Critical Debates in Aboriginal Health

This subject is not offered in 2008.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject immerses students in the critical contemporary debates within Aboriginal health. Specific topics may include: equity and Aboriginal health funding; family trauma: incidence, origins and effects; stolen wages, the “welfare economy” and health; gender and Aboriginal health service provision; human rights and Aboriginal health; globalisation and Indigenous health; Aboriginal administration, history and health; Indigenous participation in health: partnerships, agreements and treaties, among others. Students will examine the explicit and implicit theoretical assumptions and frameworks informing these debates, the particular agendas of key stakeholders, the forums of debate, who participates, how Aboriginal knowledge is constructed, produced, legitimated and contested and implications for ethical health policy, practice and research.

Subject Objectives:
• To critically analyse key standpoints within contemporary debates about Aboriginal health and their theoretical foundations.
• To critically analyse key standpoints within contemporary debates about Aboriginal health and relevant ethical questions.
• To formulate and justify strategic interventions in key areas of Aboriginal health on the basis of a particular ethical and theoretical standpoint.
• Generate and articulate standpoints on contemporary Aboriginal health policy founded on sound ethical and theoretical arguments, an understanding of key institutions and systems and key social and cultural factors.

A set of recommended readings will be available for purchase.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

This subject is a Group 1 elective in the Master of Public Health.