Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Public health is now recognised as a core component of the health system and therefore offers secure employment opportunities. Public Health graduates can work as health promotion officers, school health educators, assistant epidemiologists, researchers, state and national health program managers and health policy officers in government, non-government organisations and the private sector in Australia and overseas.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to provide you with practical experience and real world learning. Specifically the unit aims to:

1. Provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the Public Health workforce in Queensland, elsewhere in Australia and internationally;
2. Ensure you understand the wide range of competencies and skills acquired by BHSc (Public Health) graduates during the PU40 degree;
3. Provide you with real world examples of the various pathways by which graduates make the transition to employment. These examples include presentations by Public Health professionals and local worksite visits.

Objectives

Upon successfully completing this unit, you should be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the structure and function of the Public Health workforce.
2. Identify the competencies and skills, professional frameworks and future career pathways of BHSc (Public Health) graduates.
3. Be familiar with the 'practice profiles' of BHSc (Public Health) graduates specialising in specific fields in Public Health.
4. Demonstrate sound knowledge of the ways in which BHSc (Public Health) graduates work collaboratively with other professionals in this field.
5. Critically reflect on the workplace experience, with a particular focus on Public Health professionals' roles and communications, social and ethical responsibilities, and practical skills.

Content

The main focus of this unit is to understand the scope of professional practice and you will participate in site visits to a range of services where you will directly observe the operation of people working in entry level, mid level and senior roles in these organisations.

Major topics within lectures and tutorials include: in-depth preparation on a range of worksites of Government and non-Government agencies involved in health promotion and disease prevention, surveillance and control, environmental health and community health program management. In the first half of the semester you will study the structure of the Public Health workforce and the core competencies and skills of BHSc graduates. The lecture sessions will include presentations by employers and you will also learn from case studies provided by recent graduates who are now in the workforce. You will also learn about a brief history of public health practice; size and distribution of the workforce; major and minor employers in Australia and internationally; public health skills and competencies; occupational classifications, salaries and working conditions; important and essential duties for health promotion officers, health educators, epidemiologists, environmental and occupational health officers, Public Health nurses, media and communications specialists, health researchers in hospitals, universities and other agencies and Health program managers working on program design, implementation and evaluation within state and community based agencies.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit will be available in internal mode. You will be engaged in lectures, readings,case studies, tutorials and field site visits.

Assessment

There are three assessments to be completed throughout the semester.Assessment will be spaced throughout the semester to provide the opportunity for feedback on your learning at key points. You will be provided with feedback on each assessment item as you progress through the unit.

Assessment name: Report
Description: You are required to write a research report on the Public Health agencies visited.
Relates to objectives: 1,4,5
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Towards end of sem

Assessment name: Creative Work
Description: You will be required to work with a group of students to capture still photos and/or video images of examples of public health in action and exhibit this work
Relates to objectives: 1,2,4.
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Mid-semester

Assessment name: Examination (written)
Description: You will be required to complete a written examination
Relates to objectives: 1,2,3,4
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Examination period

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Textbook:
None
Essential readings are made available on your unit's online Blackboard page and the Course Material Database.

Risk assessment statement

Assessment for this unit will involve a workplace-based assignment. Students should make themselves aware of and abide by the health and safety requirements of the workplace and are expected to undergo any induction or other training provided in the workplace for employees or visitors to the workplace as appropriate.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 14-May-2012