EDF3073 - Health, sustainability and wellbeing - 2018

This unit builds upon knowledge gained in EDF2173 (Perspectives on health) to extend students' understanding of the complex nature of health and wellbeing by examining a number of contemporary and emerging local and international health challenges. The unit provides an opportunity to explore how social justice, equity and ethics influence health locally and globally. These considerations are situated within a variety of theoretical and practical contexts such as ethical and social theories, harm minimisation, citizenship, globalisation, critical media literacy and health literacy. Contemporary content covered within an Australian context includes topics such as poverty, mental health, drug use, communicable disease, conflict and climate change with a focus on sustainability and health equality. The unit seeks to challenge students to move beyond borders in order to think creatively about twenty-first century health challenges and to become compassionate, empathetic and critically responsive health professionals equipped with a global outlook on the complex factors that contribute to a sustainable future for all.

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

1. critically analyse the complex relationship between sociocultural, political, economic and environmental factors and the health status of individuals and communities in Australia and internationally
2. engage with contemporary and emerging health challenges relating to social justice, equity and ethics in relation to health, health status, youth health and health enhancement for all
3. explore a variety of key contemporary health issues, information sources and discourses that influence the health status of a diverse range of people in society
4. collect and analyse relevant media texts which portray and articulate particular details and discourses about the health status of individuals, communities and populations in society
5. critically examine and design creative and sustainable solutions to an emerging global health challenge
6. work collaboratively and cooperatively in a variety of group contexts.

Media analysis and written response (2000 words, 50%)

Project-based learning task (2000 words, 50%)

Minimum total expected workload equals 144 hours per semester comprising:

1. Contact hours for on-campus students:
   • workshops (including blended approaches): 24 hours over the semester
2. Additional requirements (all students):
   • weekly independent study to make up the required minimum hours during the semester (including readings, pre-workshop tasks, blended learning tasks and assessment task preparation)

See also Unit timetable information

Primary and secondary health and physical education

Secondary health and physical education