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HE Unit Template
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Introduction to Public Health
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HEAPH6001 - Introduction to Public Health
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20270200
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Course
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Unit
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4.0
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2026-09-10
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2026-09-10
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Public Health
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Institute of Health and Wellbeing
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Midwifery
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Postgraduate - Coursework
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15
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.125
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060303
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Midwifery
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060303 - Midwifery
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<a href="http://www.federation.edu.au/locate/unit/heaph6001">View unit fees</a>
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Graded (e.g. HD, D, C, etc)
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Bachelor Honours Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma
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Intermediate
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1
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<p>This unit will help students apply public health principles and practices from local and global perspectives to contemporary midwifery practice. Students will explore population health, the social determinants of health, health inequalities, health and human rights, and the core roles and functions of public health systems, policies, and programs. Through case studies related to maternal, newborn and family health, students will examine public health successes as well as ongoing challenges and limitations, including inequities in health outcomes within and across national boundaries and the factors that contribute to these disparities. Students will consider the role of midwives as primary healthcare practitioners, health promoters, and advocates for equitable health outcomes for women, infants, families and communities.</p>
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<p>This unit includes the following content:</p><p>- Public health theories, principles and approaches in contemporary midwifery practice. </p><p>- Population health, the social determinants of health, health equity, and vulnerable populations. </p><p>- Primary healthcare and public health strategies, with a focus on the role of the midwife as a leader, advocate, and health promotion practitioner in improving maternal, newborn and family health outcomes.</p><p>- Public health policy, ethics, evidence-informed practice, digital health, and the evaluation of public health interventions.</p><p>- Global health, human rights, politics, and economics. </p><p>- Emerging public health challenges affecting maternal and newborn health, including climate change, conflict, and health and social inequities.</p><p><br></p>
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<p>Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment.</p>
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2027
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2026
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HEAPH6001 - Introduction to Public Health
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HEAPH6001 - Introduction to Public Health
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Overview
Key information
Requisites
Learning outcomes
Assessment
FedTASK
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Overview
Unit description
<p>This unit will help students apply public health principles and practices from local and global perspectives to contemporary midwifery practice. Students will explore population health, the social determinants of health, health inequalities, health and human rights, and the core roles and functions of public health systems, policies, and programs. Through case studies related to maternal, newborn and family health, students will examine public health successes as well as ongoing challenges and limitations, including inequities in health outcomes within and across national boundaries and the factors that contribute to these disparities. Students will consider the role of midwives as primary healthcare practitioners, health promoters, and advocates for equitable health outcomes for women, infants, families and communities.</p>
Unit content
<p>This unit includes the following content:</p><p>- Public health theories, principles and approaches in contemporary midwifery practice. </p><p>- Population health, the social determinants of health, health equity, and vulnerable populations. </p><p>- Primary healthcare and public health strategies, with a focus on the role of the midwife as a leader, advocate, and health promotion practitioner in improving maternal, newborn and family health outcomes.</p><p>- Public health policy, ethics, evidence-informed practice, digital health, and the evaluation of public health interventions.</p><p>- Global health, human rights, politics, and economics. </p><p>- Emerging public health challenges affecting maternal and newborn health, including climate change, conflict, and health and social inequities.</p><p><br></p>
Key information
Institute / school:
Institute of Health and Wellbeing
Discipline:
Midwifery
Study level:
Postgraduate - Coursework
Credit points:
15
EFTSL:
0.125
Field of education:
060303 - Midwifery
Offering:
<p><strong>Semester 1</strong><p>On-line Learning</p></p>
Grade scheme:
Graded (e.g. HD, D, C, etc)
Placement component:
No
Fee information:
<a href="http://www.federation.edu.au/locate/unit/heaph6001">View unit fees</a>
Requisites
Prerequisite
None
Corequisite
None
Exclusion
None
Learning outcomes
Learning outcomes
<p>On successful completion of this unit, students are expected to gain the following [K]nowledge, [S]kills and [A]pplication of knowledge & skills</p>
Learning Outcomes
Ref
Outcome
K1
<p>Critically examine key concepts, approaches and principles of public health, primary healthcare and health promotion and their application to contemporary midwifery practice.</p>
K2
<p>Analyse a range of public health interventions relevant to maternal and newborn health and evaluate their strengths, limitations and applicability across diverse populations.</p>
K3
<p>Critique the influence of behavioural, social, cultural, environmental and political determinants on maternal, newborn and family health outcomes.</p>
S1
<p>Compare and critically appraise public health interventions and population health approaches used to improve outcomes for women, infants, families and communities.</p>
S2
<p>Synthesise and evaluate evidence, including digital health information and resources, to inform public health and health promotion initiatives relevant to maternal and child health.</p>
S3
<p>Critically analyse the causes and consequences of health inequities and their impact on maternal, newborn and family health outcomes.</p>
A1
<p>Apply critical thinking and evidence-informed decision-making to address complex public health challenges and support leadership in contemporary midwifery practice.</p>
A2
<p>Justify the contribution of interdisciplinary approaches to addressing complex public health issues affecting maternal and newborn health.</p>
A3
<p>Apply ethical principles, public health policy and health promotion principles to address health inequities and promote equitable maternal and newborn health outcomes.</p>
Assessment
Learning Tasks and Assessment
Ref
Learning task
Assessment type
Weighting
Learning outcomes assessed
1
<p>Explore key public health theories, frameworks and determinants of health relevant to women, infants, families and communities.</p>
<p>Online activity</p>
<p>10-20%</p>
K1, K3, S3
2
<p>Critically compare and evaluate health promotion strategies designed to improve maternal health outcomes for a vulnerable population group in Australia.</p>
<p>Written assessment</p>
<p>30% - 50%</p>
K1, K2, K3, S1, S2, S3, A3
3
<p>Drawing on the findings of Learning Task 2, develop and justify an evidence-informed health promotion activity that translates a maternal health promotion strategy into practice within a current or future midwifery practice context.</p>
<p>Written assessment</p>
<p>30% - 50%</p>
S1, S2, A1, A2, A3
Supplementary assessment available:
Yes
Supplementary assessment information:
<p>Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment.</p>
FedTASK
FedTASK
<p>Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FedTASKs (<strong>T</strong>ransferable <strong>A</strong>ttributes <strong>S</strong>kills and <strong>K</strong>nowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key, transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and co-operative learning opportunities.</p>
FedTASK
Description of FedTASK outcome
FedTASK 1: Interpersonal
Students will demonstrate high-level skills to effectively communicate, interact and work with others both individually and in groups Students will be required to display (in person and/or online) high-level skills in-person and/or online in: Effective verbal and non-verbal communication via a range of synchronous and asynchronous methods Active listening for meaning and influencing High-level empathy for others Negotiating and demonstrating extended conflict resolution skills Working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams
FedTASK 2: Leadership
Students will demonstrate the ability to apply leadership skills and behaviours Students will be required to display skills in: Creating, contributing to, and enabling collegial environments Showing self-awareness and the ability to self-reflect for personal growth Inspiring and enabling others Making informed and evidence-based decisions through consultation with others Displaying initiative and ability to solve problems
FedTASK 3: Critical Thinking and Creativity
Students will demonstrate an ability to work in complex and ambiguous environments, using their imagination to create new ideas Students will be required to display skills in: Reflecting critically on complex problems Synthesising, evaluating ideas, concepts and information Proposing alternative perspectives to refine ideas Challenging conventional thinking to clarify concepts through deep inquiry Proposing creative solutions in problem solving
FedTASK 4: Digital Literacy
Students will demonstrate the ability to work proficiently across a range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks Students will be required to display high-level skills in: Finding, accessing, collating, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and appropriately and securely sharing complex digital information at a high-level Receiving and responding to messages in a range of digital media Using digital tools appropriately to conduct research Contributing proficiently to digital teams and working groups Participating in and utilising digital learning opportunities
FedTASK 5: Sustainable and Ethical Mindset
Students will demonstrate the ability to think ethically and sustainably. Students will be required to display skills in: The responsible conduct of research Making informed judgments that consider the impact of devising solutions in multiple global economic environmental and societal contexts Demonstrating commitment to social responsibility as a professional and a citizen Generating research solutions which are sustainable,ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable Extending lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to diverse others Demonstrate extended actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life
Key information
Institute / school:
Institute of Health and Wellbeing
Discipline:
Midwifery
Study level:
Postgraduate - Coursework
Credit points:
15
EFTSL:
0.125
Field of education:
060303 - Midwifery
Offering:
<p><strong>Semester 1</strong><p>On-line Learning</p></p>
Grade scheme:
Graded (e.g. HD, D, C, etc)
Placement component:
No
Fee information:
<a href="http://www.federation.edu.au/locate/unit/heaph6001">View unit fees</a>
Additional information
Add Info Static Text
Internal reference: HEAPH6001 - U4.0