Unit Outline

Globally, health systems are tasked with responding to contemporary challenges and the related disease burden and health needs of their population. This unit takes a systems approach to examine how health systems are designed, the key components, who pays, and how well the health system works to improve equity, quality, efficiency, and sustainability of health and social care for their populations. Critical thinking is emphasised as we examine if health systems are fit for purpose or resilient. The unit is designed in such a way that you will explore different health systems and consider the applicability to the Australian health system, thereby learning about the influence of context.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1.	Apply frameworks to examine the structural components of global health systems
2.	Analyse and critique the major international health status indicators and their data sources.
3.	Compare and contrast health systems challenges for different country contexts.
4.	Source, appraise and synthesise evidence driving health systems reforms in selected countries.
5.	Analyse population health situations and make recommendations for interventions to improve equity, quality, efficiency, and acceptability relevant to the context
6.	Communicate and present evidence-based information about health systems.

Alterations as a result of student feedback

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Group Discussion board participation (online)	Week 3	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6
Assessment Task 2:	Literature review	Week 8	40 %	LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6
Assessment Task 3:	Written Report	Week 13	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO5, LO6

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Group Discussion board participation (online)

Task Description:

Group Discussions on:
a) global health measurement,
b) global health challenges and
c) health system resilience

Due by date: Week 3, 6, 10

Task Length:

X3 (500 word contribution for each discussion board including all responses to other students)

Due Date:

Week 3

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Active and respectful engagement in an academic discussion with your peers.	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6
2	Demonstrate knowledge and reasoning by integrating relevant scholarly literature and quality non-academic literature to support arguments.	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6
3	Communicate in fluent academic writing, accurately referencing all sources.	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6

Assessment Task 2: Literature review

Task Description:

Literature review of health system reforms in an international country

Task Length:

3000 words

Due Date:

Week 8

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Critically review current health system reforms in an international country and how they relate to key health system components and performance.	LO2, LO3, LO4, LO6
2	Reflect on the lessons that can be learnt from international health reforms and comment on the applicability for health system innovation in Australia	LO4, LO5
3	Demonstrate competence in using research databases by providing evidence of your search strategy, identifying relevant literature, and critically evaluating the reliability of your sources.	LO4
4	Demonstrate ability in academic skills: − Expression and English conventions (spelling, punctuation, grammar, paragraphs) − Use of literature − Accurate and consistent referencing of literature sources using Harvard or Vancouver	LO6

Assessment Task 3: Written Report

Task Description:

Prepare a written report to improve the capacity of the Australian health care system to address the evolving health needs of a target population.

Task Length:

2000 words

Due Date:

Week 13

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Critically analyse the demands on the health system to meet the evolving health needs of a target population	LO2, LO3, LO5
2	Recommendations for health system change are evidence-based; discussion of the implementation strategies. .	LO5, LO6
3	Your report includes a justification of your recommendations using Duckett’s health system criteria – equity of outcomes, quality of care, efficiency, and acceptability for health consumers. Demonstrate ability in academic skills.	LO1, LO5, LO6

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.