 7th Edition, 2020 as its official referencing style. This is an author-date style of referencing.
Assignment formatting guidelines: Unless the unit coordinator has indicated otherwise, please make sure your submitted assessments are formatted as follows:
- font: use Calibri or Times New Roman in 11 - 12 point
- double line spacing
- margins: 2.5cm each side
- use page numbers
- refer to assessment instructions for use of title and headings

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

Readings will be available in e-reserve on the Canvas site.

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. critically examine the impact of social determinants on health
LO2. assess the social determinants impacting on your local communities
LO3. critically discuss the history, philosophy and principles of primary health care
LO4. critically discuss the renewed focus on primary health care internationally and in Australia
LO5. apply a primary health care approach to nursing practice.

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.

Feedback from 2024 was very positive after a major re-write of the subject. There will be more examples of PHC in practice in 2025.

Additional information

Sensitive materials in teaching: Please note that in this Unit of Study sensitive and potentially distressing or disturbing content might be presented and/or discussed from time to time. This may include reference to for example, illness, or death and dying, abortion or culturally sensitive issues. These topics are relevant to your learning in this unit of study and your knowledge and skill development for nursing practice. You will be advised before the information/topic is presented. If you are participating in the teaching session/activity online, you are advised to use headphones and ensure that anyone not participating in the session cannot see images that you may be watching on your device. If the nature of the content makes you feel uncomfortable or distressed, it is important that you contact the unit coordinator or another member of the academic team to discuss this with them.

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

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

NURS5097: Primary Health Care

Semester 1, 2026 [Block mode] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

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

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links