Unit Outline
CXA309
Health Services and Health Informatics
Health Study Period 3, 2024
Ha Hoang
School of Health Sciences
College of Health and Medicine
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B

Unit Coordinator
Ha Hoang
Email: Thi.Hoang@utas.edu.au
 

What is the Unit About?
Unit Description
This unit aims to broaden students understanding of the Australia Health Care System and its operation. It provides the opportunity for students to critically analyse and review the current and emerging challenges in health care delivery. Weekly topics will explore challenges of equity in health care and cover topics such as primary health and advocacy, healthcare work force, mental illness, disability services, indigenous health, refugee and migrant health. In addition, the challenges and opportunities of chronic conditions self-management, global health and technical advancements in health informatics/ communication to improve health services are discussed.
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
Critically review the Australia healthcare system and the implications for the way health services have been organized and delivered within the community over time.
2
Explore emerging challenges and opportunities associated with preventative healthcare delivery in Australia and the need for change
3
Discuss how disease trends, community expectations, workforce trends, health inequities, government policy and models of healthcare all influence the changing landscape of Australian healthcare.
4
Communicate health informatics and health services effectively in an interdisciplinary context using an evidence-based approach.
Alterations as a result of student feedback
 
 
 

Teaching arrangements
ATTENDANCE MODE
TEACHING TYPE
LEARNING ACTIVITY
CONTACT HOURS
FREQUENCY
Online
Tutorial (Online)
6 x 1 hr online tutorials per semester
1
Study Period 6 times
Independent Learning
Self directed online learning of approximately 10hrs a week.
10
Weekly
Attendance / engagement expectations
If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online or includes online activities, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline or MyLO, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.
 
 
 
 

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:
Online Learning Quizzes
Refer to Assessment Description
30 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:
Position Paper
Refer to Assessment Description
30 %
LO1, LO2, LO4
Assessment Task 3:
Critical Review
Refer to Assessment Description
40 %
LO2, LO3, LO4
 
Assessment details
Assessment Task 1: Online Learning Quizzes
Task Description:
A short online learning quiz comprising a mixture of question types for each learning module (3 in total with each worth 10% of the overall mark for the unit).
Task Length:
3 quizzes x 30 minutes each
Due Date:
Refer to Assessment Description
Weight:
30 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Describe the way health services are organized and delivered within the community.
LO1
2
Explain challenges and opportunities associated with preventative healthcare delivery in Australia
LO2
3
Identify factors affecting the Australian Healthcare system.
LO3
 
Assessment Task 2: Position Paper
Task Description:
This is an individual task. Advocacy discussion papers can be used as a call for action or intended to simply raise awareness on a social issue, in this instance a specific health care issue. Research and write an advocacy discussion paper to a key decision-maker to make the case for a permanent increase in funding to address a preventative health issue that can be prevented. Further information is available in MyLO.
Task Length:
1500 words
Due Date:
Refer to Assessment Description
Weight:
30 %
 
 

CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Describe and Discuss a chosen health care issue
LO1, LO2
2
Provide and critically evaluate diverse literature sources
LO1, LO4
3
Describe and justify a reasoned response to a health care issue.
LO2, LO4
4
Advocate effectively to the chosen decision-maker
LO2, LO4
 
Assessment Task 3: Critical Review
Task Description:
You are required to write a critical review that draws on the knowledge and understandings that you have gained in this unit. You are required to select one topic that is of professional and / or personal interest to you. Further details are available in MyLO.
Task Length:
2000 words
Due Date:
Refer to Assessment Description
Weight:
40 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Discuss a chosen health issue
LO2, LO3
2
Critically review the delivery of health services from the perspective of current and emerging challenges, opportunities and potential solutions.
LO3, LO4
3
Describe and justify a reasoned response to a health care issue.
LO2, LO3, LO4
4
Communicate effectively in writing
LO4
 
 
 

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.
Academic integrity
Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see
Important Guidelines & Support.
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.
 
 

 
 

Required Resources
Required reading materials
There is no required text for this unit.
 
Recommended reading materials
Reynolds, L., Debono, D., & Travaglia, J. (2023). Understanding the Australian Health Care System (5th ed.). Elsevier Australia. ISBN: 9780729544825.
 
Other required resources
Other Recommended readings:

Briggs, D. (2017). Challenges for Health Systems: Australian Perspectives. Public Administration and Policy. Vol 20, no 1, pp 6-17.

Baum, F., Freeman, T., Lawless, A., et al. (2017). What is the difference between comprehensive and selective primary health care? Evidence from a five-year longitudinal realist case study in South Australia. BMJ Open;7:e015271.

Dalton L,. Hills, A., Jayasinghe, S., Strong, K., Hyland, P. and Byrne, N. (2023). The Allied Health Expansion Program: Rethinking how to prepare a workforce to enable improved public health outcomes. Frontiers in Public Health. Vol 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1119726

Rifkin, S.B. (2018). Alma Ata after 40 years: Primary Health Care and Health for All—from consensus to complexity. BMJ Glob Health;3:e001188. doi:10.1136/ bmjgh-2018-001188

Stoneham, M., Vidler, A., & Edmunds, M. (2019). Advocacy in action: A toolkit for public health professionals (4th ed.)