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Public Health Law (LAWS90120)

Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Not available in 2019

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Overview

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Drawing on key examples from Australia, the Western Pacific and South east Asia regions, with some reference to other regions of the world, this subject examines how the law may be used as a tool to improve public health and prevent illness and disease. It also considers how laws may negatively impact the public’s health if not carefully crafted. In Public Health Law, students will develop specialised knowledge of the legal basis for public health regulation and of particular domestic laws that are relevant to a variety of critical contemporary public health issues. They will also examine the role of domestic law in relation to global public health issues and international law. The subject will complement the Melbourne Law Masters subject Global Health Law, but it is also intended to be studied independently and no prior knowledge will be assumed. Specific areas of public health concern that will be considered include communicable diseases; family health, gender and the life course; health system strengthening and universal health care; health security and emergency responses; and non-communicable diseases. The subject will also examine the law’s reach and limits noting other tools that play a vital role in achieving public health.

Principal topics include:

  • What is public health law?
  • The law in context:
    • Communicable diseases
      • HIV/STIs/Hepatitis
      • Immunisation and vaccines
    • Health security and emergency response
    • Surveillance and outbreaks (alert and response, International Health Regulations (IHRs))
    • Biosecurity
    • Emergency and humanitarian responses
    • Gender, equity and human rights
    • Maternal and reproductive health
    • Healthy ageing
    • Access to health services
    • Access to medicines/therapeutic goods
    • ‘Life-style’ diseases and the law
    • Substance abuse
    • Disability and injury prevention
    • Family health, gender and the life course
    • Health system strengthening and universal health coverage
    • Non-communicable diseases.

Intended learning outcomes

A student who has completed this subject should:

  • Have a sophisticated appreciation of the role of the law as a tool to improve public health
  • Demonstrate in-depth understanding of the law's application, and operation in relation, to public health issues and its interaction with other public health tools to achieve positive public health outcomes
  • Be able to critically examine, analyse, interpret and assess the effectiveness of public health laws and regulatory responses to modern public health challenges
  • Have undertaken advanced legal research and analysis of public health issues, demonstrating an ability to generate suggestions for public health laws and policies that may serve to improve the public's health and prevent illness, injury and/or disease
  • Demonstrate autonomy, expert judgment and responsibility as a practitioner and advanced learner in the field of public health law.

Last updated: 3 November 2022

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None

Non-allowed subjects

This subject is not available to students who have undertaken Public Health Law (LAWS70145).

Recommended background knowledge

Applicants without legal qualifications should note that subjects are offered in the discipline of law at an advanced graduate level. While every effort will be made to meet the needs of students trained in other fields, concessions will not be made in the general level of instruction or assessment. Most subjects assume the knowledge usually acquired in a degree in law (LLB, JD or equivalent). Applicants should note that admission to some subjects in the Melbourne Law Masters will be dependent upon the individual applicant’s educational background and professional experience.

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.

Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home

Last updated: 3 November 2022

Assessment

Additional details

  • Class preparation and participation (10%)
  • 7,500-9,000 word research paper (90%) (14 January 2019) on a topic approved by the subject coordinator

A minimum of 75% attendance is a hurdle requirement.

Last updated: 3 November 2022

Quotas apply to this subject

Dates & times

Not available in 2019

Additional delivery details

This subject has a quota of 30 students.

Enrolment is on a first come, first served basis. Waitlists are maintained for subjects that are fully subscribed.

Students should note priority of places in subjects will be given as follows:

  • To currently enrolled Graduate Diploma and Masters students with a satisfactory record in their degree
  • To other students enrolling on a single subject basis, eg Community Access Program (CAP) students, cross-institutional study and cross-faculty study.

Please refer to the Melbourne Law Masters website for further information about the management of subject quotas and waitlists.

Last updated: 3 November 2022

Further information

  • Texts

    Prescribed texts

    Specialist printed materials will be made available free of charge from the Melbourne Law School prior to the pre-teaching period.

  • Links to additional information

    law.unimelb.edu.au

  • Available through the Community Access Program

    About the Community Access Program (CAP)

    This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.

    Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.

  • Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students

    This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.

Last updated: 3 November 2022