Unit rationale, description and aim

Health systems and the delivery of healthcare are complex and multi-faceted, even more so in different countries where health care priorities and access to health care resources may vary. As we live in a rapidly changing and increasingly globalised society, aspiring healthcare leaders require an understanding of healthcare from a global perspective. This is significant for managers and policy makers because the complexity of healthcare systems and services can affect the way that they manage their relationships with consumers and the delivery of health care. In this unit, students will have the opportunity to examine healthcare in different countries related to political, economic, sociocultural, technological, and environmental standpoints. It also offers an international ‘lens’ through which to reflect on experiences and, thus, the opportunity to broaden and deepen the range of skills required for working in local and/or global contexts.  

The aim of this unit is to provide students the opportunity to gain a greater understanding of healthcare delivery in different countries to equip them with a conceptual understanding and a set of tools to address major health challenges from a health systems and delivery perspective. 

2026 10

Campus offering

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  • Term Mode
  • ACU Term 4Multi-mode
  • Term Mode
  • ACU Term 4Online Unscheduled

Prerequisites

Nil

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.

Develop an evidence-based profile and critical ana...

Learning Outcome 01

Develop an evidence-based profile and critical analysis of current health problems and trends in global health and governance.
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC2, GC3, GC6, GC7, GC9, GC11, GC12

Analyse how decisions that are made in global poli...

Learning Outcome 02

Analyse how decisions that are made in global policymaking arenas, such as those governing international trade, migrations the environment, impact health systems.
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC2, GC3, GC7, GC11, GC12

Evaluate and compare health service delivery in tw...

Learning Outcome 03

Evaluate and compare health service delivery in two or more resource-limited countries, considering political, economic, sociocultural, technological, and environmental factors.
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC2, GC3, GC6, GC7, GC8, GC11

Content

Topics will include:

Global health in context

  • Global burden of disease
  • Global health priorities
  • Global challenges facing health management
  • Emerging models of health service delivery in resource-limited settings

Health policies in developing countries to improve specific communities’ health for disadvantaged groups, including:

  • Indigenous peoples in different countries
  • People with disability
  • People living in poverty

Global health leadership

  • Global health governance
  • International Organisations supporting global health
  • Healthcare leadership and sustainable development goals
  • Values-based leadership in global healthcare

Assessment strategy and rationale

To pass this unit, students must achieve a cumulative mark of at least 50% across all assessments and demonstrate achievement of each learning outcome. Through the presentation of a research review and a written report, students will demonstrate their progressive development of knowledge and skills required to analyse and evaluate global perspectives on healthcare leadership and management, which students can apply in in health service delivery. 

Overview of assessments

Assessment Task 1: Presentation of Research Revie...

Assessment Task 1: Presentation of Research Review

Enables students to select and critically analyse relevant research on a contemporary global health issue, and present global health care perspectives via a narrated recorded presentation. 

Weighting

40%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO3
Graduate Capabilities GC1, GC2, GC3, GC6, GC7, GC8, GC9, GC11, GC12

Assessment Task 2: Report Enables students to an...

Assessment Task 2: Report

Enables students to analyse and compare global healthcare from political, economic, sociocultural, technological, and environmental standpoints.

Weighting

60%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO3
Graduate Capabilities GC1, GC2, GC3, GC6, GC7, GC8, GC9, GC11, GC12

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

This unit uses an active learning approach to support students in the exploration of knowledge essential to the discipline. Students critically reflect on global health and policy that impacts on healthcare, including evaluating how political, economic, sociocultural, technological, and environmental situations impact on health care. In constructing knowledge about the complexity of health care and the implications of a global healthcare background, relate this to social and health-related outcomes, students identify areas where healthcare leaders can impact outcomes.

The unit is delivered in two modes:

ACU Online

Students engage through asynchronous (“anywhere, anytime learning”) as well as periodic synchronous session, via live video conferencing. Learning activities include readings and reflections, e-Module activities and opportunities to collaborate asynchronously with peers via online discussion forums. E-modules and curated electronic readings support students’ learning and extend their engagement with key concepts.

Multi-mode

Students participate in weekly on campus tutorials including discussions, debate and group-based reviews of key topics. Activities emphasise collaborative learning and the presentation of ideas. Learning e-modules and links to electronic readings supplement face-to-face engagement and extend student learning. 

Representative texts and references

Representative texts and references

Baltagi, Lagravinese, R., Moscone, F., & Tosetti, E. (2017). Health care expenditure and income: A global perspective. Health Economics, 26(7), 863–874. https://doi.org/10.1002/hec.3424

Bodenheimer, T., Grumbach, K., & Willard-Grace, R. (2024). Understanding health policy: a clinical approach (9th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education LLC.

Figueroa, C. A., Harrison, R., Chauhan, A., & Meyer, L. (2019). Priorities and challenges for health leadership and workforce management globally: a rapid review. BMC Health Services Research, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-019-4080-7

Gilson, L., & Agyepong, I. A. (2018). Strengthening health system leadership for better governance: what does it take? Health Policy and Planning, 33(suppl_2), ii1–ii4. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czy052

Helldén, D., Andersson, C., Nilsson, M., Ebi, K. L., Friberg, P., & Alfvén, T. (2021). Climate change and child health: a scoping review and an expanded conceptual framework. The Lancet. Planetary Health5(3), e164–e175. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(20)30274-6

Jacobson, K.H. (2024). Introduction to global health (Fourth edition.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.

McCartney, Hearty, W., Arnot, J., Popham, F., Cumbers, A., & McMaster, R. (2019). Impact of political economy on population health: A systematic review of reviews. American Journal of Public Health, 109(6), E1–E12. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2019.305001

Rajan, S., Ricciardi, W., & McKee, M. (2020). The SDGs and health systems: the last step on the long and unfinished journey to universal health care? European Journal of Public Health, 30(Supplement_1), i28–i31. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckaa035

Thapa, G., Jhalani, M., García-Saisó, S., Malata, A., Roder-DeWan, S., & Leslie, H. H. (2019). High quality health systems in the SDG era: Country-specific priorities for improving quality of care. PLoS Medicine, 16(10), e1002946–e1002946. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002946

Witter, S. et al. (2023). Health system resilience: a critical review and reconceptualisation. The Lancet. Global health11(9), e1454–e1458. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(23)00279-6

World Health Organization. (2023). Emerging technologies and scientific innovations: A global public health perspective. https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/370365/9789240073876-eng.pdf?sequence=1

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