Students

POIX825 – Health Policy

2017 – S2 OUA

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff OUA Convenor
Sandey Fitzgerald
Contact via Email
OUA Co-ordinator
Matthew Bailey
Contact via Email
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to GradDipPASR or MPASR
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit examines the politics of health policy, introducing the institutions and actors engaged in global and domestic health governance, and examining the impact of power and inequality on health policy formulation and health outcomes. It explores a range of current issues in health policy, including the securitisation of health, the prevention, treatment and management of chronic and communicable diseases, the social determinants of health, and public health intervention. The unit provides a comparative understanding of health issues using case studies from Australia and around the world.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.open.edu.au/student-admin-and-support/key-dates/

Learning Outcomes

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

  • Explain and critically analyse the way in which power and politics impact on health policy making and health outcomes, including the impact of inequality, wealth, gender, and the social determinants of health
  • Identify, explain and critically evaluate the role of the key actors and institutions involved in health governance and policy making in the Australian context, and the global context
  • Identify, critically analyse and discuss the major debates and controversies involved in this subject, including debate around inequality; the social determinants of health; gender and health; prevention, treatment and management of communicable diseases; the securitisation of health; knowledge politics; the impact of domestic and global governance and institutional structures on health policy formulation and implementation; participation and marginalisation of interests in health policy making
  • Develop the ability to identify research problems or gaps in extant knowledge about health policy context and the policy-making process, and to identify and use the most appropriate strategies to conduct research that will solve these research problems
  • Synthesise research findings into a simple, logical and coherent argument to be presented using a variety of techniques (written, spoken, visual) and technologically-supported media
  • Using material from this course, demonstrate an enhanced awareness of local, national, global affairs and issues of political, social, and economic justice, particularly with regard to issues of inequality, gender, social determinants of health, and inclusion or exclusion from the policy process
  • Evaluate and apply scholarly analysis of the policy process around health to real-world situations

General Assessment Information

Assessment submission

Each assessment task needs to be submitted differently, so please read the following instructions carefully.

Assessment 1: Online weekly activities need to be posted on the appropriate weekly topic discussion forum on iLearn.

Assessments 2 and 3: You will need to upload your written research proposal and your essay as Word documents using the Turnitin Assignments facility on the iLearn website. This facility includes software which scans the uploaded assignments for plagiarism. Follow the instructions on the screen carefully. Your assessment should be uploaded before midnight on the due date. The Powerpoint slideshow for the Research Proposal will need to be uploaded to the specially marked folder on the iLearn site.

In all cases, you should ensure that you keep a copy of the assignment.

 

Extensions will only be granted in exceptional circumstances, and will require documentary evidence such as a medical certificate to support the request for an extension. You should contact the convenor as early as possible if you think you may need an extension.

Penalties for late submission: Assignments which are submitted after the due date, without having an extension granted by the convenor, will be penalised, by 3 marks a day for each day after the due date. Any paper submitted more than 3 weeks after the due date will not be marked, and the student will be failed for the assignment

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Weekly online activity 30% No Sunday of each week
Research proposal 30% No 10 September
Research essay 40% No 3 November

Weekly online activity

Due: Sunday of each week
Weighting: 30%

Students are required to provide a response of approximately 250 words to the weekly online activity. Details of the online activities and questions are posted under each weekly topic on iLearn.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain and critically analyse the way in which power and politics impact on health policy making and health outcomes, including the impact of inequality, wealth, gender, and the social determinants of health
  • Identify, explain and critically evaluate the role of the key actors and institutions involved in health governance and policy making in the Australian context, and the global context
  • Identify, critically analyse and discuss the major debates and controversies involved in this subject, including debate around inequality; the social determinants of health; gender and health; prevention, treatment and management of communicable diseases; the securitisation of health; knowledge politics; the impact of domestic and global governance and institutional structures on health policy formulation and implementation; participation and marginalisation of interests in health policy making
  • Using material from this course, demonstrate an enhanced awareness of local, national, global affairs and issues of political, social, and economic justice, particularly with regard to issues of inequality, gender, social determinants of health, and inclusion or exclusion from the policy process

Research proposal

Due: 10 September
Weighting: 30%

This assessment task will help you to design and prepare your Research Essay, which is the final assessment task for the unit. Further information on the Research Essay is given on the iLearn site.

Students will present their Research Proposal in a 1000 word written report, and a Powerpoint slideshow of a maximum of 6 slides (accompanying audio optional). The written report will be marked out of 20, and the Powerpoint slideshow will be marked out of 10, giving a total mark out of 30.

This Research Proposal will include the following elements:

  • the specific research question

  • explanation of the context and justification of the research question

  • brief literature review

  • brief plan of action for completion of the research project, including identifying any problems you might face and how you will address them.

On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain and critically analyse the way in which power and politics impact on health policy making and health outcomes, including the impact of inequality, wealth, gender, and the social determinants of health
  • Identify, explain and critically evaluate the role of the key actors and institutions involved in health governance and policy making in the Australian context, and the global context
  • Develop the ability to identify research problems or gaps in extant knowledge about health policy context and the policy-making process, and to identify and use the most appropriate strategies to conduct research that will solve these research problems
  • Synthesise research findings into a simple, logical and coherent argument to be presented using a variety of techniques (written, spoken, visual) and technologically-supported media
  • Evaluate and apply scholarly analysis of the policy process around health to real-world situations

Research essay

Due: 3 November
Weighting: 40%

The final assessment requires students to identify a research problem and conduct extensive independent research which will be presented in essay form. The research problem will relate to one of the broad themes provided on iLearn. Having identified a research problem related to one of these themes, you must illustrate the issue using a current Australian case study of your choice. Your analysis will be expected to concentrate on the policy implications for governments, and your conclusion should include at least three policy recommendations for the relevant policy makers.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain and critically analyse the way in which power and politics impact on health policy making and health outcomes, including the impact of inequality, wealth, gender, and the social determinants of health
  • Identify, explain and critically evaluate the role of the key actors and institutions involved in health governance and policy making in the Australian context, and the global context
  • Develop the ability to identify research problems or gaps in extant knowledge about health policy context and the policy-making process, and to identify and use the most appropriate strategies to conduct research that will solve these research problems
  • Synthesise research findings into a simple, logical and coherent argument to be presented using a variety of techniques (written, spoken, visual) and technologically-supported media
  • Evaluate and apply scholarly analysis of the policy process around health to real-world situations

Delivery and Resources

Resources

This unit has an unit webpage which is accessible only to currently enrolled students. Online units can be accessed at: http://ilearn.mq.edu.au

Required readings will be provided via e-Reserve on the library database. Links to the readings are posted on iLearn.

There is no set text book for this unit.

 

 

Policies and Procedures

Late Submission - applies unless otherwise stated elsewhere in the unit guide

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.

Extension Request

Special Consideration Policy and Procedure (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration)

The University recognises that students may experience events or conditions that adversely affect their academic performance. If you experience serious and unavoidable difficulties at exam time or when assessment tasks are due, you can consider applying for Special Consideration.

You need to show that the circumstances:

  1. were serious, unexpected and unavoidable
  2. were beyond your control
  3. caused substantial disruption to your academic work
  4. substantially interfered with your otherwise satisfactory fulfilment of the unit requirements
  5. lasted at least three consecutive days or a total of 5 days within the teaching period and prevented completion of an assessment task scheduled for a specific date.

If you feel that your studies have been impacted submit an application as follows:

  1. Visit Ask MQ and use your OneID to log in
  2. Fill in your relevant details
  3. Attach supporting documents by clicking 'Add a reply', click 'Browse' and navigating to the files you want to attach, then click 'Submit Form' to send your notification and supporting documents
  4. Please keep copies of your original documents, as they may be requested in the future as part of the assessment process

Outcome

Once your submission is assessed, an appropriate outcome will be organised.

OUA Specific Policies and Procedures

Withdrawal from a unit after the census date

You can withdraw from your subjects prior to the census date (last day to withdraw). If you successfully withdraw before the census date, you won’t need to apply for Special Circumstances. If you find yourself unable to withdraw from your subjects before the census date - you might be able to apply for Special Circumstances. If you’re eligible, we can refund your fees and overturn your fail grade.

If you’re studying Single Subjects using FEE-HELP or paying up front, you can apply online.

If you’re studying a degree using HECS-HELP, you’ll need to apply directly to Macquarie University.

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html​

Disruption to Studies Policy (in effect until Dec 4th, 2017): http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html

Special Consideration Policy (in effect from Dec 4th, 2017): https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Explain and critically analyse the way in which power and politics impact on health policy making and health outcomes, including the impact of inequality, wealth, gender, and the social determinants of health

Assessment tasks

  • Weekly online activity
  • Research proposal
  • Research essay

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Explain and critically analyse the way in which power and politics impact on health policy making and health outcomes, including the impact of inequality, wealth, gender, and the social determinants of health
  • Develop the ability to identify research problems or gaps in extant knowledge about health policy context and the policy-making process, and to identify and use the most appropriate strategies to conduct research that will solve these research problems
  • Using material from this course, demonstrate an enhanced awareness of local, national, global affairs and issues of political, social, and economic justice, particularly with regard to issues of inequality, gender, social determinants of health, and inclusion or exclusion from the policy process

Assessment tasks

  • Weekly online activity
  • Research proposal
  • Research essay

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Explain and critically analyse the way in which power and politics impact on health policy making and health outcomes, including the impact of inequality, wealth, gender, and the social determinants of health

Assessment tasks

  • Weekly online activity
  • Research proposal
  • Research essay

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Explain and critically analyse the way in which power and politics impact on health policy making and health outcomes, including the impact of inequality, wealth, gender, and the social determinants of health
  • Identify, explain and critically evaluate the role of the key actors and institutions involved in health governance and policy making in the Australian context, and the global context
  • Identify, critically analyse and discuss the major debates and controversies involved in this subject, including debate around inequality; the social determinants of health; gender and health; prevention, treatment and management of communicable diseases; the securitisation of health; knowledge politics; the impact of domestic and global governance and institutional structures on health policy formulation and implementation; participation and marginalisation of interests in health policy making
  • Develop the ability to identify research problems or gaps in extant knowledge about health policy context and the policy-making process, and to identify and use the most appropriate strategies to conduct research that will solve these research problems
  • Synthesise research findings into a simple, logical and coherent argument to be presented using a variety of techniques (written, spoken, visual) and technologically-supported media
  • Using material from this course, demonstrate an enhanced awareness of local, national, global affairs and issues of political, social, and economic justice, particularly with regard to issues of inequality, gender, social determinants of health, and inclusion or exclusion from the policy process
  • Evaluate and apply scholarly analysis of the policy process around health to real-world situations

Assessment tasks

  • Weekly online activity
  • Research proposal
  • Research essay

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Explain and critically analyse the way in which power and politics impact on health policy making and health outcomes, including the impact of inequality, wealth, gender, and the social determinants of health
  • Identify, explain and critically evaluate the role of the key actors and institutions involved in health governance and policy making in the Australian context, and the global context
  • Identify, critically analyse and discuss the major debates and controversies involved in this subject, including debate around inequality; the social determinants of health; gender and health; prevention, treatment and management of communicable diseases; the securitisation of health; knowledge politics; the impact of domestic and global governance and institutional structures on health policy formulation and implementation; participation and marginalisation of interests in health policy making
  • Develop the ability to identify research problems or gaps in extant knowledge about health policy context and the policy-making process, and to identify and use the most appropriate strategies to conduct research that will solve these research problems
  • Synthesise research findings into a simple, logical and coherent argument to be presented using a variety of techniques (written, spoken, visual) and technologically-supported media
  • Using material from this course, demonstrate an enhanced awareness of local, national, global affairs and issues of political, social, and economic justice, particularly with regard to issues of inequality, gender, social determinants of health, and inclusion or exclusion from the policy process
  • Evaluate and apply scholarly analysis of the policy process around health to real-world situations

Assessment tasks

  • Weekly online activity
  • Research proposal
  • Research essay

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Explain and critically analyse the way in which power and politics impact on health policy making and health outcomes, including the impact of inequality, wealth, gender, and the social determinants of health
  • Identify, critically analyse and discuss the major debates and controversies involved in this subject, including debate around inequality; the social determinants of health; gender and health; prevention, treatment and management of communicable diseases; the securitisation of health; knowledge politics; the impact of domestic and global governance and institutional structures on health policy formulation and implementation; participation and marginalisation of interests in health policy making
  • Develop the ability to identify research problems or gaps in extant knowledge about health policy context and the policy-making process, and to identify and use the most appropriate strategies to conduct research that will solve these research problems
  • Synthesise research findings into a simple, logical and coherent argument to be presented using a variety of techniques (written, spoken, visual) and technologically-supported media
  • Evaluate and apply scholarly analysis of the policy process around health to real-world situations

Assessment tasks

  • Weekly online activity
  • Research proposal
  • Research essay

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Explain and critically analyse the way in which power and politics impact on health policy making and health outcomes, including the impact of inequality, wealth, gender, and the social determinants of health
  • Identify, explain and critically evaluate the role of the key actors and institutions involved in health governance and policy making in the Australian context, and the global context
  • Identify, critically analyse and discuss the major debates and controversies involved in this subject, including debate around inequality; the social determinants of health; gender and health; prevention, treatment and management of communicable diseases; the securitisation of health; knowledge politics; the impact of domestic and global governance and institutional structures on health policy formulation and implementation; participation and marginalisation of interests in health policy making
  • Synthesise research findings into a simple, logical and coherent argument to be presented using a variety of techniques (written, spoken, visual) and technologically-supported media

Assessment tasks

  • Weekly online activity
  • Research proposal
  • Research essay

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Explain and critically analyse the way in which power and politics impact on health policy making and health outcomes, including the impact of inequality, wealth, gender, and the social determinants of health
  • Using material from this course, demonstrate an enhanced awareness of local, national, global affairs and issues of political, social, and economic justice, particularly with regard to issues of inequality, gender, social determinants of health, and inclusion or exclusion from the policy process
  • Evaluate and apply scholarly analysis of the policy process around health to real-world situations

Assessment tasks

  • Weekly online activity
  • Research proposal
  • Research essay

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Explain and critically analyse the way in which power and politics impact on health policy making and health outcomes, including the impact of inequality, wealth, gender, and the social determinants of health

Assessment tasks

  • Weekly online activity
  • Research proposal
  • Research essay