Outline

Overview

This unit comprises a series of online lectures and discussions followed by a 2 day face-to-face workshop. The unit aims to teach students about the demography, epidemiology and economics of population ageing in Australia and globally, and about common health conditions that impact on healthy ageing, including dementia, frailty and falls, and the evidence regarding prevention and management of these health conditions. This unit will also include teaching about the structure and role of health and aged care services. The 2 day workshop will focus on fall prevention, from the epidemiology and economic cost of falls to fall risk factors and evidence-based strategies for the prevention of falls and physical activity strategies for healthy ageing, areas of particular expertise in the School of Public Health.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Public Health
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	PUBH5419
Assumed knowledge ?	This will be covered in the prerequisite units of study
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Anne Tiedemann, anne.tiedemann@sydney.edu.au
Guest lecturer(s)	Janani Thillainadesan, jthi2250@uni.sydney.edu.au
Guest lecturer(s)	Vasikaran Naganathan, vasi.naganathan@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Cathie Sherrington, cathie.sherrington@sydney.edu.au
	Anne Tiedemann, anne.tiedemann@sydney.edu.au
	Saman Khalatbari Soltani, saman.khalatbarisoltani@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Rik Dawson, rik.dawson@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 March 2025

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Online discussion 1 and written summary Online participation and written assessment	5%	Week 02 Due date: 07 Mar 2025 at 23:59	200 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Online discussion 2 and written summary Online participation and written assessment	5%	Week 03 Due date: 14 Mar 2025 at 23:59	200 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Online discussion 3 and written summary Online participation and written assessment	5%	Week 04 Due date: 21 Mar 2025 at 23:59	200 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Online discussion 4 and written summary Online participation and written assessment	5%	Week 05 Due date: 28 Mar 2025 at 23:59	200 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Short assignment Written assessment	30%	Week 09 Due date: 28 Apr 2025 at 23:59	1500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Major assessment Written assessment	50%	Week 13 Due date: 26 May 2025 at 23:59	3000 words
Outcomes assessed:
= AI allowed ?

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Generative AI may be used to help you complete all assessment tasks. You may also use it as part of your preparation for tutorial discussions. Permitted uses of AI in these assessments include:

· Generating ideas.

· Suggesting a structure or outline for your assignment.

· Searching for and summarising relevant literature.

· Translation.

· Checking grammar.

· Editing, polishing, and proofreading initial drafts.

The following uses of AI are prohibited:

· Using AI to write the first draft of any of your assignments or your discussion posts (if you are participating in discussion board tutorials).

· Copying and pasting text generated by AI without incorporating original writing and your own interpretation.

Further, it is your responsibility to ensure that anything produced by AI is accurate and referenced appropriately.

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	Thoroughly addresses all aspects of the question/ topic. All relevant information is included in the assignment. Strong, cohesive argument backed up with evidence. Original and novel observations. Assignment is appropriately structured. Assignment is cohesively written. Clear format. Very few grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors. Excellent use of English language. Format is of publication standard.
Distinction	75 - 84	Addresses key aspects of the question/topic. Few omissions in information. Argument is strong and backed up with considerable relevant evidence. Well synthesized and coherent argument. Some novel observations and original thinking. Assignment has a good structure. Information is well organized and logical. A considerable number of sources and references used. Assignment is well written. Some minor grammatical, spelling and/or punctuation errors. Good use of English language.
Credit	65 - 74	Addresses the question/topic. Some minor omissions in information. Argument is cohesive and backed up with evidence. Some original observations. Assignment structure is generally good. Most information is well organized and generally logical. A moderate number of sources and references used. Some grammatical, spelling and/or punctuation errors. English is sound.
Pass	50 - 64	Some parts of the question/topic are addressed. Some major omissions in information and misinterpretation of data. Argument often lacks coherence. Few original observations. Assignment has some structure. Some information is poorly organised and at times does not flow logically. A small number of sources and references used. A number of grammatical, spelling and/or punctuation errors. Problems with English construction.
Fail	0 - 49	Does not address the question or topic. Crucial omissions in information. Serious misinterpretation of data. Serious errors in deduction. Argument is weak or non-existent. No original observations. Assignment is unstructured or over structured with mostly lists. Information is poorly organized and does not flow logically. Very few sources used. Personal anecdotes without critique. Large number of grammatical, spelling and/or punctuation errors. Important errors in English construction rendering parts of the text incomprehensible.

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

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

Except for supervised exams or in-semester tests, you may use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessments unless expressly prohibited by your unit coordinator.

For exams and in-semester tests, the use of AI and automated writing tools is not allowed unless expressly permitted in the assessment instructions.

The icons in the assessment table above indicate whether AI is allowed – whether full AI, or only some AI (the latter is referred to as “AI restricted”). If no icon is shown, AI use is not permitted at all for the task. Refer to Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks for this unit.

Your final submission must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of automated writing tools or generative AI, and any material generated that you include in your final submission must be properly referenced. You may be required to submit generative AI inputs and outputs that you used during your assessment process, or drafts of your original work. Inappropriate use of generative AI is considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

The Current Students website provides information on artificial intelligence in assessments. For help on how to correctly acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the  AI in Education Canvas site.

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.

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 01	Demography and epidemiology of population ageing	Online class (1 hr)
Week 01	Week 1 online tutorial	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 02	Social determinants of healthy ageing	Online class (1 hr)
Week 02	Week 2 online tutorial	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 03	Health and aged care systems	Online class (1 hr)
Week 03	Week 3 online tutorial	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 04	Social and economic impacts of population ageing	Online class (1 hr)
Week 04	Week 4 online tutorial	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 05	(a) Ageing in low- and middle-income countries (b) WHO approach to ageing and ageism	Online class (1.5 hr)
Week 06	Assessment and management of older people in hospital and in the community	Online class (1 hr)
Week 07	Frailty	Online class (1 hr)
Week 08	Cognition and ageing	Online class (1 hr)
Week 10	Fall prevention and physical activity promotion for older people	Workshop (16 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: There will be 8x1 hour online recorded lectures, 4x1 hour online discussions, and a 2 day face-to-face workshop

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 the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

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. develop a deep understanding of the demography, epidemiology, and economics of population ageing in Australia and globally
LO2. develop a deep understanding of common health conditions that impact healthy ageing
LO3. understand how to use evidence to develop effective fall prevention programs
LO4. understand the role of physical activity for healthy ageing, and the different approaches needed to encourage a more active society.

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.

Content has been updated to ensure relevancy to public health students from a variety of disciplines and recency of information and evidence.

Additional information

More information can be found on Canvas.

Additional costs

There are no additional costs for this unit.

Site visit guidelines

There are no site visit guidelines for this unit.

Work, health and safety

There are no specific WHS requirements for this unit.

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.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

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

Additional costs

Site visit guidelines

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

PUBH5510: Healthy Ageing and Fall Prevention

Semester 1, 2025 [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) and automated writing tools

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

Additional costs

Site visit guidelines

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links