Community Engagement for Health Impact (POPH90201)
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 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
There is increasing global recognition that research and interventions seeking to change the social determinants of health are most impactful when communities are actively engaged in the process. Therefore, many health researchers are looking towards participatory approaches to the co-production of knowledge and health practitioners are increasingly aiming to co-design health interventions with communities, patients or service end-users. This subject will give students an understanding of, and experience in, the principles, processes and some of the methods used in participatory health research. It will illustrate the ways these principles, processes and methods can be applied to the co-design of health interventions, to support patient-public involvement in health, and to user led health research. This subject will be of interest to students wanting to build the necessary skills to support communities to deepen their understanding of their own circumstances, to engage communities in taking action to help resolve conditions undermining health, and to ensure that community engagement maximises positive health impacts. As part of this subject, students will be expected to participate in (a) practical exercises designed to enhance skills and techniques; and (b) workshopping, analysis and reflection of data collected during an in-class research project.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students should:
- Describe principles, processes and methods used to engage communities in health research and in the design and delivery of health services and interventions
- Demonstrate specific social science research methods and techniques used in participatory health research
- Apply the principles and processes of participatory health research to the co-design of health interventions with communities
- Identify the advantages and limitations of a variety of social science research methods community used in participatory health research and co-design processes
- Critically reflect on the benefits, limitations, challenges and ethical issues associated with community engagement for health
- Demonstrate problem solving skills to deal with practical issues that arise in the conduct of participatory health research and when engaging with communities
- Demonstrate self-reflection when employing methods and processes used in participatory health research and co-design
Generic skills
On completion of the subject students will have:
- Gained practical skills in social sciences research methods used in Community-Based Research
- Developed the ability to plan their own research work
- Developed strategies for dealing with problems that arise in the planning and conduct of research
- Gained skills in collection and interpretation of data
- Effective written and oral communication skills
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
505-922 Research Methods in Social Health
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: 4 March 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Assessment 1 (written assessment task)
| Mid semester | 30% |
Assessment 2 (written assessment task)
| End of semester | 50% |
Reflective blog (LMS), ongoing throughout semester
| Throughout the teaching period | 20% |
| Hurdle requirement: Attendance at a minimum of 80% is required to pass this subject. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Coordinator Vivian Romero Mode of delivery Dual-Delivery (Parkville) Contact hours 28 hours Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 28 July 2025 to 26 October 2025 Last self-enrol date 8 August 2025 Census date 1 September 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 26 September 2025 Assessment period ends 21 November 2025 Semester 2 contact information
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/
Time commitment details
170 hours
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of Adolescent Health and Wellbeing Course Master of Public Health Informal specialisation Health, Gender and Society - Links to additional information
- 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.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
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
Last updated: 4 March 2025