Monash University Handbook 2010 Postgraduate - Unit

Synopsis

Social, political and scientific role of public health in the modern health care system. Topics include the origins of the public health movement; the changing focus of the public health movement in the last two centuries; the role of public health in the Australian health care system in the present time; the stance of public health with respect to social inequalities in health, scientific and technological change; economic forces and issues of professionalisation; the relationship with other health-related disciplines including preventive as opposed to curative health care.

Objectives

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

1. describe the historical and social context of public health in Australia;
2. describe the structure and organisation of Australian society;
3. describe the health care system in Australia.

Assessment

Critical appraisal exercises
Essay

Chief examiner(s)

Dr B Rumbold

Off-campus attendance requirements

2 Contact hours per week at Melbourne University.

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.med.monash.edu.au/epidemiology/pgrad