OCC3061 - Health promotion in occupational therapy - 2017

This unit examines the key theory, frameworks and practical approaches used in contemporary health promotion to address health inequalities, prevent illness and injury, and promote health and wellbeing. Students examine a range of health promotion strategies, their strengths, limitations, evidence-base and application in clinical care and community settings for occupational therapy. Through a focus on empowerment, participation and capacity-building, students develop skills for working with individuals, community networks, new technologies and the mass media to facilitate health promotion action. This unit covers planning and evaluation of health information and behavioural interventions, health education for empowerment, community engagement, social marketing, professional communication and advocacy for healthy public policy. Students critically analyse the challenges and opportunities for integrating health promotion into occupational therapy practice.

Upon successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

1. Describe the values, principles and charters that guide health promotion practice, and discuss examples of their application in Australia and international contexts.
2. Critically analyse the challenges and opportunities for integrating health promotion into contemporary practice in occupational therapy and related professions.
3. Analyse and evaluate a range of health promotion strategies (health information, social marketing, education for empowerment, advocacy and activism), including their theory, evidence-base, strengths and limitations, for the purpose of applying them to a selected health issue.
4. Develop an integrated, multi-strategy health promotion program focused on a selected issue, population group, and setting.
5. Apply community engagement, capacity-building and participatory approaches to community profiling, planning and evaluation in order to improve the quality and sustainability of health promotion.
6. Develop communication materials, utilising digital technologies, that demonstrate capacity for working with a range of media and communities to influence decision-makers and healthy public policy.

• Essay (2,000 words) (30%)
• Evidence review and preliminary program plan (4,000 words) (group submission) (30%)
• Group presentation (15 minutes per group) (10%)
• Final health promotion program plan (2,500 words) (30%)

Hurdle

• Attendance at 80% of unit tutorials, practical skills sessions and seminars is required to pass this unit.
• Submission of three components of health promotion plan (400 words max) which are later integrated into the final program plan.

12 hours per week including contact time (1 hour lecture, 2 hour tutorial), fieldwork and self-directed learning.

See also Unit timetable information

Ms Belinda Lewis

Occupational therapy

HSC1081, IPE1011 or equivalent units.