Grade descriptors and other information concerning grading are contained in the Macquarie University Assessment Policy.

All final grades are determined by a grading committee, in accordance with the Macquarie University Assessment Policy, and are not the sole responsibility of the Unit Convenor.

Students will be awarded a final grade and mark which must correspond to the grade descriptors specified in the Assessment Procedure (clause 128 and 129).

To pass this unit, you must demonstrate sufficient evidence of achievement of the learning outcomes, meet any ungraded requirements, and achieve a final mark of 50 or better.

Further details for each assessment task will be available on iLearn.

Late Submissions

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (OF THE TOTAL POSSIBLE MARK) will be applied each day an assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern. 

 For example:

For any late submissions of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to submit an application for Special Consideration.

As a student enrolled in this unit, you will engage in a range of in person and online learning activities, including: tutorials, readings, online activities, videos and lectures, zoom sessions. Details can be found on the iLearn site for this unit.

Unit Organisation

This is a ten credit point unit run over a 13 week session.

Lectures and tutorials

Weekly recorded lectures are available on the web through the Echo360 lecture component. It is important to listen to all lectures.

The unit comprises of two one-hour lectures and a one-hour tutorial held on a weekly basis. In the tutorial students will discuss issues and questions arising from the lectures and prescribed readings. They are expected to base their arguments/discussions on evidence from published research and other relevant material. Attendance at all tutorials is adviseable. 

Students are required to participate in small group activities, whole class discussion, to read the weekly material in advance, and to complete brief tasks. The weekly program for the unit with the accompanying readings/ preparation is available in the Weekly Schedule on the iLearn site.

Recommended Readings

The readings for each week will be listed on iLearn using the Leganto system. Leganto is the reading list management system, which you can access through your iLearn unit. More information on Leganto is available here: http://libguides.mq.edu.au/leganto

Readings marked as 'required' are essential for completion in the marked week. Some readings may be included that are marked as 'recommended' or 'secondary sources', these are additional materials that may be of interest to you. Please use these at your discretion.

Technology Used

Active participation in the learning activities throughout the unit will require students to have access to a tablet, laptop or similar device. Students who do not own their own laptop computer may borrow one from the university library.

Topics to be covered include (but are not limited to):

Week 1: Introduction to key terms and concepts

              Legal and ethical considerations in public health

Week 2: Vulnerable populations

              Ethics in public health research

Week 3: Rights to adequate housing, the issue of poor housing policies and its impact on the health of vulnerable groups

              Global issues: Environmental degradation and health

Week 4: Ethics: Issues surrounding environmental change

              Legal, ethical and policy considerations surrounding the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

Week 5: Global issues: Refugee health

Week 6: Communication: Media, social media and public health

               Ethics and health promotion: Obesity

Week 7: Global Issues: Corporate Misconduct and Health; the tobacco industry

            Global Issues: Medicalisation of Smoking Cessation

Week 8: Terrorism and public health

              Health Systems and Health Law

Week 9:  Global issues: Vaccinations

               Screening behaviours: Mammography

Week 10: Protecting whistle blowers in the public health system

                Global issues: The Pacific Island nations - health and well-being 

Week 11: Global issues - the food and drink industries

               Food policy vs nutrition policy: what is the better strategy for improving population health?

Week 12: Legal, ethical and policy issues surrounding Women's Shelters in Australia

                  Domestic/family violence

Week 13:  Preperation for the exam

Social inclusion at Macquarie University is about giving everyone who has the potential to benefit from higher education the opportunity to study at university, participate in campus life and flourish in their chosen field. The University has made significant moves to promote an equitable, diverse and exciting campus community for the benefit of staff and students. It is your responsibility to contribute towards the development of an inclusive culture and practice in the areas of learning and teaching, research, and service orientation and delivery. As a member of the Macquarie University community, you must not discriminate against or harass others based on their sex, gender, race, marital status, carers' responsibilities, disability, sexual orientation, age, political conviction or religious belief. All staff and students are expected to display appropriate behaviour that is conducive to a healthy learning environment for everyone.

In the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, professionalism is a key capability embedded in all our courses.

As part of developing professionalism, students are expected to attend all small group interactive sessions including clinical, practical, laboratory, work-integrated learning (e.g., PACE placements), and team-based learning activities. Some learning activities are recorded (e.g., face-to-face lectures), however you are encouraged to avoid relying upon such material as they do not recreate the whole learning experience and technical issues can and do occur. As an adult learner, we respect your decision to choose how you engage with your learning, but we would remind you that the learning opportunities we create for you have been done so to enable your success, and that by not engaging you may impact your ability to successfully complete this unit. We equally expect that you show respect for the academic staff who have worked hard to develop meaningful activities and prioritise your learning by communicating with them in advance if you are unable to attend a small group interactive session.

Another dimension of professionalism is having respect for your peers. It is the right of every student to learn in an environment that is free of disruption and distraction. Please arrive to all learning activities on time, and if you are unavoidably detained, please join activity as quietly as possible to minimise disruption. Phones and other electronic devices that produce noise and other distractions must be turned off prior to entering class. Where your own device (e.g., laptop) is being used for class-related activities, you are asked to close down all other applications to avoid distraction to you and others. Please treat your fellow students with the utmost respect. If you are uncomfortable participating in any specific activity, please let the relevant academic know.