Overview

This unit introduces students to the field of health science and provides them with the basic foundations to address complex health problems. It is a core unit and aims to teach students broad and coherent information with regards to Health Science. It will enable students to begin to apply knowledge about health that they will require in further Health Science units.

Requisites

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Pathways Teaching 3
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
20-October-2025
30-January-2026
Last self-enrolment date
02-November-2025
Census date
14-November-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
12-December-2025
Results released date
10-February-2026
Pathways Teaching 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
23-February-2026
29-May-2026
Last self-enrolment date
08-March-2026
Census date
24-March-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
14-April-2026
Results released date
09-June-2026
Pathways Teaching 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
22-June-2026
25-September-2026
Last self-enrolment date
05-July-2026
Census date
21-July-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
11-August-2026
Results released date
06-October-2026
Pathways Teaching 3
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
19-October-2026
29-January-2027
Last self-enrolment date
01-November-2026
Census date
17-November-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
15-December-2026
Results released date
09-February-2027

Unit learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  1. Define concepts of health and disease
  2. Evaluate the contemporary context of health and related systems in Australia and abroad
  3. Explain the complexity of health challenges, including the socio-cultural, biological, and environmental factors that impact health and disease
  4. Explain and assess the role of different types of evidence to different health problems
  5. Apply knowledge in a healthcare context

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Live Online
(Lecture)		 2 12 weeks 24
On-campus
(Tutorial 1)		 2 12 weeks  24
On-campus
(Tutorial 2)		 2 12 weeks  24
Unspecified Activities
(Independent Learning)		 6.5 12 weeks  78
TOTAL     150

NCHS - Colombo

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
(Lecture)		 2 12 weeks  24
On-campus
(Tutorial 1)		 2 12 weeks  24
On-campus
(Tutorial 2)		 2 12 weeks  24
Unspecified Activities
(Independent Learning)		 6.5 12 weeks  78
TOTAL     150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULOs
Assignment Individual  35%  2,3,4,5
Essay Individual  25%  1,2,3,5 
Examination Individual  30%  1,3,5 
Quizzes Individual  10%  1,3,5 

Content

  • Introduction to definitions and models of health
  • Determinants of health
  • Populations
  • Person and the environment
  • Inequity and social Justice
  • Complexity and health
  • Health care systems, including disciplines
  • Health care ethics
  • Research and evidence in practice

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.