Students

HLTH2000 – Contemporary Health Issues

2024 – Session 2, Online-flexible-In person assessment, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Christine Leonards
Contact via Email
Email for appointment
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
40cp at 1000 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

In this unit you will delve into the dynamic landscape of emerging and contemporary health issues, gaining insight into their intricate connections with the primary causes of mortality and disability on both national and global scales. By exploring the social, cultural, and environmental determinants of health, you will gain a nuanced understanding of the pivotal factors contributing to health disparities within and between countries.

Throughout this unit, you will explore the latest challenges and opportunities in population health, exploring current trends, determinants, opportunities for prevention, and impact on individuals and populations. Moreover, you will have the opportunity to cultivate essential advocacy skills, which will be indispensable for your future career in the health sector.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

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

  • ULO1: Outline the social, cultural, and environmental determinants of health and their interplay with the leading causes of death and disability nationally and globally.
  • ULO2: Describe emerging and contemporary health issues, including their trends, determinants, opportunities for prevention and impact on individuals and populations.
  • ULO3: Apply an evidence-based approach to advocate for meaningful changes in response to a contemporary health issue, employing a diverse range of communication mediums.
  • ULO4: Critically reflect on contemporary health issues and their interconnections with broader health trends and personal contexts.

General Assessment Information

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 a 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:

Number of days (hours) late

Total Possible Marks

Deduction

Raw mark

Final mark

1 day (1-24 hours)

100

5

75

70

2 days (24-48 hours)

100

10

75

65

3 days (48-72 hours)

100

15

75

60

7 days (144-168 hours)

100

35

75

40

>7 days (>168 hours)

100

-

75

0

 

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.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Infographic 25% No Friday, Week 5, 11:55pm
Advocacy Campaign 40% No Friday, Week 9, 5:00pm
Final Exam 35% No Examination Period

Infographic

Assessment Type 1: Poster
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Friday, Week 5, 11:55pm
Weighting: 25%

 

Concisely and persuasively communicate a contemporary health issue.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Outline the social, cultural, and environmental determinants of health and their interplay with the leading causes of death and disability nationally and globally.
  • Describe emerging and contemporary health issues, including their trends, determinants, opportunities for prevention and impact on individuals and populations.
  • Apply an evidence-based approach to advocate for meaningful changes in response to a contemporary health issue, employing a diverse range of communication mediums.

Advocacy Campaign

Assessment Type 1: Plan
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: Friday, Week 9, 5:00pm
Weighting: 40%

 

Develop a strategic advocacy campaign plan addressing an emerging or contemporary health issue.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Outline the social, cultural, and environmental determinants of health and their interplay with the leading causes of death and disability nationally and globally.
  • Describe emerging and contemporary health issues, including their trends, determinants, opportunities for prevention and impact on individuals and populations.
  • Apply an evidence-based approach to advocate for meaningful changes in response to a contemporary health issue, employing a diverse range of communication mediums.
  • Critically reflect on contemporary health issues and their interconnections with broader health trends and personal contexts.

Final Exam

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Examination Period
Weighting: 35%

 

Exam using a combination of question types assessing content delivered across the session.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Outline the social, cultural, and environmental determinants of health and their interplay with the leading causes of death and disability nationally and globally.
  • Describe emerging and contemporary health issues, including their trends, determinants, opportunities for prevention and impact on individuals and populations.
  • Critically reflect on contemporary health issues and their interconnections with broader health trends and personal contexts.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

As a student enrolled in this unit, you will engage in a range of online learning activities, including: readings, lectures, modules and videos. 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. This is a self-directed online unit, where content will be provided weekly via online resources.

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.  

Unit Schedule

Over the session you will engage in the following topics:

  • Introduction to Health and Public Health
  • Determinants of Health
  • Racism and Privilege
  • Gender and Health
  • Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health
  • Intersectionality
  • Access to Health Care
  • Global Health
  • Health Governance
  • Health Promotion
  • Advocacy in Public Health and Vaping
  • Community Development
  • Health in Rural Regions
  • Employment and Health
  • Mental Health
  • Climate Literacy

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) 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 connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

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

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

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.

Changes from Previous Offering

Since the previous offering we have updated the unit description, unit learning outcomes and assessment tasks.  This is in response to the Learning Evaluation of Unit survey responses from students.

Inclusion and Diversity

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.

Professionalism

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

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.


Unit information based on version 2024.03 of the Handbook