This unit introduces key concepts and skills required in the emerging Health Informatics domain including: Australian and International healthcare data representation and interchange standards; health care data modelling including patient journey modelling; overview of health information systems with a focus on decision support and clinical systems; telehealth and communication technologies; and electronic health records.

As a first unit in computer programming, Programming Fundamentals covers basic computer architecture, basic data and file structures, concept of algorithms, programming constructs, programming language features and functions, program design, test design, basic documentation. A high level programming language is employed to solve problems in a structured manner.

The main purpose of this unit is to provide students with an opportunity to gain a basic knowledge of database design and development including data modeling methods, techniques for database design using a set of business rules that are derived from a case study and finally implementation of the database using a commercial relational database management system. The unit also examines a number of important database concepts such as database administration, concurrency, backup and recovery and security. At the same time student learning and intercommunication skills are enhanced by running tutorial presentations and group assignments.

Building on material covered in Programming Fundamentals this unit introduces students to the basics of developing interactive and dynamic web applications from both the client and server perspective. The unit covers web site design, web site development, web page accessibility and usability, XHTML, CSS, client side and server side scripting, database interaction, web site promotion (SEO), legal issues and web security.

This unit exposes students to the processes and techniques of the development of e-Health applications. It extends the students knowledge of Health Informatics by introducing concepts relating to electronic communications within the Health Industry. Areas include the Electronic Health Record Standards, Security, Privacy and Trust together with TeleHealth / TeleMedicine approaches, methodologies, tools and techniques.

In this unit students will learn the concepts underpinning the services computing paradigm of 'bridging the gap between Business Services and IT Services'. Services Computing technology includes Web services and service-oriented architecture (SOA), business consulting methodology and utilities, business process modelling, transformation and integration. Students will learn, through the development of practical examples, how to utilise these technologies within a healthcare context.

Statistical Decision Making introduces students to various statistical techniques supporting the study of computing and science. Presentation of the content will emphasize the correct principles and procedures for collecting and analysing scientific data, using information and communication technologies. Topics include describing different sets of data, probability distributions, statistical inference, and simple linear regression and correlation.

This unit provides an introduction to systems analysis and design. Incorporating systems concepts, theories and methodologies, this unit provides students with elementary problem solving experience in computerised information systems. Students will gain the ability to derive systems requirements from problem definitions and to produce system models using process, data, object and network modelling. Design and implementation issues include, (but may not be limited to), elementary database design, input, output and user interface design and prototyping. Students are also introduced to roles and responsibilities in information systems development, selection of packaged solutions and the principles of software quality.

This unit presents data mining as a well structured standard process, namely, the Cross Industry Standard Process for Data Mining (CISP-DM). Further, this unit emphasizes (1) the presentation of data mining as a process, (2) the “White box” approach, emphasizing an understanding of the underlying algorithmic structures, (3) the graphical approach, emphasizing exploratory data analysis, and (4) the logical presentation, flowing naturally from the CRISP-DM standard process and the set of data mining tasks. This unit gives the insight of the data mining algorithms, by using small data sets and then provides examples of the application of the various algorithms on actual large data sets. Finally it provides the hands-on analysis problems, representing an opportunity to apply acquired data mining expertise to solving real problems using large data sets.

A key component to the discipline of Information Systems is the understanding and the advocacy of the user in the development of IT applications and systems. IT graduates must develop a mind-set that recognizes the importance of users and organizational contexts. They must employ user-centered methodologies in the development, evaluation, and deployment of IT applications and systems. This unit examines human-computer interaction in order to develop and evaluate software, websites and information systems that not only look professional but are usable, functional and accessible.