Indigenous Health and History

This subject is not offered in 2014.

120 hours

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For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.
The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website.

This subject provides students with specific foundational knowledge for understanding the ‘Gap’ in Indigenous health. Following a chronological approach, this subject provides students with an understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health from pre-invasion to the present. Along this continuum, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health issues are examined in terms of their socio-economic origins, the clash of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and settler values, aspirations and outcomes, and comparative demographical trends. Key topics include: colonisation and infectious disease; loss of land/economy & health impacts; conflict and health; impacts of segregation; cultural oppression, identity and health; inter-generational health effects of family separations; and, institutional racism and health. Students will also consider the development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led strategies, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership and community control of health services. The subject draws on a range of rich archival material, recent research, audiovisual materials as well as contemporary Indigenous community perspectives on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing.

On completion of this subject students should be able to:

• Explain particular Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health issues in terms of their historical antecedents;
• Explain contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health issues in terms of key socio-economic and demographic variables and their historical basis.
• Analyse the potential of public health interventions in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and experiences of health/illness.
• Critically analyse professional and popular representations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health disadvantage, own standpoint as an informed ethical public health practitioner and implications for own professional practice.
• Assess current responses to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health issues drawing on key social and cultural factors and their historical origins.

• Reflective Journal (2,500 words) due at the end of semester (50%) {hurdle requirement}
• Research Paper (2,500 words) due mid semester (50%) {hurdle requirement}
• Intensive Attendance (minumum of 80% attendance is required) {hurdle requirement} (pass/fail)

A book of readings will be made available to the students.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Upon completion of this subject students will have developed skills in:

• Critical thinking and analysis,
• Problem-solving,
• Leadership,
• Initiative, autonomy and organisation,
• Working with others and in teams.

Online readings; interactive forums; email support; one-to-one Skype support; teleconferences