Unit rationale, description and aim

Students who have a deeper knowledge and awareness of the social and cultural contexts in which they will be studying and working, and an overview of the Australian health care system, will be better prepared for their undergraduate studies in the health sciences and related workplaces. The design and inclusion of this unit supports that learning process and assists students in gaining a better understanding of the complexities of the health care needs of Australia’s First Peoples. The unit will explore cultural practices and values within Australia, and common social, geographic, and cultural factors related to the health needs of individuals, groups and communities. Health promotion and education, including that related to the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, will be a focus. Students will be introduced to reflective practice and have the opportunity to investigate factors that influence health care and build on the language related to health care. The aim of the unit is to familiarise students with the Australian Health Care system, and to provide insight into the relevant historical, social, and cultural influences and contexts in which it operates. 

2026 10

Campus offering

No unit offerings are currently available for this unit.

Prerequisites

Nil

Incompatible

ACOM116 - Introduction to Health Care in AustraliaACOM123 Health Care in Australia

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

Describe common social, geographic and cultural fa...

Learning Outcome 01

Describe common social, geographic and cultural factors related to the health needs of individuals, groups and communities, with particular consideration to the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC5, GC6

Explain key concepts in the Australian health syst...

Learning Outcome 02

Explain key concepts in the Australian health system and the role of health education in preventative health care
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC11

Reflect on socio-cultural aspects of Australian so...

Learning Outcome 03

Reflect on socio-cultural aspects of Australian society to promote cultural awareness and responsiveness in a health care context
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC5, GC6, GC7, GC11

Content

Topics will include: 

  • Culture and identity in Australia
  • The First Australians and the impact of colonisation
  • Migration and multiculturalism
  • The Australian health care system
  • Social and cultural factors affecting health and health services
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing
  • Health promotion, and education in health care
  • Health professions and governance structures
  • Cultural diversity and cultural competence
  • Perspectives of gender identity
  • Therapeutic and clinical communication
  • Introduction to reflective practice

Assessment strategy and rationale

The assessment tasks in this unit are designed to help students demonstrate their achievement of learning outcomes, prepare for health science studies, and enhance their understanding of Australian culture and key health care concepts. These assessments also support the development of communication skills relevant to health care in Australia.

The first assessment assesses students’ knowledge of content and terminology covered in the first half of the course, providing a solid foundation for future assessments and studies. The second assessment aims to engage students with health and society topics while encouraging collaboration. Students will explore a range of topics related to health programs, campaigns, and services, with guidance on relevant resources. This task promotes peer learning and develops students' oral communication skills, which are crucial for health professionals. The final assessment introduces students to reflective practice, an essential skill for both learning and health professions. Scaffolded through class activities, this task encourages students to consider social values, enhance cultural awareness, and develop cultural competence, all while working step-by-step through a reflective process.

Overview of assessments

Assessment 1: Mid-semester quiz This task is des...

Assessment 1: Mid-semester quiz

This task is designed to provide feedback and to assess students' knowledge and understanding of the content taught in modules 1 to 5 of the semester. Students will be required to explain and articulate certain key concepts and terminology which will be built on throughout the unit.

Weighting

20%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2
Graduate Capabilities GC1, GC5, GC6, GC11

Assessment 2: Paired ePoster and tutorial discuss...

Assessment 2: Paired ePoster and tutorial discussion

Students will be required to work in pairs to create and present an ePoster which represents an Australian health program, campaign or service. They will need to identify what the program does, its rationale (what drove the need for it) and its target demographic. Presenters should then direct two questions to the audience and facilitate a short tutorial discussion. The purpose of this assessment is to introduce students to health needs in Australian communities, concepts of health education, preventative health care, and collaborative projects.

Weighting

40%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO3
Graduate Capabilities GC1, GC5, GC6, GC7, GC11

Assessment 3: Reflective writing Students are re...

Assessment 3: Reflective writing

Students are required to reflect on short case studies or texts provided. This task requires students to adopt a formal reflective practice model and explore the kind of reflection required in undergraduate studies and as a health professional. In particular, the task is designed to draw attention to cultural practices and values, and to contribute to the students’ development of cultural awareness and responsiveness.

Weighting

40%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO3
Graduate Capabilities GC1, GC5, GC6, GC7, GC11

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

The teaching and learning strategies in this unit encourage student collaboration, participation and interaction. Active and collaborative learning strategies are promoted both within and outside the classroom setting, allowing students to explore Australian culture as well as gain an understanding of areas of public health and healthcare which are new to them.

Activities involve whole class and small group work, and peer learning is developed through a variety of tasks and activities. These strategies are utilised to consolidate the understanding of content, to foster critical thinking and to promote the development of oral skills and written communication.

Students will explore content and language and subsequently engage with content and apply skills in a workshop setting. It is aimed at maximising the students’ opportunities for interaction and communication with the tutor and with their peers and provides practice and feedback on impromptu language use. Face-to-face mode is supported by online resources and activities available on the learning management system.

Representative texts and references

Representative texts and references

Clarke, A. (Director). (2023). The dark emu story [Film]. Blackfella Films Pty. Limited; Australian Broadcasting Corporation. https://iview.abc.net.au/show/dark-emu-story/video/IP1902H001S00

Eckermann, A., Dowd, T., Chong, E., Nixon, L., Gray, R., & Johnson, S. (Eds.). (2010). Binan goonj: Bridging cultures in Aboriginal health (3rd ed.). Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.

Glynn, E., & Williams, W. H. (Creators). (2022). True colours [Television series]. National Indigenous Television; Special Broadcasting Service. https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/

Keleher, H., & MacDougall, C. (Eds.). (2016). Understanding health (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.

Langton, M. (2019). Welcome to country: An introduction to our First Peoples for young Australians. Hardie Grant Publishing.

Panckhurst, H. (Series Producer). (2008). First Australians: The untold story of Australia [Documentary series]. Special Broadcasting Service. Accessible through www.sbs.com.au/firstaustralians.

Pascoe, B. (2018). Dark emu. Magabala Books.

Pascoe, B. (2018). The little red, yellow and black book: An introduction to Indigenous Australia (4th ed.). Aboriginal Studies Press.

Reynolds, L., Willis, E., Keleher, H., & Rudge, T. (2019). Understanding the Australian healthcare system (4th ed.). Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.

Schmidt, N., & Matthews, B. (Directors). (2023). The last daughter [Film]. Brindle Films; Netflix. https://www.netflix.com/au/title/81700186

Locations
Credit points
Year

Have a question?

We're available 9am–5pm AEDT,
Monday to Friday

If you’ve got a question, our AskACU team has you covered. You can search FAQs, text us, email, live chat, call – whatever works for you.

Live chat with us now

Chat to our team for real-time
answers to your questions.

Launch live chat

Visit our FAQs page

Find answers to some commonly
asked questions.

See our FAQs