Health Systems

This subject is not offered in 2014.

120 hours.

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505-548 Australian Health Systems

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 will provide students with the analytical frameworks for exploring the social dynamics, institutions and structures that constitute health systems, and enhance students’ ability to undertake critical policy analysis of health systems. Issues that will be addressed will include, but may not be exclusive to: health system structures, factors influencing health systems, intergovernmental relations in health, health financing systems, health workforce supply and policy, general practice and primary healthcare, complementary health systems, international health systems and indigenous peoples, major health system reforms; and evidence, tools, performance measurement, and policy processes that inform health system decision-making. The Australian health system will be the primary case study with each topic including comparative case studies from other health systems.

Upon completion of this subject, students should be able to:

• Describe and critically analyse the institutions, structures and processes that constitute the Australian health system
• Characterise the key components of the Australian health system by comparison with other health systems
• Analyse and critique health system policy and initiatives with a focus on the key institutional, social, cultural and political influencing factors

One essay of 2,000 words, due mid semester (40%); one critical analysis totalling 3,000 words due during the examination period (60%).

Duckett, S. & Wilcox, S. (2011) (4th ed) The Australian Health Care System, Melbourne: Oxford University Press. RRP: $A 83.95
Students will have access to electronic copies of relevant readings.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

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

• Finding, evaluating and using relevant information,
• Written communication,
• Oral communication,
• Persuasion and argumentation,