The unit introduces students to professional issues, history and the philosophy in health sciences: health promotion, health service management and therapeutic recreation. Theories and key concepts of health promotion, health service management, social health and therapeutic recreation are introduced. Students will be introduced to an understanding of human development and the health science processes. Students will examine how human growth and development influences development of socio-economic, cultural, gender, environmental, health science issues. Students will begin an electronic portfolio to help them take more control over their education and assist students to make connections with their learning experiences while building critical and reflective skills. Therapeutic Recreation students will complete a 35 hour workplace learning placement. Health Promotion and Health Service Management students will complete a community project.

This unit gives a basic understanding of the human body and introduces the scientific and medical terminology used for anatomy, physiology and biochemistry. It deals with gross structure and microscopic structure of the human body. It also examines microbial organisms, their classification, how they differ from eukaryotic cells and how our body defends against them. Where appropriate, examples of functional diseases will be discussed.

Australian Society is currently facing critical challenges in the areas of mental health, nutrition and physical activity. This unit examines the interdependence between these areas, and how the personal and sociocultural health issues can be addressed in a pro-active, holistic and sensitive manner. Completion of a child protection awareness training program and senior first aid qualification is required and will be at student’s own expense, in own time.

This unit is being replaced by 400870 Population Health and Society in 2010. This unit introduces students to understandings about the nature of health through history and across cultures as well as to current conceptions regarding the various determinants of health and illness. Types of health issues encountered nationally and globally are considered, and used to provide an introduction to basic concepts of epidemiology.

This is a flexible learning unit and deals with foundational concepts and issues relating to public health. The philosophical and historical development and the role of public health in Australia are examined, as are policies and principles that govern and inform practice. Emphasis is placed on understanding health issues and concerns in Greater Western Sydney Region as well as on national and international contexts of population health. The unit draws on current and emerging practical situations to highlight the dynamic yet continuing legacy of public health. There is a need to visit a public health unit for consultation purposes.

Whereas health is commonly understood in terms of objective signs and symptoms (or their absence), wellbeing emphasizes subjective experience in the context of social and environmental factors that may support or impede a personal sense of wellbeing. This unit approaches wellbeing through a self-investigatory and reflective model that seeks to integrate systemic analysis of the individual, social, emotional, environmental and spiritual aspects of health and wellbeing in a personally meaningful way. Consideration of how issues of social justice and equity have differential impacts on both individuals and communities, and develop frameworks for taking personal and social action to enhance wellbeing.

This unit introduces some of the core concepts, models, theories and methods of inquiry in psychology as they apply to health. Assumptions of human behaviour are examined, showing how these assumptions form the four foundational models of psychology. Those models being psychobiological, learning, cognitive and social. The application of these models to issues of development, personality, motivation and clinical applications allows students to address health topics such as stress, resilience and coping, smoking, eating disorders, disability and health practices.

This unit is being replaced by 400863 Foundations of Research and Evidence based Practice in 2010. This unit lays down broad foundations of research as used in various disciplines of health sciences, including health and well-being, physical fitness, physical activity, and nutrition. The aim is to create an overall understanding of the significance of research in the students’ fields of endeavour. It is designed to introduce the student to foundational concepts and principles in quantitative and qualitative research methods and to explore the complementary role of research paradigms as they underpin the quest for knowledge in the health sciences. It will also address essential research themes such as epidemiology research, validity, reliability, and research ethics.

This unit is being replaced by 400867 Approaches to Health Promotion in 2010. Health promotion is a process that seeks to enable individuals, communities and populations to increase control over their health by addressing the determinants of health, resulting in improved health outcomes. Theoretical underpinnings of health promotion are explored, factors enhancing and limiting activity reviewed and the levels of health promoting actions demonstrated. Health promotion competencies including conducting a needs analysis, planning and evaluating an intervention are explored. Satisfactory completion of OH&S for student placements is a requirement.

This unit is being replaced by 400864 Research Methods (Quantative and Qualitative) in 2011. This unit will explore essential elements of quantitative research methods as used in health sciences. It will prepare students for the planning, designing, conducting, evaluating and reporting of a research project. The most common research designs will be examined for their relative strengths and weaknesses, with particular emphasis on how these will have an impact on interpretation and conclusion of the study. It will also introduce basic concepts in epidemiology and biostatistics as well as in using SPSS to analyse and interpret data. The overall aim is to provide skills in designing and evaluating research studies in health sciences.

The tools of economic appraisal and decision making permeate all aspect of modern life. Reliance on economic analysis is highly evident in contemporary health care systems. The funding and provision of health care/services is continuingly changing and subject to ever increasing demand for limited and finite resources. The unit explores, examines and reviews the impact these limitations have on selected health care systems. Students are encouraged to research and examine their own and other health care systems and investigate the differences in access, equity, and efficiency. Practical, contemporary and applied case studies/examples are continuously utilised and students are encouraged to channel the knowledge gained into key areas of interest at the macro and micro level.

The Australian health care system is highly complex, consisting of inter-related sub-systems and is influenced by the broader socio-political environment. It is essential that health professionals understand and consider the economic, political and social context within which health policy and planning occur, so that strategies and policies are developed which are economically and politically viable, as well as socially acceptable and responsive to the actual needs of the community. This unit aims to develop an understanding of the policy making and planning processes within this broad context and to introduce the theory and skills related to such activities.

Injury Prevention is a National Health Priority. Injury is the preferred term rather than ‘accident’ with its connotations of inevitability and lack of apparent cause, to allow development of inter-disciplinary prevention initiatives. A systematic scientific approach to injury research and prevention is in evidence for road and occupational safety, backed by well resourced implementation structures. Other settings/sectors include sport, recreation, falls, firearms, farm, product and water safety, which are also seeing the benefits of injury prevention principles, which include health promotion issue analysis and strategic hierarchical implementation strategies using the 4Es of education, enforcement, engineering and environment.

This unit builds on the knowledge gained in Essentials of Health Promotion. It provides the opportunity to apply health promotion theory to practical projects in the field related to current population health priorities, through 140 hours placement experience. It examines a range of political, social and economic issues and the way in which they impact on current health promotion practice. Working intersectorally, building capacity and applying best practice guidelines in the implementation of quality health promotion interventions is examined.

This unit applies the theoretical concepts introduced in the unit, Health Politics, Policy and Planning namely the conduct of a health review, needs analysis, priority determination, and strategic planning. The emphasis is on group experiential learning, developing analytical skills required for comprehensive assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of health plans. The topics are selected from current health priority issues and represent a realistic exercise. Students, functioning as a working party, develop knowledge and skills in negotiation, group work, committee structure and functioning, consultation and research processes, planning process and report writing.

This unit builds on the knowledge gained in Health Promotion Practice through web based teaching and 140 hours placement in the field. It provides the opportunity to develop higher order health promotion skills with practical projects in the field related to current population health priorities. It also examines community development strategies, capacity building approaches, social marketing and media through involvement in an extended placement. Furthermore, students gain project management skills.

This unit enables students to explore and develop an understanding of the ethical and legal issues important within contemporary health care. Through the use of case studies students will analyse profound ethical and legal challenges facing current health care that are equally important to health professionals, consumers and society generally. Additionally, students studying to work within health care, including as complementary health practitioners will develop a comprehensive understanding of the requirements for ensuring that their practice conforms to legal doctrines and ethical standards.

This unit is designed to assist students to make the transition from undergraduate student life to professional life. The student centred learning approach used in this unit enables students to focus their own learning styles and personal capabilities. Students will explore the strengths and weaknesses of their own learning styles and develop strategies to strengthen their personal learning and teaching capabilities for use as professionals. A structure for developing professional performance will be introduced that includes: management skills, interpersonal skills, problem solving skills, project and procedure skills, personal growth, development and socialisation and education roles. Students will participate in hands –on instructor led sessions, through the E-portfolio project to reflect on and connect academic experiences with their life to anticipated graduate capability