CQUniversity Unit Profile
PBHL20004 Public Health Action and Evaluation
Public Health Action and Evaluation
All details in this unit profile for PBHL20004 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

Public Health Action and Evaluation aims to provide students with key skills to encourage communities to recognise and build on existing strengths, resources and networks that facilitate empowerment. This requires effective partnership building with key leaders, community members and organisations. This unit explores action to address disease prevention and health promotion - this is the 'what we do' in public health. Using a Critical Realism framework, you will build on your skills in public health by exploring systematic program planning incorporating assessment, implementation and evaluation. Evidence-based practice is traditionally the key driver of action in health, including public health. In this unit you will additionally explore the application of practice-based evidence acknowledging the value and richness of data that can be gathered from real-world efforts in public health. You will have opportunities to analyse and evaluate a range of public health interventions including innovative approaches such as arts-based and decolonising approaches. These will allow you to explore the ethics and practices associated with working with a range of communities, including Indigenous and marginalised groups.

Details

Career Level: Postgraduate
Unit Level: Level 9
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Prerequisite: PBHL20001 Understanding Public Health 

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 2 - 2020

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. Online discussion forum
Weighting: 30%
2. Group Work
Weighting: 50%
3. Reflective Practice Assignment
Weighting: 20%

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 Teaching Staff Reflection

Feedback

Students did not go through the workbook exercises, which would have helped them to understand the unit content.

Recommendation

Teaching staff will continue to encourage students to complete the workbook exercises as well as do some of the exercises during tutorials

Feedback from Unit Evaluation

Feedback

Students found the group discussions during tutorials very useful

Recommendation

Teaching staff will continue to use a collaborative learning approach such as group discussions during tutorials ensure students grasp the unit concepts.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Explain how complex adaptive systems thinking and Critical Realism influence project planning, implementation and evaluation
  2. Determine appropriate models of public health project management that account for influencing factors at different scales
  3. Evaluate public health actions and evaluations within First Nations Peoples' communities in regard to social and environmental determinants of health and principles of social justice, equity and equality
  4. Reflect on effective partnership development with others, including establishing relationships and collaborative learning
  5. Propose and justify a range of interventions to address a complex health issue and outline how these interventions could be evaluated.
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
1 - Online discussion forum - 30%
2 - Group Work - 50%
3 - Reflective Practice Assignment - 20%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
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 - Online discussion forum - 30%
2 - Group Work - 50%
3 - Reflective Practice Assignment - 20%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

Evaluating public and community health programs

Second Edition (2017)
Authors: Muriel J. Harris
Hoboken
New Jersey New Jersey , NJ , USA
ISBN: 9781119151074
Binding: eBook
Prescribed

The New Public Health

(2015)
Authors: Baum, Fran
OUPANZ
Melbourne Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
ISBN: 9780195588088
Binding: eBook

Additional Textbook Information

If you prefer to study with a paper copy, they are available at the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code). eBooks are available at the publisher's website.

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 styles below:

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Tafadzwa Nyanhanda Unit Coordinator
t.nyanhanda@cqu.edu.au
Rebecca Fanany Unit Coordinator
r.fanany@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 13 Jul 2020

Module/Topic

Traditional Public Health Actions

Chapter

Various readings and learning materials.

Events and Submissions/Topic

In addition to online lectures and resources, tutorials promote engaging activities including but not limited to: reflective discussions, workshop activities, and opportunities to work on your assessment. 


Introduction to Assessment #1

Week 2 Begin Date: 20 Jul 2020

Module/Topic

Theories of Behaviour Change

Chapter

Various readings and learning materials.

Events and Submissions/Topic

In addition to online lectures and resources, tutorials promote engaging activities including but not limited to: reflective discussions, workshop activities, and opportunities to work on your assessment.


Forum post due: A social marketing approach applies marketing techniques to behavior change theories in order to bring about population wide behaviour change. What are the strengths and limitations of this approach?


Introduction to Assessments #s 2 & 3

Week 3 Begin Date: 27 Jul 2020

Module/Topic

Planning Public Health Action

Chapter

Various readings and learning materials.

Events and Submissions/Topic

In addition to online lectures and resources, tutorials promote engaging activities including but not limited to: reflective discussions, workshop activities, and opportunities to work on your assessment.


Forum post due: Complex adaptive thinking is integral in understanding the social ecological model of health. Describe how complex adaptive thinking influences public health intervention planning?

Week 4 Begin Date: 03 Aug 2020

Module/Topic

Tools to help planning and evaluating public health actions

Chapter

Various readings and learning materials.

Events and Submissions/Topic

In addition to online lectures and resources, tutorials promote engaging activities including but not limited to: reflective discussions, workshop activities, and opportunities to work on your assessment.


Forum post due: Reflecting on what you have learnt in this unit, why is a logic model important in the planning process of an intervention? Why is it important to engage First Nations People in the planning of a Public Health intervention in their communities?

Week 5 Begin Date: 10 Aug 2020

Module/Topic

Community Development

Chapter

Various readings and learning materials.

Events and Submissions/Topic

In addition to online lectures and resources, tutorials promote engaging activities including but not limited to: reflective discussions, workshop activities, and opportunities to work on your assessment.


Forum post due: A community development approach is an effective approach when working with First Nations people to plan and implement Public Health interventions partly because it ensures that the communities have ownership and oversight of decisions regarding the public health intervention. Reflecting on unit content and other literature, why are ownership and oversight of decisions important factors in ensuring the success of interventions in these communities?

Vacation Week Begin Date: 17 Aug 2020

Module/Topic

No classes in PBHL20004 this week.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 24 Aug 2020

Module/Topic

Healthy Settings

Chapter

Various readings and learning materials.

Events and Submissions/Topic

In addition to online lectures and resources, tutorials promote engaging activities including but not limited to: reflective discussions, workshop activities, and opportunities to work on your assessment.

Forum post due: How could critical realism influence healthy setting approaches to Public Health?

Week 7 Begin Date: 31 Aug 2020

Module/Topic

Public Health Advocacy and Activism

Chapter

Various readings and learning materials.

Events and Submissions/Topic

In addition to online lectures and resources, tutorials promote engaging activities including but not limited to: reflective discussions, workshop activities, and opportunities to work on your assessment.


Forum post due: Reflecting on the unit content and other literature, what role do public health leaders and advocates have to play in addressing health inequities?


Comprehension and collaborative learning Due: Week 7 Friday (4 Sept 2020) 11:59 pm AEST
Week 8 Begin Date: 07 Sep 2020

Module/Topic

Evaluation in Public Health

Chapter

Various readings and learning materials.

Events and Submissions/Topic

This week, presentations (Assessment 2A) will take place during tutorials. Please note that there will also be lecture content this week.


Assessment #2A DUE


Public Health Intervention Plan and Evaluation Due: Week 8 Friday (11 Sept 2020) 11:59 pm AEST
Week 9 Begin Date: 14 Sep 2020

Module/Topic

Evaluation Design

Chapter

Various readings and learning materials.

Events and Submissions/Topic

In addition to online lectures and resources, tutorials promote engaging activities including but not limited to: reflective discussions, workshop activities, and opportunities to work on your assessment.

Week 10 Begin Date: 21 Sep 2020

Module/Topic

Evaluation Methods:  Data Collection, Analysis & Interpretation

Chapter

Various readings and learning materials.

Events and Submissions/Topic

In addition to online lectures and resources, tutorials promote engaging activities including but not limited to: reflective discussions, workshop activities, and opportunities to work on your assessment.

Week 11 Begin Date: 28 Sep 2020

Module/Topic

Evaluation Reporting

Chapter

Various readings and learning materials.

Events and Submissions/Topic

In addition to online lectures and resources, tutorials promote engaging activities including but not limited to: reflective discussions, workshop activities, and opportunities to work on your assessment.
Week 12 Begin Date: 05 Oct 2020

Module/Topic

Healthy Public Policy

Chapter

Various readings and learning materials.

Events and Submissions/Topic

This week, presentations (Assessment 2B) will take place during tutorials. Please note that there will also be lecture content this week.


Assessment #2B DUE

Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 12 Oct 2020

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment #3 DUE


Partnerships Due: Review/Exam Week Wednesday (14 Oct 2020) 11:59 pm AEST
Exam Week Begin Date: 19 Oct 2020

Module/Topic

There is no exam in this unit.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Term Specific Information

Teaching Staff:

Dr Tafadzwa Nyanhanda

Senior Lecturer in Public Health,

School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences

CQUniversity Australia,

Level 4, 120 Spencer Street, Melbourne Campus, Victoria 3000

P +61 03 9616 0408 | X 50429 | E t.nyanhanda@cqu.edu.au


Dr Geraldine Vaughan

Lecturer  in Public Health

School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences,

CQUniversity Australia, Sydney Campus

Email: g.a.vaughan@cqu.edu.au


Dr Sabi Kaphle

Lecturer in Public Health

School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences

CQUniversity Australia, Melbourne Campus

Level 4, 120 Spencer Street, Melbourne 3000

P +61 3 9616 0586 | X 50586 | E s.kaphle@cqu.edu.au

Assessment Tasks

1 Online discussion forum

Assessment Title
Comprehension and collaborative learning

Task Description

This is an INDIVIDUAL assessment. In Weeks 2-7 you will be required to submit a discussion forum post of 150-200 words in relation to a specific question posed for each week. These questions are:

  1. A social marketing approach applies marketing techniques to behavior change theories in order to bring about population wide behaviour change. What are the strengths and limitations of this approach?
  2. Complex adaptive thinking is integral in understanding the social ecological model of health. Describe how complex adaptive thinking influences public health intervention planning?
  3. Reflecting on what you have learnt in this unit, why is a logic model important in the planning process of an intervention? Why is it important to engage First Nations People in the planning of a Public Health intervention in their communities?
  4. A community development approach is an effective approach when working with First Nations people to plan and implement Public Health interventions partly because it ensures that the communities have ownership and oversight of decisions regarding the public health intervention. Reflecting on unit content and other literature, why are ownership and oversight of decisions important factors in ensuring the success of interventions in these communities?
  5. How could critical realism influence healthy setting approaches to Public Health?
  6. Reflecting on the unit content and other literature, what role do public health leaders and advocates have to play in addressing health inequities?
Forums for each topic will be opened for one week. Please make sure you contribute to the forum PRIOR to the week’s tutorial. You are required to reply to one other discussion post potentially contributing to the learning of others by providing relevant new information.


Assessment Due Date

Week 7 Friday (4 Sept 2020) 11:59 pm AEST

Forum posts are due each week (Week 2,3,4,5,6,7), refer to schedule for details.


Return Date to Students

Week 9 Friday (18 Sept 2020)

Two weeks after submission


Weighting
30%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

  • Fulfil requirements of posting on allocated discussion threads (20%)
  • Demonstrate ability to structure critical argument (40%)
  • Contribute to other’s learning (40%)
See Moodle for a detailed assessment rubric. Late submissions and academic misconduct penalties apply as per the university regulations.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Six (6) forum posts, electronic submission via Moodle

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Explain how complex adaptive systems thinking and Critical Realism influence project planning, implementation and evaluation
  • Evaluate public health actions and evaluations within First Nations Peoples' communities in regard to social and environmental determinants of health and principles of social justice, equity and equality


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

2 Group Work

Assessment Title
Public Health Intervention Plan and Evaluation

Task Description

This is a GROUP assessment. At the beginning of the term, you will pick a topic and join a team (5-6 people). Each group will have a designated wiki, where you will be required to post weekly contributions (for example comments or work ) towards your group assessment. Each contribution you post to the wiki will be assessed. It is strongly encouraged that you make use of the opportunities provided during the tutorial sessions. 

Throughout the term, teams will plan a public health intervention that

  • Outlines inspiration (review of the literature, local government data, analogous experience)
  • Reflects ideation (themes and insights from inspiration including but not limited to defining how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sections of the community are incorporated and how to ensure that their voices are heard)
  • Identifies strategies developed for the intervention
  • Presents a logic model or logFrame
  • Provides an evaluation plan including data collection, analysis and dissemination
  • Offers an opportunity for reflection on effective partnership development

This assessment consists of two components:

1. Part A: Group presentation of your public health intervention plan.

Working in groups of up to 6, you need to plan a public health intervention within a chosen scenario (scenarios will be provided in Moodle or in class). This will include:

  • outlining assets and needs based on the literature and local government authority data;
  • developing a logic model or logFrame;
  • identifying how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sections of the community are incorporated into the plan;

Presentation should be 10 minutes in duration. Presenters will be stopped if they go over 10 minutes. Submission of your presentation includes slides AND transcript of your presentation. Only one member of the team will be allowed to upload this submission via Moodle.

2. Part B:Group presentation of your public health intervention evaluation plan

Continuing in your group and working on the same scenario, outline how your public health intervention would be evaluated. This will include:

  • provision of an evaluation plan including data collection and analysis and how results will be disseminated;
  • identifying what differences would need to be undertaken to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices are heard.

Presentation should be 10 minutes in duration. Presenters will be stopped if they go over 10 minutes. Submission of your presentation includes slides AND transcript of your presentation. Only one member of the team will be allowed to upload this submission via Moodle.


Assessment Due Date

Week 8 Friday (11 Sept 2020) 11:59 pm AEST

Part A is due Week 8, Part B is due Week 12.


Return Date to Students

Week 10 Friday (25 Sept 2020)

Two weeks after submission


Weighting
50%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

Group submission of public health intervention plan, 20%

  • Demonstrate breadth and quality of plan (5%)
  • Justify components and consistency of plan (10%)
  • Integrate participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community into plan (5%)

Group presentation of public health evaluation plan, (20%)

  • Demonstrate breadth and quality of plan (5%)
  • Justify components and consistency of plan (10%)
  • Integrate participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community into plan (5%

Individual Criteria, 10%

This relates to the contribution you will make towards the group assessment. Your weekly contributions towards your group assessment on your group wiki will be assessed. In addition, through a 500-word submission, you will also be required to write a brief summary of your contribution to the project.


See Moodle for a detailed assessment rubric. Late submissions and academic misconduct penalties apply as per the university regulations.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online Group

Submission Instructions
Two (2) group presentation (slides and transcripts), electronic submission via Moodle

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Determine appropriate models of public health project management that account for influencing factors at different scales
  • Evaluate public health actions and evaluations within First Nations Peoples' communities in regard to social and environmental determinants of health and principles of social justice, equity and equality
  • Propose and justify a range of interventions to address a complex health issue and outline how these interventions could be evaluated.


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Research
  • Leadership

3 Reflective Practice Assignment

Assessment Title
Partnerships

Task Description

This is an INDIVIDUAL assessment. Based on your informal reflections throughout the term, you will explore your ability to develop effective partnerships with others , including establishing relationships and collaborative learning. In a 2000 word essay, reflect on your group partnership throughout the term. In your essay, you will need to focus on:

  • The group process in establishing and maintaining relationships throughout the term
  • The effectiveness and experience of collaborative learning within the group
  • The relevance of this experience in undertaking community-based public health actions and evaluations.
  • A minimum of two appropriately cited references is required.


Assessment Due Date

Review/Exam Week Wednesday (14 Oct 2020) 11:59 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Exam Week Friday (23 Oct 2020)


Weighting
20%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

  • Present essay in a professional manner (5%)
  • Ability to evaluate group processes and collaborative learning (5%)
  • Demonstrate reflexivity between group experiences and public health actions and evaluations (5%)
  • Demonstrate use of evidence by referencing lecture/readings/tutorial (5%)
See Moodle for a detailed assessment rubric. Late submissions and academic misconduct penalties apply as per the university regulations.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
One (1) reflective essay (MSWord, PDF), electronic submission via Moodle

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Reflect on effective partnership development with others, including establishing relationships and collaborative learning


Graduate Attributes
  • Self-management
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility

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?