Core Module 1: Health Priorities in Australia

Core Module 1: Health Priorities in Australia

How are Priority Issues for Australia’s Health Identified?

Module Description

This compulsory module examines the health status of Australians and investigates, in depth, the current health priority issues in Australia. Students identify and justify the choice of priority issues and examine the roles that the health system and health promotion play in achieving better health for all Australians.

In this module, students investigate the following critical questions:

  • How are priority issues for Australia’s health identified?
  • What are the priority issues for improving Australia’s health?
  • What role do health care facilities and services play in achieving better health for all Australians?
  • What actions are needed to address Australia’s health priorities?

In this module, students learn how health can be promoted by personal and community action and by policies and services at all levels of responsibility. The module introduces concepts of health inequities in Australia that are further explored in the options module Equity and Health.

Outcomes

A student:

H1    describes the nature and justifies the choice of Australia’s health priorities

H2    analyses and explains the health status of Australians in terms of current trends and groups most at risk

H3    analyses the determinants of health and health inequities

H4    argues the case for health promotion based on the Ottawa Charter

H5    explains the different roles and responsibilities of individuals, communities and governments in addressing Australia’s health priorities

H14  argues the benefits of health-promoting actions and choices that promote social justice

H15  critically analyses key issues affecting the health of Australians and proposes ways of working towards better health for all

H16  devises methods of gathering, interpreting and communicating information about health and physical activity concepts.

Extract from PDHPE Stage 6 Syllabus. © 2009 Board of Studies NSW.