Pandemic Preparedness and Response (POPH90301)

This subject explores pandemic preparedness and response from a multidisciplinary perspective. Focusing on pandemic examples, including but not limited to: SARS, Zika, Swine and Avian Influenza, Ebola, HIV/AIDS and COVID-19, the subject provides students with an intersectoral framework through which to appraise a range of preparedness and response efforts across diverse global contexts. Students will learn how to conceptualise effective pandemic preparedness and response as stemming from the intersection of global systems including human and animal health, political, economic, cultural and environmental systems. A wide range of pandemic and country case studies are presented, with particular attention to equity in terms of the diverse and specific needs of, and impacts on, varied populations. Applying an intersectional lens, the subject emphasises lessons learnt that can be translated into future and ongoing pandemic preparedness and responses, as well as highlighting unresolved issues.

This dual delivery subject will be delivered by a multidisciplinary team of experts from Australia and around the world. Topics covered include understanding intersectoral and One Health approaches, and boosting the surge capacity of health systems including preparing and protecting the health work force and other frontline responders. The subject attends to the importance of community engagement, equity and inclusion, and communications issues in preparedness and response to pandemics. The utility of different data sources for planning and response, including scientific data, epidemiological data and health systems data is also addressed. Other key topics addressed in the subject are the social and economic impacts of population containment strategies, and the politics of developing and distributing treatments, cures and vaccines for pandemics. Other key topics addressed in the subject include the wider health footprint of pandemics, as well as the social, economic and mental health impacts of population containment strategies, and the politics of developing and distributing treatments, cures and vaccines for pandemics.

Pandemic Preparedness and Response is a dual delivery block mode intensive subject. This means there is a mix of asynchronous (self-directed) modules and synchronous (live) content, taught intensively across six days over a two week period. Students are expected to commit approximately 40 hours to learning each week, comprised of learning modules, reading, discussion board activities, group work and live webinars. This intensive two week period is followed by independent learning towards a major assessment to be completed over four weeks.

Pandemic Preparedness and Response is a dual delivery block mode intensive subject. This means that the assessable material is delivered through self-directed online modules that students complete over a two-week period. The online modules offer flexibility in relation to the timing of when students complete them, or what hours of the day you may choose to study. However, allocated modules must be completed in time to allow effective participation in live interactive sessions that are linked with those modules. Live interactive sessions are held on six days across the two-week period, in which module material is discussed with fellow students and lecturers. Students may choose to attend these live sessions online or face to face. Students are expected to commit approximately 40 hours to learning each week, comprised of learning modules, reading, discussion board activities, group work and live sessions. This two-week teaching period is followed by group work and independent learning towards two pieces of assessment to be completed over four weeks.