Overview
On successful completion of this unit you will have an appreciation of social determinants on your own and others' health outcomes. You will understand how early childhood experiences, culture, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status and education play out to influence health at individual, community and societal levels. You will explore the impacts of racism, sexism, poverty and inequality on social gradients and the short and long term effects on health. You will also explore the social protective factors of community connectedness and identity and be introduced to key social innovation concepts. Finally, you will have the opportunity to refine your academic searching and writing skills through the literacy and information literacy resources provided in this unit.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2023
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Unit coordinator reflection and suggestions from other unit coordinators who have units with high enrolment numbers.
Introduce a second unit coordinator/casual academic to help address student queries particularly during live on-campus and Zoom sessions, in term 1, 2023 due to predicted enrolment increase to 400 - 450 students.
Introduce a second unit coordinator/casual academic to this unit from term 1, 2023 to help address student queries particularly during live on-campus and Zoom sessions.
Feedback from Unit coordinator reflection, unit evaluation
Introduce a greater number of case study scenarios, reflecting actual practice, for the final written assessment item.
Add case study scenarios for the final written assessment item.
Feedback from Unit coordinator reflection
Remove the small group assessment for term 1, 2023 due to the predicted enrolment increase to 400 - 450 students and the difficulty managing small groups with a class of this size.
Remove the small group assessment task (assessment 2, worth 10%) and combine assessments 1 (worth 10%) and 2 to form one written assessment task (worth 20%).
Feedback from Unit coordinator reflection based on communication (verbal, email) from students
Re-instate the prescribed textbook and promote the option of the discounted eBook.
Re-introduce the prescribed unit textbook in term 1, 2023 and promote the discounted eBook purchase option to students.
- Explain social determinants of health from an individual scale
- Explain social determinants of health across community and national/global scales
- Relate social determinants of health to community connectedness and identity
- Demonstrate appropriate referencing in academic writing
- Develop an appropriate argument in an academic essay
- Locate and evaluate relevant information using library tools.
Not applicable.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 20% | ||||||
| 2 - Online Quiz(zes) - 30% | ||||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 50% | ||||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Communication | ||||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | ||||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | ||||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | ||||||
| 5 - Team Work | ||||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | ||||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | ||||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | ||||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | ||||||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||||
Textbooks
Social determinants of health: a comparative approach
2nd edition (2019)
Authors: Davidson, A
Oxford University Press
Don Mills Don Mills , Ontario , Canada
ISBN: 978-0-19-903220-4
Binding: Paperback
Additional Textbook Information
This textbook is available as an eBook, via a 'rent' or 'buy' purchase. Students may use the 1st edition of this textbook also.
All versions of the textbook can be purchased at the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the unit code)
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- ZOOM
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing styles below:
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
a.oorloff@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Learning histories
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Social determinants of health
Chapter
Textbook:
Chapter 'Introduction: The Conventional Understanding of Health and Its Alternatives'.
2014 edition, pp 1-14;
2019 edition, pp 1-14.
Additional supplementary readings are available, if interested, on the eReading list.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Changing our perspectives of health
Chapter
Textbook:
Chapter 'Thinking about Individual and Population Health'.
2014 edition, pp 15-41;
2019 edition, pp 15-42.
Additional supplementary readings are available, if interested, on the eReading list.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Early childhood experiences
Chapter
Textbook:
Chapter 'Childhood and the Transition to Adulthood'.
2014 edition, pp 96-115;
2019 edition, pp 128-148.
Additional supplementary readings are available, if interested, on the eReading list.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Education
Chapter
Textbook:
Chapter 'Childhood and the Transition to Adulthood'.
2014 edition, pp 115-123;
2019 edition, 148-155.
Additional supplementary readings are available, if interested, on the eReading list.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Mid-term break
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Gender
Chapter
Textbook:
Chapter 'Gender and Health'.
2014 edition, pp 161-178;
2019 edition, 159-181.
Additional supplementary readings are available, if interested, on the eReading list.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Culture & ethnicity
Chapter
Textbook:
Chapter 'Health of Aboriginal/Indigenous Peoples'.
2014 edition, pp 145-159;
2019 edition, pp 206-224.
Additional supplementary readings are available, if interested, on the eReading list.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Socioeconomic status
Chapter
Textbook:
Chapter 'Income, Inequality, and Health'.
2014 edition, pp 65-95;
2019 edition, pp 94-125;
and
Chapter 'Employment, Working Conditions, and Health'.
2014 edition, pp 181-200;
2019 edition, pp 226-248.
Additional supplementary readings are available, if interested, on the eReading list.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Social gradient of health
Chapter
See Week 9 eReading list.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Quiz 1, Social Determinants of Health - closes Friday of Week 9, 11:45PM
Module/Topic
Protective factors
Chapter
See Week 10 eReading list.
Plus, textbook:
Chapter 'Social Support, Social Capital, Social Exclusion and Racism'.
2014 edition, pp 125-143;
2019 edition., pp 183-204.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Built environment
Chapter
See Week 11 eReading list.
Textbook:
Chapter 'Housing and Neighbourhood'.
2014 edition, pp 201-215;
2019 edition, pp 251-263.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Social Innovation
Chapter
CQUniversity Social Innovation quiz and iChange Module.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Quiz 2, Part A & B - iChange module completion and social Innovation quiz due by Friday of Week 12, 11:45PM
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
For this assessment, you will start by reflecting on the following questions on how these issues have impacted you and your family. Write about a 100-150 word response to each question.
Questions to reflect on:
- How has the level of my or my family's income influenced my health?
- How did my early childhood experiences influence my health?
- How has my education level influenced my health?
- How has my gender influenced my health?
- How has my ethnic background and/or cultural background influenced my health or the way I think about health?
You will then choose two individuals from the case studies and review their responses to these same questions. You will analyse the reflective responses of yourself and the other two individuals and draw out common pattern ideas, using the template provided in Moodle.
Week 5 Monday (3 Apr 2023) 11:45 pm AEST
Please submit as a Word document.
Week 7 Tuesday (25 Apr 2023)
Your generated themes from the template will be marked according to their broad relevance to the Social Determinants of Health covered in this unit. See the Moodle site for a detailed marking rubric.
- Explain social determinants of health from an individual scale
2 Online Quiz(zes)
There are two components to the online quizzes.
Quiz 1: The first online quiz relates to the social determinants of health. This quiz is open-book and contains fifteen (15) questions. Completion of the quiz is done online. This quiz contributes a possible 15 marks (15%) towards the final grade for the unit. Only one attempt is possible on this quiz. Quiz 1 - Opens Monday of week 6 and closes Friday of week 9.
Quiz 2: The second online quiz relates to Social Innovation and involves: A) completion of the CQUniversity iChange Module, and B) answering three multiple-choice questions that relate to social innovation. This assessment contributes 15 marks (15%) towards the final grade for the unit. The iChange Module can be accessed via the CQUniversity Social Innovation website, details are provided on the unit Moodle page. iChange is an online module that contains six social innovation-themed units and quizzes, once completed you will be issued a completion certificate.
You may commence the iChange module at any time during the term however you will need to have completed the module and uploaded your completion certificate (Part A) and answered the associated Social Innovation multiple choice questions (Part B) by the Friday of Week 12.
Completion of the Quiz 2 assessment is done by submitting your iChange completion certificate (Part A, worth 12%) and answering the three multiple-choice questions (Part B, worth 3%) via the Quiz 2 assessment portal by Friday of Week 12.
Quiz 1 closes Friday of week 9, 12th May at 11.45PM. Quiz 2 must be completed by Friday of week 12, 2nd June, 11:45PM.
Results of Quiz 1 will be released once the quiz has closed. Results of Quiz 2 assessment will be released by Exam week.
Each question in Quiz 1 and Quiz 2 (Part B) are worth 1 mark each. By uploading your iChange completion certificate (Quiz 2, Part A), you will automatically earn the 12 marks this task is worth.
- Explain social determinants of health from an individual scale
- Explain social determinants of health across community and national/global scales
- Relate social determinants of health to community connectedness and identity
- Locate and evaluate relevant information using library tools.
3 Written Assessment
Using one character as shown in the case examples on the Moodle site, write an essay of 1,500 - 2,000 words that explains how social and/or community connectedness could be protective for the health of the character. Your essay should describe HOW your character could connect to others and their community.
In your submission, include the character name eg. "Daniel". In the 'resources' block on Moodle, you will find the case examples that you can choose from, a sample essay and a copy of the marking criteria.
Review/Exam Week Monday (5 June 2023) 11:55 pm AEST
Two weeks following submission
A detailed marking rubric is available on the unit Moodle site. You will be assessed according to: 1) structure of the essay; 2) level of exploration of social/community connectedness and health; 3) consistency in argument; 4) support provided to argument from relevant literature; 5) acknowledgement of sources of information and referencing accuracy.
- Explain social determinants of health across community and national/global scales
- Relate social determinants of health to community connectedness and identity
- Demonstrate appropriate referencing in academic writing
- Develop an appropriate argument in an academic essay
- Locate and evaluate relevant information using library tools.
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
