Unit Outline

This unit will introduce the principles of economic thinking, including core economic concepts and tools that assist healthcare policy decision-making. There will be a focus on exploring the evidence base, context and economic decisions that occur within the process of public policy development. Students will critically examine the complexities of the economic environment and influence of advocacy coalitions using contemporary policy case studies in the healthcare sector.

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 the principles of economic thinking to challenges facing healthcare systems
2.	Critically appraise economic evaluations of public health interventions, strategies or policies and how they influence decisions in healthcare policy-making
3.	Critique health policy development processes and the interplay between drivers, actors and advocacy, within policy change.

Alterations as a result of student feedback

Nil

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:	Discussion Board	Week 3	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Critical Appraisal of an Economic Evaluation	Week 7	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:	Critical Analysis of Policy Development Process	Week 13	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Discussion Board

Task Description:

The Discussion Board is an important forum that promotes interaction and discussion between you and your fellow students. For this unit you are required to take the time to participate. Students will discuss the topics being covered in the unit as well as topical issues. MyLO is a public forum. Due levels of respect, professionalism and high ethical standards are expected of students
at all times.

Due Dates:
A: Week 3
B: Week 5b
C: Week 8
D: Week 10

Task Length:

Discussion Boards X4 (500 words each)

Due Date:

Week 3

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Engages in relevant academic discourse with well supported arguments	LO1, LO2, LO3
2	Applies relevant economic and policy concepts to the discussion topic	LO1, LO2, LO3
3	Adheres to academic writing and referencing	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment Task 2: Critical Appraisal of an Economic Evaluation

Task Description:

Identify an economic evaluation of an intervention, strategy or policy. Critically appraise the quality and utility of evidence for the policy making using an economic lens of equity, efficiency and opportunity cost

Task Length:

Up to 2000 words

Due Date:

Week 7

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Critically appraises the economic evaluation	LO1, LO2, LO3
2	Evaluates the values, assumptions and relevance of the evidence to policy making	LO1, LO2, LO3
3	Adheres to academic writing and referencing	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment Task 3: Critical Analysis of Policy Development Process

Task Description:

Choose one of the contemporary policy examples provided and critically analyse the policy development process

Task Length:

Up to 2500 words

Due Date:

Week 13

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Provides an authoritative critique relating to the policy development process and interplay of drivers, actors and advocacy	LO1, LO2, LO3
2	Evaluates policy by appropriately selected criteria	LO1, LO2, LO3
3	Adheres to academic writing and referencing	LO1, LO2, LO3

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.