CQUniversity Unit Profile
PBHL20002 Systems Thinking in Public Health
Systems Thinking in Public Health
All details in this unit profile for PBHL20002 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

Our health is an outcome of a complex social-ecological system of variables including individual characteristics, social factors and environmental drivers. Such systems, by nature, incorporate elements that are uncertain, unpredictable and co-occurring at the same time across different levels and scales. In this unit, you will be introduced to the concept of complex adaptive systems and learn how to apply systems thinking to identify ways in which changes can be made to social and environmental determinants to influence health outcomes at community and population levels. You will also learn to use participatory methods to anticipate alternate futures as a tool for improving public health planning and building resilience.

Details

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

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 - 2021

Cairns
Melbourne
Online
Sydney

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 Postgraduate 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. Group Work
Weighting: 50%
2. Written Assessment
Weighting: 50%

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 Student and staff comments

Feedback

Shift to online classes disrupted tutorial schedule and progression of class activities which were difficult to do online.

Recommendation

Future class activities will be modified or re-designed with increased attention to their suitability to online classes, or to being technologically neutral in the event that the planned return to on-site classrooms in 2021 takes place.

Feedback from Student and staff comments

Feedback

Shift to online classes made performing certain kinds of assessment, such as group presentations, difficult or impossible.

Recommendation

Group assessment requirements must obviously be met, but the nature of the submissions will be reconsidered to allow for flexibility and realistic expectations in the current environment.

Feedback from Student comments, personal reflection

Feedback

Some case studies are stand-alone examples from health fields, which may not always mesh well with in-the-field requirements of public health.

Recommendation

Unit material will be re-examined and, where necessary, modified beginning in 2021, so that the content of lectures and case studies can better match with specific core skills and knowledge required in public health (particularly environmental health and policy in the case of this subject).

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Explain how complex adaptive systems thinking is used in public health to better understand entrenched health issues related to colonisation, population pressure, climate and environmental changes
  2. Distinguish between different scales and domains identified within complex adaptive systems thinking relevant to public health
  3. Apply complex adaptive systems thinking to public health issues relating to social and environmental determinants of health
  4. Analyse participatory and relational approaches to addressing complex adaptive system challenges in public health
  5. Reflect on and discuss the impact of social practices related to power, leadership and trust on public health from a complex adaptive systems perspective
  6. Determine how complex adaptive systems thinking informs practical and sustainable interventions across scales and domains using asset-based community development and disease prevention models
  7. Evaluate how complex adaptive systems thinking influences approaches to evidence and practice in public health.


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 7
1 - Group Work - 50%
2 - Written Assessment - 50%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 - Knowledge
2 - Communication
3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills
4 - Research
5 - Self-management
6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility
7 - Leadership
8 - 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
1 - Group Work - 50%
2 - Written Assessment - 50%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

There are no required textbooks.

IT Resources

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

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

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
David Fanany Unit Coordinator
d.fanany@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 08 Mar 2021

Module/Topic

Introduction to Systems Thinking

Chapter

Cabrera, D., Cabrera, L. and Powers, E., 2015. A unifying theory of systems thinking with psychosocial applications. Systems Research and Behavioral Science, 32(5), pp.534-545.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 15 Mar 2021

Module/Topic

Complex Adaptive Systems

Chapter

Chan, S., 2001, October. Complex adaptive systems. In ESD. 83 research seminar in engineering systems (Vol. 31, pp. 1-19).

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 22 Mar 2021

Module/Topic

Organisms and Organism Interactions

Chapter

Lang, J. M. & Benbow, M. E. (2013) Species Interactions and Competition. Nature Education Knowledge 4(4):8

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 29 Mar 2021

Module/Topic

Living Environments

Chapter

Frumkin, H (2016) Introduction to Environmental Health. In Frumkin, H (ed.) Environmental Health: From Global to Local (3rd Edition), John Wiley and Sons, United States.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 05 Apr 2021

Module/Topic

Hazards and Risk

Chapter

Sheehan, MC, Lam, J, and Burke, TA (2016) Risk Assessment in Environmental Health. In Frumkin, H (ed.) Environmental Health: From Global to Local (3rd Edition), John Wiley and Sons, United States.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 12 Apr 2021

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 19 Apr 2021

Module/Topic

Occupational Health and Safety

Chapter

Yost, MG and Ryan, PB (2016) Exposure Science, Industrial Hygiene, and Exposure Assessment. In Frumkin, H (ed.) Environmental Health: From Global to Local (3rd Edition), John Wiley and Sons, United States.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Group assignment due Friday of week 6


Group Presentation Due: Week 6 Friday (23 Apr 2021) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 7 Begin Date: 26 Apr 2021

Module/Topic

Environmental Psychology

Chapter

Bechtel, R.B., 2010. Environmental psychology. The Corsini Encyclopedia of Psychology, pp.1-3.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 03 May 2021

Module/Topic

Large-Scale Physical Systems and Health

Chapter

"Framework for Linkages Between Health, Environment, and Development", in Health in Sustainable Development Planning: The Role of Indicators, WHO, Geneva.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 9 Begin Date: 10 May 2021

Module/Topic

Social Systems and Health

Chapter

Friel, S, Pescud, M, Malbon, E, Lee, A, Carter, R, Greenfield, J, Cobcroft, M, Potter, J, Rychetnik, L, Meertens, B (2017) Using systems science to understand the determinants of inequities in healthy eating. Plos One Vol. 12 No. 11.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 17 May 2021

Module/Topic

Systems Approaches in Health Promotion

Chapter

Zurcher, KA, Jensen, J, and Mansfield, A (2018) Using a Systems Approach to Achieve Impact and Sustain Results. Health Promotion Practice 19 (1_suppl), 15S-23S.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 24 May 2021

Module/Topic

Systems Approaches in Politics and Policy

Chapter

Walker, B (2014) Understanding Resilience and Reducing Future Vulnerabilities in Social-Ecological Systems, in J Boston, J Wanna, V Lipski, and J Pritchard (eds) Future-Proofing the State: Managing Risks, Responding to Crises and Building Resilience, ANU Press, Canberra.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 31 May 2021

Module/Topic

Review

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Case Study Analysis Due: Week 12 Friday (4 June 2021) 11:45 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 07 Jun 2021

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 14 Jun 2021

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Group Work

Assessment Title
Group Presentation

Task Description

Early in the term you will be formed into groups. Your task is to analyse a public health issue, from a list of topics that will be provided in class and on Moodle. You will develop a conceptual model to illustrate the systems interactions that influence that issue. Each group will prepare a PowerPoint presentation and speaker's notes that provide an overview of the health issue, and analysis of the issue from a systems perspective. This should be usable and understandable by a general audience, and make use of the principles of systems analysis and causal loops that you have learned in class. Specifically, your group needs to:

  • describe the public health issue with minimal technical language and a brief overview of its nature
  • identify relevant components and the interactions between some of these components
  • perform a systems analysis, making use of some or all of the DSRP principles and suitable diagrams and illustrations, of the variables, driving forces and relationships relating to the public health issue
  • discuss ways in which changes to some of the variables can affect public health outcomes

The presentation has both group and individual assessment components. Each group member will take responsibility for one slide or section of the PowerPoint presentation. The indicated section will be used for the purposes of the individual component of assessment.

Students must pass both assessments (ie. obtain a score of at least 50% on each assessment) to pass the class.


Assessment Due Date

Week 6 Friday (23 Apr 2021) 11:45 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Week 8 Friday (7 May 2021)


Weighting
50%

Assessment Criteria

Identification and description of relevant components and variables and construction of conceptual model (30%)

Identification and description of relevant driving forces and interactions between components (30%)

Identification and description of relevant leverage points and the possible impacts of interventions (25%)

Organization and language use (10%)

Individual contribution to group presentation (5%)


Referencing Style

Submission
Offline Online Group

Submission Instructions
Presentations will be made in class of week 6. One member from each group must upload an electronic copy of their PowerPoint slides and speaker's notes by the end of week 6.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Explain how complex adaptive systems thinking is used in public health to better understand entrenched health issues related to colonisation, population pressure, climate and environmental changes
  • Distinguish between different scales and domains identified within complex adaptive systems thinking relevant to public health
  • Apply complex adaptive systems thinking to public health issues relating to social and environmental determinants of health
  • Analyse participatory and relational approaches to addressing complex adaptive system challenges in public health
  • Reflect on and discuss the impact of social practices related to power, leadership and trust on public health from a complex adaptive systems perspective
  • Determine how complex adaptive systems thinking informs practical and sustainable interventions across scales and domains using asset-based community development and disease prevention models
  • Evaluate how complex adaptive systems thinking influences approaches to evidence and practice in public health.


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Research
  • Self-management
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility
  • Leadership

2 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Case Study Analysis

Task Description

This assignment is based on a real-world scenario with public health relevance. The instructions are in a file on this page, along with three scholarly articles you can use as background and information. You will use this material to perform an analysis of the systems interactions relevant to the scenario. Specifically,

  • identify significant components of the system that leads to the observed scenario
  • identify and explain driving forces and relationships between these components that impact upon public health outcomes
  • explain how specific elements and relationships in the system can be used to inform public policy/public health interventions

Your response to the assignment questions should be not more than about 1500 words, and follow all usual rules about referencing.

Students must pass both assessments (ie. obtain a score of at least 50% on each assessment) to pass the class.


Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Friday (4 June 2021) 11:45 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Exam Week Friday (18 June 2021)


Weighting
50%

Assessment Criteria

Identification and description of relevant components (20%)

Analysis of systemic driving forces and interactions (20%)

Placement of interventions and leverage points in public health context (20%)

Discussion of implications for public health policy (20%)

Use of clear, concise language and logical development of content (10%)

All work reflects student's own thinking and references are accurately cited (10%)


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Explain how complex adaptive systems thinking is used in public health to better understand entrenched health issues related to colonisation, population pressure, climate and environmental changes
  • Distinguish between different scales and domains identified within complex adaptive systems thinking relevant to public health
  • Apply complex adaptive systems thinking to public health issues relating to social and environmental determinants of health
  • Analyse participatory and relational approaches to addressing complex adaptive system challenges in public health
  • Reflect on and discuss the impact of social practices related to power, leadership and trust on public health from a complex adaptive systems perspective
  • Determine how complex adaptive systems thinking informs practical and sustainable interventions across scales and domains using asset-based community development and disease prevention models
  • Evaluate how complex adaptive systems thinking influences approaches to evidence and practice in public health.


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility
  • Leadership

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?