PUBH 3019 Public Health Practice

Credit Points 10

Legacy Code 401193

Coordinator Catharine Fleming Opens in new window

Description This subject is an online equivalent of a workplace learning (placement) subject. You will engage in workplace activities with a public health organisation by using prepared resources, online discussion and videoconferencing. In this subject you will evaluate, develop and recommend public health policy or program change. The subject will involve the use of skills required to work in the public health arena; conducting needs analysis, collecting quantitative and qualitative data, facilitating stakeholder engagement, project development, management and evaluation, report writing and competent oral presentation skills, in an organisational setting.

School Health Sciences

Discipline Public Health

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 2 10cp

Check your fees via the Fees page.

Level Undergraduate Level 3 subject

Pre-requisite(s) PUBH 2016

Restrictions Students must be enrolled in 4656 - Bachelor of Health Science (Public Health) or 6000 Diploma in Health Science/Bachelor of Health Science

Assumed Knowledge

Fundamentals of public health, determinants of health, Australian health system.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
  1. Evaluate current public health policy or program in an organisational setting
  2. Determine policy or program effectiveness using a mixed methods approaches
  3. Identify barriers to effective program implementation
  4. Develop future recommendations for the public health project or policy
  5. Communicate recommendations in oral and written form
  6. Integrate evidence from a range of sources to support decision-making
  7. Collaborate with organisational groups and individuals with professional behaviour

Subject Content

Evidence-based practice in public health
Needs analysis skills and methodologies
Policy and program development
Stakeholder engagement
Multidisciplinary collaboration
Evaluation of barriers to policy/ program success
Oral presentation skills

Special Requirements

Legislative pre-requisites

NOTE: Due to Covid Restrictions, the First Aid Requirement is currently not needed.

Special Requirements - NSW Health Legislative Prerequisites Pre-requisites

Student Compliance Information for all Health-Related Placements

Prior to enrolling in this subject, students must have submitted a Student Undertaking Form and undertake to apply for a National Police Check, which is required to be submitted before placement, and a Working with Children Check Student Declaration. Use the link to the Special Requirements webpage below for more information.

To be eligible to enrol in this subject and complete any required health-related placements or experiences, students must meet Western Sydney University program requirements as well as any special, legislated, or policy-mandated requirements.

Western Program Requirements

Visit the Special Requirements webpage for details about your program.

Special Requirements

Mandatory NSW Health student placement policy requirements

To be able to undertake placement in any NSW Health facility you must be assessed as compliant with NSW Health student placement policy in the first year of your program, regardless of when you expect to go on your first placement. Access and read the NSW Student Compliance Information Booklet.

NSW Student Compliance Information Booklet

Please ensure that you

  1.  Find your existing National Police Check or apply for one
  2.  Gather documentary evidence of your vaccination history
  3.  Print and compete all relevant NSW Health forms relevant to the campus you are enrolled at or online enrolment requirements
  4.  Follow booklet instructions on how to have your compliance documents assessed by NSW health staff.

International students have additional requirements; the link to the booklet will inform you of these requirements.

School Requirements

Contact your School for further details regarding your School’s requirements, if any, such as

  • If you live outside of NSW or Australia and need to meet your state, territory or country’s compliance requirements
  • If you need to meet different state, territory or country compliance requirements.
  • NSW Working with Children Check (WWCC) or other state equivalent, valid for your entire program.
  • Current approved first aid certificate valid for your entire program - approved program providers can be found at the Government Training website
  • http://training.gov.au
  • Other non-health related requirements.

Student Compliance Resources are also available on the Placements Hub web page (NSW students only)

https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/learning_futures/home/placements_hub/placements_hub/student_compliance

Assessment

The following table summarises the standard assessment tasks for this subject. Please note this is a guide only. Assessment tasks are regularly updated, where there is a difference your Learning Guide takes precedence.

Type Length Percent Threshold Individual/Group Task
Case Study 1000 words 30 N Individual
Report 1500 words 40 N Individual
Presentation 30 minutes 20 N Individual
Presentation Ongoing 10 Y Individual

Prescribed Texts

  • Guest, C., Ricciardi, W., Kawachi, I., & Lang, I. (2013). Oxford Handbook of Public Health Practice. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.

Structures that include subject