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PHM659 - Health Policy

2027

Sector

Higher Education

Discipline

Public Health Research

Credit Points

Unit Level

600

Equivalent Units

(PHM559)

Prerequisites

Incompatible

Coerequisites

Assumed Knowledge

As this unit is a capstone unit where students will be synthesising and consolidating their learning from previous public health units, students should enrol in this unit after completing at least 40 credit points.

Unit Description

This unit provides a capstone experience which gives you the opportunity to demonstrate mastery by drawing upon key public health concepts and skills, and applying them to public health policy analysis, development and advocacy. You will examine: the nature of health policy; the policy process; contemporary agendas and frameworks; evidence-based health policy; policy implementation, evaluation and advocacy. Students will synthesise and consolidate their learning from previous public health units when developing an advocacy strategy on a current population health issue for a relevant public health group.

Unit Learning Outcomes

1.	Investigate the nature, purpose and functions of health policy, and the role of evidence in health policy making.
2.	Critically analyse population level public health problems and policies, and identify effective and ineffective public health policy responses.
3.	Examine the key factors influencing public health policy development including politics, health determinants, evidence, stakeholders, policy actors and advocacy.
4.	Apply theoretical frameworks to the policy and advocacy development processes.
5.	Implement advanced critical research and analysis skills when producing an evidence-based advocacy strategy in response to a current public health issue to inform professional decision making and influence public policy.

Assessment Overview

	Assessment Task	Value (of total mark)	Related Learning Outcome/s
1.	Online discussion (500-750 words)	10%	1,2,3,4'
2.	Health policy analysis (2500 words)	40%	1,2,3,4'
3.	Advocacy strategy (4000 words) (Hurdle)	50%	1,2,3,4,5'

Unit Availability

Year	Semester	Att Mode	Location	Learning Method	Timetable*
2027	Semester 2	Internal	Casuarina Campus	OLR	View
2027	Semester 2	External	External Studies	OLR	View

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OLR: Internet access is required for this unit as students are required to access study materials provided on-line through Learnline. Please log into Learnline on the first day of each teaching period. For more information about Learnline, please click here.

Critical Dates

Important Dates for Students

Fee Information:
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Student Services and Amenities Fees
2026 Domestic Unit Fees (PDF)
2026 Incidental Fees (PDF)