Admission and Unit Information - Master of Primary Health Care

This unit explores the impact and relevance of Primary Health Care in its context as a World Health Organization (WHO) strategy for achieving "Health for All". It examines the ways in which Primary Health Care, along with other significant WHO initiatives, provides a framework for the organisation of just and humane health care systems and provides an opportunity for detailed discussion of the complex factors that impact on the health status of populations. The integration of associated theoretical concepts will enable an understanding of the complex dimensions of health and well-being to evolve and then to inform health care practices and the planning of programs that can lead to sustainable health within a primary health care framework.

An individual's personal characteristics and their family, social and community environments have complex interrelationship with their health and health behaviours. The challenge for health professionals is to understand this complexity and encourage the practice of health promotion within a primary health care framework so enabling people to achieve a sense of power and control over their lives. The unit explores the health of individuals and communities in the context of health promotion. Evidence-based health promotion strategies are examined using social health and ecological perspectives.

This unit presents the principles, strategies and activities associated with social epidemiology and the contribution that this epidemiology makes to the understanding of health and illness of individuals, families and communities. Consideration of social epidemiology in supplementing classical approaches is included, as is consideration of primary health care epidemiology in relation to health service delivery and planning. Students will explore the consequences of primary health care decision making that will enable evidence-based health care practice and relate it to their practice.

The planning, development and implementation of primary health care initiatives rest largely on the capacity of health care workers to develop and engage in partnerships with a diverse range of consumers, health care workers and organisations. In this unit students will critically examine the complexities inherent in developing and sustaining effective and active partnerships with individuals and groups in primary health care contexts. The interpersonal, cultural and socio-political issues that shape communication and the development of partnerships will be examined. Current approaches used to plan for and respond to crises, emergencies and disasters at an individual, organisational and community level will also be explored.

Evolving diversity and changes within societies mean that what are understood as adaptive and maladaptive lifestyles, behaviours and attitudes towards mental illness and traditional healing approaches will vary greatly. This unit presents an outline of the themes and topics central to discussions of mental health and illness within a community. It examines the influences of stereotype and stigma, environment, culture, adaptive ability and support systems for psychological well-being while considering approaches which focus on and promote resilience, attachment, a sense of belonging and empowerment. Contemporary mental health and illness issues relating to selected vulnerable groups will be explored.

This unit examines health and socio political issues in aged care within a social capital framework. Social constructs and contexts of ageing are explored and issues of social and economic disadvantage are examined. Equity and access to health care services and the experiences of older people within these services are also highlighted. The role of health professionals and managers in actively engaging in and influencing health and social policy debate for ethically just care and services for older people is presented.

Within the context of a society where change is ongoing, leadership is required in order to achieve optimum outcomes. Students in this unit will be encouraged to critically explore leadership styles, leadership and change theories, leadership in learning organisations and the community within a primary health care framework. This unit will enable students to assess both the internal and external environments of organisations, communities and individuals as the need for change is identified, planned and implemented. The unit identifies the central strategies necessary for the development of leaders who are able to achieve sustainable change outcomes.

This unit provides the opportunity for students to apply the principles of primary health care in a proposal to address an issue of primary health care concern in their workplace or community. The student will gain comprehensive knowledge of the process of action research, participatory action research and cooperative inquiry. Each student will have the opportunity to write a proposal using a collaborative inquiry approach that involves planning a genuine partnership to examine and make changes to improve an identified issue in the student's specific area of work / practice.

This unit explores the impact and relevance of Primary Health Care in its context as a World Health Organization (WHO) strategy for achieving "Health for All". It examines the ways in which Primary Health Care, along with other significant WHO initiatives, provides a framework for the organisation of just and humane health care systems and provides an opportunity for detailed discussion of the complex factors that impact on the health status of populations. The integration of associated theoretical concepts will enable an understanding of the complex dimensions of health and well-being to evolve and then to inform health care practices and the planning of programs that can lead to sustainable health within a primary health care framework.

An individual's personal characteristics and their family, social and community environments have complex interrelationship with their health and health behaviours. The challenge for health professionals is to understand this complexity and encourage the practice of health promotion within a primary health care framework so enabling people to achieve a sense of power and control over their lives. The unit explores the health of individuals and communities in the context of health promotion. Evidence-based health promotion strategies are examined using social health and ecological perspectives.

This unit presents the principles, strategies and activities associated with social epidemiology and the contribution that this epidemiology makes to the understanding of health and illness of individuals, families and communities. Consideration of social epidemiology in supplementing classical approaches is included, as is consideration of primary health care epidemiology in relation to health service delivery and planning. Students will explore the consequences of primary health care decision making that will enable evidence-based health care practice and relate it to their practice.

The planning, development and implementation of primary health care initiatives rest largely on the capacity of health care workers to develop and engage in partnerships with a diverse range of consumers, health care workers and organisations. In this unit students will critically examine the complexities inherent in developing and sustaining effective and active partnerships with individuals and groups in primary health care contexts. The interpersonal, cultural and socio-political issues that shape communication and the development of partnerships will be examined. Current approaches used to plan for and respond to crises, emergencies and disasters at an individual, organisational and community level will also be explored.

Evolving diversity and changes within societies mean that what are understood as adaptive and maladaptive lifestyles, behaviours and attitudes towards mental illness and traditional healing approaches will vary greatly. This unit presents an outline of the themes and topics central to discussions of mental health and illness within a community. It examines the influences of stereotype and stigma, environment, culture, adaptive ability and support systems for psychological well-being while considering approaches which focus on and promote resilience, attachment, a sense of belonging and empowerment. Contemporary mental health and illness issues relating to selected vulnerable groups will be explored.

This unit examines health and socio political issues in aged care within a social capital framework. Social constructs and contexts of ageing are explored and issues of social and economic disadvantage are examined. Equity and access to health care services and the experiences of older people within these services are also highlighted. The role of health professionals and managers in actively engaging in and influencing health and social policy debate for ethically just care and services for older people is presented.