Unit rationale, description and aim
Understanding leadership principles is crucial for professionals in the health sector to navigate complex and dynamic environments. This unit examines contemporary leadership and management theories and their application in public and private health contexts. Students will reflect on leadership from multiple perspectives, including First Peoples’ ways of knowing, being, and doing, to explore how leadership values and approaches influence care delivery, staff wellbeing, and organisational performance.
Through critical reflection and applied analysis, students will identify the assumptions and values underpinning different leadership philosophies, including their own. This process enables them to build a personal leadership philosophy that is responsive, ethical, and values-based.
The unit builds on foundational learning of leadership and prepares students for advanced level units that focus on systems thinking, change, innovation, and strategic management. It contributes to the development of professional competence by equipping students to lead authentically in diverse healthcare settings and respond to challenges, tensions, and paradoxes with cultural responsiveness and integrity.
By the end of the unit, students will be able to articulate their own leadership approach and apply it to real-world healthcare contexts, enhancing their readiness to lead people and processes with purpose.
Campus offering
No unit offerings are currently available for this unit.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.
Apply contemporary leadership and management theor...
Learning Outcome 01
Critically reflect on your leadership skills and d...
Learning Outcome 02
Adapt leadership practices and change management t...
Learning Outcome 03
Evaluate your leadership effectiveness in diverse ...
Learning Outcome 04
Content
Topics will include:
· Introduction to leadership and Sustainable Development Goals
· Management and leadership and the managerial leader
· Leadership theories, approaches and styles
· Contemporary leadership and management theories
· Strategic leadership and stakeholder engagement: analytical frameworks to aid internal and external environmental analysis to achieve organizational outcomes and to create positive conditions for all stakeholders
· Motivation and employee well-being: Human resource practices and psychological safety
· Leadership communication and conflict resolution
· Ethical leadership and decision making
· Leading diversity, inclusion, and equity at the workplace
· Leading teams and fostering collaboration and to enhance organizational performance
Assessment strategy and rationale
To pass this unit, students must complete and submit three graded assessment tasks and achieve an aggregate mark of at least 50%. Marking will follow rubrics developed to measure student
To pass this unit, students must complete and submit three graded assessment tasks and achieve an aggregate mark of at least 50%. Marking will follow rubrics developed to measure student achievement of each learning outcome. A final grade will be awarded to reflect overall performance in the unit.
The assessment strategy is designed to support students in progressively developing their knowledge and skills in leadership practice. Students begin by critically analysing leadership theories and principles and reflecting on their personal leadership philosophy (Assessment 1). They then work in groups to apply these concepts to a real-world work scenario, identifying a workplace problem, proposing an action plan, and developing a stakeholder communication strategy (Assessment 2). In the final assessment, students envision their first 100 days in a new leadership role, synthesising unit learnings and their personal leadership approach to articulate priorities, goals, and strategies for effective leadership and stakeholder engagement (Assessment 3). This scaffolded structure enables students to integrate theory with authentic leadership practice.
All AI-assisted content must be acknowledged, and students are expected to demonstrate original critical thinking, reflective analysis, and academic integrity in their final submission.
Overview of assessments
Assessment Task 1 - Reflection: This task ...
Assessment Task 1 - Reflection:
This task involves writing a personal reflection on your leadership and professional capabilities, evaluating personal attributes and relating them to concepts learned in the unit. You will formulate a personal development plan based on insights from the unit to enhance your leadership skills and professional growth.
Submission Type: Individual
Assessment Method: Written
25%
Assessment Task 2 - Case Study: This task ...
Assessment Task 2 - Case Study:
This task requires students to analyse a real-world work scenario and apply concepts from this subject. The assessment task consists of a group written proposal and 5 minutes video or 10 minutes live presentation to stakeholders. The aim is to evaluate the ability to translate theoretical knowledge into practical solutions and develop effective communication strategies for stakeholder engagement. Students will identify and communicate the workplace problem, develop and justify an action plan, and create a stakeholder communication plan for effective engagement and collaboration.
Submission Type: Group
Assessment Method: Written Report and Visual Presentation
45%
Assessment Task 3 - Written Report: This t...
Assessment Task 3 - Written Report:
This task requires students to envision their first 100 days in a new leadership role and apply the concepts and learnings from this subject. The assessment aims to evaluate your ability to effectively plan and execute leadership strategies. Students must detail their approach to the first 100 days, outlining specific priorities, goals and actions. The report should include strategies for team engagement, stakeholder communication, and implementation of key initiatives to achieve positive outcomes. Additionally, drawing from Assessment 1, students should incorporate their personal leadership style and philosophy.
Submission Type: Individual
Assessment Method: Written
30%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
Students should anticipate undertaking 150 hours of study for this unit over a twelve-week semester or equivalent study period, including class attendance, readings, online forum participation and assessment preparation.
This unit may be offered in “Attendance” and/or “Online” mode to cater for the learning needs and preferences of a range of participants.
Attendance Mode
Students will require face-to-face attendance in blocks of time determined by the school. Students will have face-to-face interactions with lecturer(s) to further their achievement of the learning outcomes. This unit is structured with required upfront preparation before workshops. The online learning platforms used in this unit provide multiple forms of preparatory and practice opportunities for students to prepare and revise.
Online Mode
This unit utilises an active learning approach whereby students will engage in e-module activities, readings and reflections, and opportunities to collaborate with peers in an online environment. This can involve, but is not limited to, online workshops, online discussion forums, chat rooms, guided reading, and webinars. Pre-recorded lectures will be incorporated within the online learning environment and e-modules. In addition, electronic readings will be provided to guide students’ reading and extend other aspects of online learning.