Indigenous Health in a Global Context (POPH90291)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Dual-Delivery (Parkville)
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 |
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Fees | Look up fees |
This is an elective subject in the Master of Public Health program that contributes to the Indigenous health stream and will be a foundation subject for those interested in working with Indigenous peoples. In this subject, students will be introduced to local and global concepts, frameworks and methods used by Indigenous populations to promote health equity and foster a global view of Indigenous peoples’ health and wellbeing.
International studies of the health of the world’s almost 400 million Indigenous and tribal peoples provide important public health insights and data that can advance public policy, programs and health services worldwide. Taking into account the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Sustainability Development Goals, students will learn how to develop targeted policy and programmatic responses and take preventative action to achieve health equity for populations who experience poorer health outcomes than non-Indigenous counterparts.
Students will engage with Indigenous and tribal peoples from Australia and abroad on the development and delivery of key strategies to positively impact issues exacerbating poor health including poverty, malnutrition, overcrowding, environmental degradation, prevalent infections and inadequate clinical care. Correction of these inequities requires a transdisciplinary approach including increased awareness and political commitment to understand and address these serious and complex problems.
Students will learn from practitioners in the field how to tackle major difficulties and comparative studies will show how key globally recognised strategies have been implemented with Indigenous individuals, families and communities with a focus on community participation. The material in this subject is highly relevant in day-to-day public health practice in local and international development work, and key concepts can be applied to other populations experiencing marginalisation and vulnerability and disadvantage.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Identify and synthesise comparative international literature, case studies and data that explain the diversity of health status and needs across international jurisdictions in Australia, the Pacific region, Europe, north America, and recognise the complexities involved in achieving health equity for Indigenous peoples and local peoples.
- Distinguish and apply the grounds for debate and critical appraisal of public policy, programmatic responses and health service responses for Indigenous populations in national and international contexts
- Describe the relevance of international goals, conventions and standards, including the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Sustainability Development Goals
- Apply at an introductory level the skills required to develop and prioritise strategies and interventions to address current complex health needs and emerging lifestyle issues due to transitions from traditional to modern ways of life
- Understand the significance of involving Indigenous and local peoples in the design, delivery and evaluation of public health initiatives to achieve health equity
Generic skills
- Critical thinking and analysis
- Problem-solving
- Finding, evaluating and using relevant information
- Written communication
- Persuasion and argumentation
Last updated: 8 January 2025