Overview

The aim of this unit is to introduce the principles and practice of psychology as applied in general health settings. Prevention and treatment approaches are introduced.

Requisites

Equivalent units
PSY60006 Foundations of Health Psychology
Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
04-August-2025
02-November-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-August-2025
Census date
31-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
19-September-2025
Results released date
09-December-2025
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-August-2026
01-November-2026
Last self-enrolment date
16-August-2026
Census date
01-September-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
22-September-2026
Results released date
08-December-2026

Unit learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
 

  1. Critically analyse and evaluate research on the interdependent relationships between biological, psychological, behavioural, and social determinants of health and illness.
  2. Apply models of health (e.g., Health Belief Model, Theory of Planned Behaviour, Social and Emotional Wellbeing Framework) to analyse how health-risk and health-protective behaviours are shaped.
  3. Develop, implement, and evaluate an evidence-informed intervention that involves interprofessional practice and considers relevant contextual factors (e.g., demographics, culture, disease status, structural inequalities).

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Activity Type Activity Total Hours Number of Weeks Hours Per Week
On-campus Class 36 12 weeks 3
On-campus Workshop 6 2 weeks 3
Unspecified Activities Independent Learning 108 12 weeks 9
Total Hours: 150 Total Hours (per week): 15

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Analysis Individual 20-30% 1,2,3
Case Study Individual  20-30%  1,2
Role Play Individual  40-60%  1,2,3

Content

  • Biological, social, cultural, and psychological influences on health and illness
  • Acute, chronic, and terminal illnesses; life-altering injuries; sexual functioning; pain; and death and dying
  • Models of health behaviour change
  • Interprofessional practice
  • Motivational interviewing
  • Graduate Attribute 1 (Communication - Verbal communication)
  • Graduate Attribute 2 (Communication 2 - Communicating using different media)
  • Graduate Attribute 5 (Digital Literacies 1 - Information literacy)
  • Graduate Attribute 6 (Digital Literacies 2 - Technical literacy)

Study resources

Reading materials

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