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Health and Social Justice (POPH90300)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Dual-Delivery (Parkville)
To learn more, visit 2023 Course and subject delivery.
About this subject
Contact information
Semester 2
Melbourne School of Population and Global Health
OR
Currently enrolled students:
- General information: https://ask.unimelb.edu.au
- Email: Contact Stop 1
Future Students:
- Further Information: https://study.unimelb.edu.au/
Overview
| Availability | Semester 2 - Dual-Delivery |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
Social justice in public health holds the view that everyone deserves equal rights and opportunities, and the right to good health. Yet today, inequities in health are driven by unequal policies and practices based on the unequal distribution of money, power and resources among communities based on gender, class, race, place and other factors. Incorporating insights from the social sciences, this subject will engage with the social, political, economic and historical factors shaping the root causes of health inequities. Promoting social justice through strategies of health promotion, community development, empowerment and advocacy becomes a driving mission of public health. This subject will explore social justice concepts, issues and policy remedies – supporting the development of the necessary analytical tools and information to assess inequality and injustice and address historical and contemporary issues. Students will gain skills and competencies in public health advocacy, that focus on both individual and community level disadvantage, as well as social policy reform and community activism.
Intended learning outcomes
At the completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Illustrate understanding of social justice concepts, issues and policies in public health
- Evaluate how health inequities and the forms and meaning that illness take are embedded in various social, cultural and historical contexts
- Evaluate social justice perspectives and strategies to improve health promotion, community development and policy issues in public health
- Develop materials for advocacy on significant public health issues using social justice perspectives that focus on strengthening individuals and communities and promoting healthy macro-policies.
- Assess different strategies for public health advocacy by interrogating the underlying conceptualisation and practice of dominant public health approaches related to health disparities.
Generic skills
Academic Distinction
- In-depth knowledge of public health conceptual foundations and practice
- Apply specialist public health knowledge and skills in a public health discipline
- Examine issues from multiple disciplinary perspectives within public health
- Think critically and creatively
- Apply knowledge, information and research skills to solve complex problems
- Effective written and oral communicator
Academic Citizenship
- Engage with contemporary local, national, global issues
- High regard for human rights, social inclusion, ethics and the environment
- Awareness of social and cultural diversity in communities
- Work collaboratively with people from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds
- Respect Indigenous knowledge, culture and values
- Potential to be leaders in their profession
- Equipped to make substantial contributions to society
Integrity and self-awareness
- Motivated and organised, with an ability to set goals, manage time and prioritise
- Work effectively both independently and in groups
- Flexible and adaptable
- Awareness of own limitations and able to reflect and learn from their mistakes
- Empathy and concern for others and be able to manage their own well-being.
- Ability to respond constructively to appraisal, performance review or assessment
- Manage uncertainty
Last updated: 31 January 2024