CQUniversity Unit Profile
PBHL13001 Public Health and Environmental Sustainability
Public Health and Environmental Sustainability
All details in this unit profile for PBHL13001 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

The World Health Organisation has identified the link between anthropogenic environmental change and public health as an issue of significant concern and has engaged in a workplan with priorities to advocate and raise awareness, strengthen partnerships, enhance scientific evidence and strengthen health systems. This unit aims to develop your understanding of factors within the anthropogenic and natural environments that impact upon health outcomes, including environmentally transmitted diseases, climate change and sustainable development. Content will include an exploration of zoonotic diseases, vector borne conditions, emerging epidemiologic trends, community resilience and capacity building. You will discover the value of participation through an exploration of community resilience and capacity building. Prevention will be emphasised as you learn about the aetiologies, risk factors, epidemiological trends and underlying environmental factors relating to a range of diseases of public health importance. The theme of partnership will be developed as you examine the issue of environmental sustainability and emerging environmental health issues while learning the importance of working with traditional and contemporary custodians of natural environments, collaborating with government and non-government agencies in creating healthy environmental policy.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 3
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

96 credit points

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 - 2020

Online

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).

Class and Assessment Overview

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

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Online Test
Weighting: 15%
2. Online Test
Weighting: 15%
3. Group Discussion
Weighting: 30%
4. Written Assessment
Weighting: 40%

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.

Previous Student Feedback

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 evaluation

Feedback

Clearer linkages between environmental sustainability and health promotion to make the unit more overtly relevant to health promotion students.

Recommendation

Include more references and resources relating to the role health promotion professionals will have in future public health issues relating to a changing environment.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Explain primary drivers of environmental change and how they interact to result in public health consequences
  2. Examine the aetiology and risk factors of environmentally transmitted diseases and conditions
  3. Evaluate the social-ecological framework as a means to build and maintain partnerships to address environmental health issues
  4. Predict and debate potential scenarios to respond to environmental health challenges based on current and emerging evidence
  5. Communicate information relating to emerging environmental health issues to a wide variety of audiences
  6. Describe the use of Health Impact Assessment, Environmental Impact Assessment and social innovation in the development of sustainable public policy to support health.

Content in this unit aligns with the enHealth Skills and Knowledge Matrix as follows:

Part 1- all generic skills

Part 2- underpinning skills and knowledge in the areas of:

  • microbiology
  • foundation and applied principles of natural and built environmental science
  • science
  • public and environmental health concepts
  • research methods
  • political, legislative and policy context
  • risk assessment and management
  • communication, cultural awareness and interpersonal skills

Part 3- applied skills and knowledge under the headings of

  • Prevention and control of notifiable and communicable diseases
  • Indigenous environmental health
  • Sustainability and climate change

Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 - Online Test - 15%
2 - Online Test - 15%
3 - Group Discussion - 30%
4 - Written Assessment - 40%

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

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 - Online Test - 15%
2 - Online Test - 15%
3 - Group Discussion - 30%
4 - Written Assessment - 40%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

Environment, Health and Sustainable Development

Edition: 2nd edn (2017)
Authors: Landon, Megan
Open University Press, McGraw Hill Education
Maidenhead Maidenhead , Berkshire , United Kingdom
ISBN: 9780335245376
Binding: Paperback

Additional Textbook Information

Copies are available for purchase at the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code)

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
  • Zoom Conferencing (Webcam and Microphone)
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Lisa Bricknell Unit Coordinator
l.bricknell@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 09 Mar 2020

Module/Topic

Environmental sustainability and driving forces behind environmental change.

Chapter

Landon, M (2017) Chapter 2

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 16 Mar 2020

Module/Topic

Environmental sustainability and driving forces behind environmental change.

Chapter

Landon, M (2017) Chapter 3

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 23 Mar 2020

Module/Topic

Environmental sustainability and driving forces behind environmental change.

Chapter

Landon, M (2017) Chapter 4

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 30 Mar 2020

Module/Topic

Impacts of environmental change upon public health

Chapter

Landon, M (2017) Chapter 5

Events and Submissions/Topic

Quiz 1: Sustainability and driving forces behind environmental change Due: Week 4 Friday (3 Apr 2020) 5:00 pm AEST
Week 5 Begin Date: 06 Apr 2020

Module/Topic

Impacts of environmental change upon public health

Chapter

Landon, M (2017) Chapter 6 & 7

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 13 Apr 2020

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 20 Apr 2020

Module/Topic

Impacts of environmental change upon public health

Chapter

Landon, M (2017) Chapter 8 & 10

Events and Submissions/Topic

Quiz 2: Impacts of environmental change upon public health Due: Week 6 Friday (24 Apr 2020) 5:00 pm AEST
Week 7 Begin Date: 27 Apr 2020

Module/Topic

Responding to emerging environmental health challenges

Chapter

Landon, M (2017) Chapter 11

Events and Submissions/Topic


Week 8 Begin Date: 04 May 2020

Module/Topic

Responding to emerging environmental health challenges

Chapter

Landon, M (2017) Chapter 12

Events and Submissions/Topic

Seminars to be held this week.


Seminar Due: Week 8 Friday (8 May 2020) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 9 Begin Date: 11 May 2020

Module/Topic

Responding to emerging environmental health challenges

Chapter

Landon, M (2017) Chapter 13

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 18 May 2020

Module/Topic

Responding to emerging environmental health challenges

Chapter

Landon, M (2017) Chapter 14

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 25 May 2020

Module/Topic

Responding to emerging environmental health challenges

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 01 Jun 2020

Module/Topic

Responding to emerging environmental health challenges

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 08 Jun 2020

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Discussion paper Due: Review/Exam Week Monday (8 June 2020) 11:55 pm AEST
Exam Week Begin Date: 15 Jun 2020

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Online Test

Assessment Title
Quiz 1: Sustainability and driving forces behind environmental change

Task Description

  • The quiz will open on the Friday of Week 3 and remain open until 5:00pm on the Friday of Week 4.
  • There is no time limit to complete the quiz and you can save your quiz and return to it later (while the quiz is available).
  • You will get your final result from the quiz showing which questions you got right or wrong. This will let you know what areas you need to study/revise.
  • You should choose the most correct answer.


Assessment Due Date

Week 4 Friday (3 Apr 2020) 5:00 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Results wil be available once the quiz has closed.


Weighting
15%

Assessment Criteria

This quiz will assess the student's knowledge of the principles of sustainability and the drivers of environmental change.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Explain primary drivers of environmental change and how they interact to result in public health consequences
  • Evaluate the social-ecological framework as a means to build and maintain partnerships to address environmental health issues


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Technology Competence

2 Online Test

Assessment Title
Quiz 2: Impacts of environmental change upon public health

Task Description

  • The quiz will open on the Friday of Week 5 and remain open until 5:00pm on the Friday of Week 6.
  • There is no time limit to complete the quiz and you can save your quiz and return to it later (while the quiz is available).
  • You will get your final result from the quiz showing which questions you got right or wrong. This will let you know what areas you need to study/revise.
  • You should choose the most correct answer.


Assessment Due Date

Week 6 Friday (24 Apr 2020) 5:00 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Results will be available once the quiz has closed.


Weighting
15%

Assessment Criteria

This quiz will test the student's knowledge of the aetiology, risk factors and emerging epidemiologic trends of environmentally transmitted diseases and conditions.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Examine the aetiology and risk factors of environmentally transmitted diseases and conditions


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Technology Competence

3 Group Discussion

Assessment Title
Seminar

Task Description

Early in the term you will be formed into groups. Each group will prepare and present a Q&A style seminar on Zoom for the rest of the class. Your topic will be a public health issue that is related to or caused by environmental change. Your seminar should:

  • identify the public health issue
  • explore the driving forces and pressures behind environmental change and how it affects your public health issue
  • encourage discussion about responses to the challenges you have identified

Other students in the class will also need to participate in the seminar by attending AND preparing a question for the panel for consideration ahead of time.

Seminars will be held at agreed times during Week 7.

Each student will also need to complete an online self and peer assessment task.


Assessment Due Date

Week 8 Friday (8 May 2020) 11:45 pm AEST

Agreed times during Week 8. The Self and Peer Assessment task is due Friday of Week 7 at 11:45 pm.


Return Date to Students

Week 10 Friday (22 May 2020)


Weighting
30%

Assessment Criteria

  • Knowledge of the public health issue (30%)
  • Depth of response and discussion (40%)
  • Team participation (self and peer assessment) (20%)
  • Attendance and participation in discussion (10%)


Referencing Style

Submission
Online Group

Submission Instructions
Participation via Zoom; submit SPA online; group submission of presentation slides via Moodle.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Evaluate the social-ecological framework as a means to build and maintain partnerships to address environmental health issues
  • Communicate information relating to emerging environmental health issues to a wide variety of audiences


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Team Work
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice

4 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Discussion paper

Task Description

This is your opportunity to investigate and theorise in depth about an issue of interest that has arisen from your research. Using the topic chosen for your seminar, write a discussion paper around a specific topic related to your selected public health challenge. Consider possible future scenarios, linkages and elements within the system and propose methods for responding to the challenge to improve or maintain public health. You should take into account learning that came out of your seminar and group discussions as well as the current evidence from the literature.

You should prepare your paper as if for publication in a relevant journal. An exemplar will be provided on Moodle as a guide.

Word limit: 4000 words



Assessment Due Date

Review/Exam Week Monday (8 June 2020) 11:55 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Results for this assessment task will be available after Certification of Grades.


Weighting
40%

Minimum mark or grade
Students must achieve an overall composite grade equal to or greater than 50% and a score of 50% (20/40) for this assessment task in order to pass this unit.

Assessment Criteria

Relevance (30%)

  • summarises relevant information from credible and reputable sources
  • article is relevant to the issue under investigation
  • response activities to maintain or improve public health are presented
  • response activities are appropriate
  • response activities are thoroughly explained
  • effectiveness of the response activities is evaluated

Validity (50%)

  • depth and extent of discussion
  • discussion is thorough and logically presented
  • accuracy of the statements and scenarios proposed
  • recommendations for future activities have been based on critical thought, analysis of the evidence and synthesis of new ideas
  • creativity in integrating existing evidence to propose scenarios and solutions
  • depth and range of research

Organisation (10%)

  • structure and flow of information
  • coherence and clarity of expression (spelling, grammar, syntax)
  • all sources attributed

Presentation (10%)

  • style and formatting
  • typographical matters (types, font, headings etc)
  • referencing is consistent and in accordance with Harvard style
  • length (4000 words ± 20%)


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Predict and debate potential scenarios to respond to environmental health challenges based on current and emerging evidence
  • Describe the use of Health Impact Assessment, Environmental Impact Assessment and social innovation in the development of sustainable public policy to support health.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice
  • Social Innovation

Academic Integrity Statement

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?