The first assessment task is a written assignment of about 1000 words that you will complete on an individual basis. For this assignment, you will choose one of the topics from the list below and write about its significance in Public Health. The assignment will require some very focused research, so it is important to begin early and seek help from the Academic Learning Centre, or seek advice from your lecturer or tutor if you need it.

The topics for this assignment are:

1.    Extreme heat events and their growing public health burden 

2.    The public health implications of declining childhood immunisation coverage 

3.    The expansion of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) 

4.    Alcohol‑related harm and the changing patterns of risky drinking 

5.    The health impacts of ultra‑processed food consumption 

For your chosen topic, you will need to research the scholarly literature as well as information available from organisations like the AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) to understand the background of your topic.

However, you are not to write about the clinical aspects of the topic.

Your assignment must address the following issues in separate sections:

• Introduction - outlines the issue and gives an indication of its Public Health significance; this section must include the population affected or at risk, if relevant
• Public Health Implications – describes how has your topic affected thinking and practice in the field of Public Health and what are some important issues that came to attention because of your topic
• Historical Context – discusses how your topic fits into the Public Health context that came before and the broader history of Public Health
• Future Context– discusses your personal view on the future of your topic and how you believe it will change or affect Public Health thinking and practice into the future

This assignment must be written in a formal, academic style (not first person) and must be fully referenced. APA 7th referencing is preferred for this unit. You will need to have BOTH in text references and a complete, properly formatted reference list. 

Use of Generative AI

Level of GenAI use allowed: Level 2: You may use Al for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas.

Weighting and Pass Requirement

This assessment is worth 40% of your final grade for the unit. You must achieve at least 50% on this assessment to pass the unit.

Due Date

4:00pm, Thursday of Week 5

The following assessment criteria appply:

1. The assessment contains the required sections and discussion

2. The public health aspects of the topic are explicitly discussed

3. Accurate referencing is provided with all material from sources fully cited

4. A formal writing style conforming to academic convention is used

5. There is evidence of the student's own thinking, analysis and opinion

The second assessment task is a group poster presentation. Your lecturer will assign you to a group.

The purpose of this task is to present your group’s interpretation of the statement “This is Public Health.” Your poster should highlight an object, scene, practice, or feature of your local environment that demonstrates a principle of Public Health in action.

Choosing Your Topic

Your chosen example must:

• Exist in your own local environment
• Be documented using photographs taken by your group (at least one original photo is required)
• Represent an innovation, system, or feature that improves Public Health, rather than a Public Health problem
• Your topic must not be a Public Health issue (e.g., obesity, poor nutrition, pollution). Instead, focus on something that promotes or protects health, especially something that may not be widely recognised as Public Health.

More guidance is available on Moodle.

Poster Requirements

Your poster should resemble those commonly presented at academic conferences. You may use Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, or another common presentation format.

Your poster must include:

• At least one original photograph taken by your group
• Clear text explaining the phenomenon you selected and how it exemplifies Public Health
• Only original text and images created by your group (no images or text taken from the internet)

Individual Written Component

In addition to the group poster, each student in the group must submit an individual written explanation (approximately 300 words). This short piece should:

• Expand on the Public Health representation shown in the poster
• Explain the reasoning behind your group’s choice
• Discuss the key elements of the poster

This component must be submitted as a Word document.

Use of Generative AI

Level of GenAI use allowed: Level 2: You may use Al for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas.

Weighting and Pass Requirement

This assessment is worth 40% of your final grade for the unit. You must achieve at least 50% on this assessment to pass the unit.

Due Date

4:00pm, Thursday of Week 8

1. Poster contains the required photos and content and is accompanied by explanatory text

2. Any material taken from other sources is fully cited

3. Language is original, formal and academic in nature, and reflects contribution by all group members

4. Content shows evidence of original thinking, analysis, and creativity on the part of the groups

5. Individual description shows individual reflection on learning and analysis

The third assessment task for this unit is a reflective practice report of 500 words that describes your growing understanding of Public Health as a discipline. This is an individual assignment. You are strongly encouraged to work on your reflection throughout the term and to make notes of ideas that occur to you or issues that interest you that you can include when you write your assignment.

Your reflection should focus on how your understanding of Public Health changed over the course of the term, and you should compare your knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes at the beginning of this unit with how you feel at the end. 

You should also reflect specifically on the following questions:

• How does an understanding of the history of Public Health contribute to your future professional practice?
• How important are the non-health factors that are part of public health practice?
• What are some of the ethical issues associated with public health practice?
• How will the things you have learned as part of this unit affect your own practice in the future?
• Using the socio-ecological model of health, adapt the model in diagrammatic form to reflect how your personal factors are impacted at each level.
   

This reflective assignment is an essay. A less formal writing style may be used, and references are not required. If you do use any source material, however, each item must be identified in an in-text reference and also appear fully cited on a reference list.

Use of Generative AI

Level 1: You must not use Al at any point during the assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge.

Weighting and Pass Requirement

This assessment is worth 20% of your final grade for the unit. You must achieve at least 50% on this assessment to pass the unit.

Due Date

4:00pm, Monday of Week 12

1. Assessment shows real reflection and consideration on professional practice in Public Health

2. The assigned questions are considered and discussed

3. Any sources used are fully cited

4. All language is original and reflects the student's own work

5. Personal learning has been documented