Health and Public Policy

Subject POPH90206 (2010)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2010.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2010:

March, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 24 hrs; One 2 hour seminar per week
Total Time Commitment: 120 hours
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: -
Non Allowed Subjects: 505-113 Public Health Policy
Core Participation Requirements: -

Coordinator

Assoc Prof Margaret Kelaher, Dr Arthur Hsueh

Contact

Centre for Health Policy, Programs and Economics
Telephone: +61 3 8344 9111
Email: chppe-enquiries@ unimelb.edu.au

OR

Academic Programs Office
Melbourne School of Population Health
Tel: +61 3 8344 9339
Fax: +61 3 8344 0824
Email: sph-gradinfo@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview: This subject will provide a multi-disciplinary approach to understanding policy processes and their drivers. The subject will consist of three parts. The first part will draw on perspectives from political science, economics, law, psychology, sociology and management theory to provide a theoretical framework for understanding policymaking. This framework will then be applied to understanding health policy particularly in the Australian context. The second part will examine processes for policy change with a particular focus on the role of different understandings of equity. The third part will take a multidisciplinary approach to understanding policy analysis techniques and their role in policy processes.

Objectives: At the completion of this subject, students should be able to demonstrate the ability to:
  • Understand at an introductory level theoretical perspectives on policy making from political science, economics, law, psychology, sociology and manage
  • Understand critical issues in health policy in the context of the broader public policy sphere
  • Understand the role of different understandings of equity in informing health policy and policy change
  • Critically analyse the origins and evidence base of Australian health policy and associated policy-making and funding structures
  • Understand the policy cycle and the drivers of policy change
  • Understand the relationship between methods in policy analysis and the policy-making cycle
  • Understand at an introductory level the methods in health policy analysis including evaluation, monitoring, forecasting and policy selection.
Assessment:
  • One class presentation of 20 mins (equivalent of 1000 words) during semester (20%)
  • One essay due mid-semester, 2000 words (40%
  • One essay due end of semester, 2000 words (40%)
Prescribed Texts: Students will have access to electronic copies of relevant readings.
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills: Upon completion of this subject a student should have:
  • Advanced written and oral communication skills
  • Advanced skills in cross-disciplinary analysis
  • Advanced skills in reading critically within and across a range of academic disciplines
Related Course(s): Master of Health Social Sciences
Postgraduate Diploma in Health Social Sciences

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