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Healthy Communities (ABPL90022)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Dual-Delivery (Parkville)
Please refer to the return to campus page for more information on these delivery modes and students who can enrol in each mode based on their location.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Overview
| Availability | Semester 2 - Dual-Delivery |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
In recent years, there has been a greatly increased interest in the impacts of the built environment on health and wellbeing. At present, spatial inequalities in regards to access to jobs, affordable housing, social services, and healthy food results in a greater burden of disease for particular social groups and in particular geographic areas. Many of the health problems in cities today, including obesity, violence, and depression, are linked to poor residential and recreational environments, lack of access to jobs and social services, and low social cohesion. Urban decision-makers like planners and designers influence physical, social, natural, cultural, and economic environments. They therefore have a key role in ‘planning health in’, rather than ‘planning health out’, of communities.
This subject will provide a local and international background into current policies and practices related to pursuing health and well-being objectives as a central part of urban planning work. It will cover: the influence of planning over key health determinants, international good practice, the current legislative framework, and Health Impact Assessment. A strong skills focus will ensure that planners, designers and other professionals are able to assess existing sites, plans, and policies from a health perspective.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, the students should be able to:
- Describe the changing nature of public health issues, and their relationship with the built environment;
- Understand variations in the needs of different social, economic, and cultural groups in ‘the public’, to which health planning interventions respond.
- Analyze a planning proposal and an existing site, using health assessment tools
- Describe and critically analyze the integration of Council Plans, Municipal Health and Wellbeing plans, and land use planning tools such as Precinct Structure Plans and Urban Design Frameworks, in local governments across Victoria
- Relate the concepts of healthy urban planning to current policy initiatives at the local, state, or national level.
Generic skills
- Written, verbal and visual communications
- Ability to analyse current policies in light of theory and evidence
- Ability to advocate for a position, based on understanding of policy, theory, and evidence
Last updated: 12 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Admission into one of the following:
- A course at the Melbourne School of Design
- MC-ENV Master of Environment
- 244CW Master of Public Health
OR
Written approval from the subject coordinator.
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
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: 12 November 2022
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Briefing paper
| Week 4 | 20% |
Policy analysis essay, based on comparison of relevant council and state government plans
| Week 7 | 35% |
Health impact assessment presentation
| Week 11 | 10% |
Health Impact Assessment report, based on site assessment and policy analysis
| Week 14 | 35% |
Last updated: 12 November 2022
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator John Stone Mode of delivery Dual-Delivery (Parkville) Contact hours 3 hours per week (1x2hour Lecture +1x1 hour Tutorial ) Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 26 July 2021 to 24 October 2021 Last self-enrol date 6 August 2021 Census date 31 August 2021 Last date to withdraw without fail 24 September 2021 Assessment period ends 19 November 2021 Semester 2 contact information
Time commitment details
170 Hours
Last updated: 12 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Reading available on LMS
- Subject notes
This subject requires high level writing and analysis skills and may not be appropriate for a student commencing the first semester of study.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
- 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: 12 November 2022