Course Coordinator: Dr Rebecca Tooher
Phone: +61 8313 1316
Email: rebecca.tooher@adelaide.edu.au
Location: Level 7, 178 North Terrace

1. Identify, locate and appraise relevant evidence using different sources including the peer reviewed literature, policy & practice literature & grey literature.

2. Construct an effective environmental scanning process to quantify the local epidemiology of a public health problem or issue.

3. Apply ethical and theoretical frameworks to achieve a holistic understanding of public health problems and issues, and health determinants in a given population.

4. Formulate appropriate public health intervention or policy objectives and strategies using theory, available evidence and cultural awareness.

5. Specify evaluation frameworks for a range of public health interventions or policies

6. Use appropriate professional communication skills (including information seeking & presentation skills) to engage stakeholders and others to explore public health problems and issues.

7. Demonstrate ability to work in teams to solve problems.

8. Identify personal strengths and development needs related to the professional skills expected of a beginning public health practitioner or researcher.

As this course is largely student and discovery driven there will be no specific resources required. Students will identify and source relevant information as they progress through this course.

Any recommended resources will be listed on MyUni.

Computer laboratories and other computing services

University information on computer laboratories and other computing services is available at: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/technology/yourservices/learning-teaching/student-suites/

Public Health Theory and Practice makes lecture notes and other teaching aids available electronically to students, through MyUni.

MyUni

MyUni is the primary entry point to online learning at Adelaide University.  MyUni provides students and staff with access to course materials, discussion forums, announcements, online and many other features to help manage your study or teaching.  You can connect to MyUni on or off campus from an internet connected computer using a Web browser.  The URL is:  www.myuni.adelaide.edu.au/

Login to this resource using your Username and Password.  Once logged on to MyUni, you will find the information displayed is customised to present only details relevant to you and the online content for courses that you are studying.

For enquiries about online education services, what’s available and access, contact the Online Education Helpdesk:

Phone:  (08) 8313 3000
E-mail:  servicedesk@adelaide.edu.au
The Helpdesk is available for extended hours during the week or through voicemail.

In Public Health Theory and Practice, you will use MyUni for a number of purposes:-

Accessing announcements about changes in scheduling, course information etc.

Accessing lecture notes both in pdf format and, if recording is possible in the allocated lecture theatre, in audio file format, if available.

Accessing online resources.

a. self-directed learning under the mentorship of an academic adviser

The majority of learning in this course will be self-directed with you working towards your major report and seminar presentation. You will each meet with an academic adviser (the course coordinator or another member of academic staff) to plan your portfolio and major report.

b. public health issue-based learning seminars

The course will be structured around a series of 5 fortnightly seminars/workshops supported  by online activities and resources. The fortnightly seminars/workshops will  give you practice in applying your skills in public health to real world public health problems that are currently being addressed by researchers and others in the School of Population Health and other areas of the University.

Each fortnightly seminar will cover a different topic  and will be led by an experienced public health researcher or team. You will work in groups to characterise each issue by gathering information about the epidemiology of the issue and identifying the relevant uncertainties, ethical issues, politics and community values  and policy responses.

c. student-led group tutorials

In the alternate week groups will work independently of the course coordinator to gather relevant information and each group will lead an informal discussion (on one topic) presenting their findings and canvassing the relevant issues for the rest of the class. Other members of the class will be expected  to contribute to the discussion so that by the end of each fortnight the class as a whole has fully characterised the issue and identified remaining uncertainties or areas where further research or evidence is required.

d. online learning resources

Online learning resources which support the your activities will be available for you to access as you identify the need. A full list of available resources will be posted on MyUni.

This course includes up to 3 hours of contact time per week. As a 6 unit course the majority of your learning will occur outside of the scheduled class time and you will be responsible for ensuring that you plan your activities to ensure that you are able to meet the course requirements.  Students will be expected to be available for the day of the Majors Mini-conference and this length of contact has been taken into account in terms of your total contact hours.

Introduction to the Capstone course
Integrating concepts in Public Health

Public Health Issue-Based Seminar 1
Students to organise meeting with academic mentor

Independent group work
Student led tutorial

Public Health Issue-Based Seminar 2
Students to plan semi-structured interview

Independent group work
Student led tutorial

Public Health Issue-Based Seminar 3
Students to organise meeting with academic mentor

Independent group work
Student led tutorial 

Public Health Issue-Based Seminar  4
Student to conduct semi-structured interview/s

Independent group work
Student led tutorial

Public Health Issue-Based Seminar  5
Students to organise meeting with academic mentor

Independent group work
Student led tutorial 

Preparation for the Major Mini-conference (no class)

(All day - day to be confirmed)
Public Health Majors Mini-Conference

There are no specific course requirements for this course.

N/A

Assessment task

Public Health Portfolio 20%  (Learning outcomes 1-8)

Major Report 55% (Learning outcomes 1-6)

Majors Mini-Conference Presentation 15% (Learning outcomes 1-6)

Seminar Participation 10% (Learning outcomes 1-7)

There are no special requirements for this course however you are strongly encouraged to attend all seminars and student led tutorials. You will be responsible for your own learning in this course and will need to manage your time effectively to complete all of the required tasks.

1.Public Health Portfolio (20%)
You will gather together examples of the work you have done throughout your Population Health major in Level I, II and III. The portfolio must demonstrate:
a. breadth of study
b. depth of study
c. development of relevant skills (i.e. progression over the three years)
- generic (group work, communication, independence, judgement etc.)
- specific (public health literacy and numeracy, understanding of social determinants of health and policy contexts, ethics etc.)
d. ability to reflect on their own public health knowledge and practice

Examples of work in the portfolio will not be re-marked. Instead you should select exemplars (pieces of work which reflect your best efforts or which show the greatest amount of growth).

You will write a 1000 word report which outlines which examples have been chosen, why the examples have been chosen and how they demonstrate the learning journey that you have taken in your major. The reflection should identify your strengths in public
health and also areas for development. The report provides an opportunity for you to identify yourself as a future public health practitioner or researcher.

2. Major Report (55%)
You will develop a major report of up to 4000 words on a public health topic or issue chosen from a list of relevant  topics determined by the course coordinator. You will negotiate with the course coordinator and academic mentor to determine the exact focus of your report. However, you will not be able to choose a topic substantively similar to one worked through in the public health issue-based learning seminars.

The report will
- outline the topic and provide a rationale for selection of it (i.e. why does it matter?)
- describe the local epidemiology and context of the situation providing up to date and reliable information about the extent and nature of the problem/issue, the affected population(s) etc.
- analyse stakeholder issues (identify all relevant stakeholder groups using a social determinants of health framework and provide a complex map of stakeholder relations) using data obtained from the literature and, for one stakeholder group, from contacting an
individual or representative group to obtain their views, using semistructured interviews
- contextualise the problem/issue within the local, national and global context, in particular highlighting existing policy responses to the problem/issue
- provide recommendations about policy and/or intervention responses to the problem/issue based on the data collected
- specify an evaluation framework
- identify important research-practice/policy gaps
- depending on the topic students may use ethical or social frameworks or discuss theoretical concerns identified during their research
- where applicable include a consideration of regulatory issues

 3. Majors Mini-Conference Presentation (15%)
Each student will present the findings of their major report at the Majors Mini-Conference. You can  choose between presenting a poster or oral presentation. You will be assessed by a panel of academic experts and a panel of fellow students. Students in Level I and II public health courses will be invited to attend this seminar, along with postgraduate students, faculty and employers (as appropriate). An assessment rubric will ensure equity in assessment regardless of which presentation type you choose.

4. Participation in Public Health Issues-Based Seminars (10%)

You are expected to actively participate in each seminar by contributing to the discussion, working with team-mates to collect information and present your findings (on one topic) to the rest of the class, and for participating in online interactive activtiesas indicated.  

More detail about each assessment, including marking rubrics and other guidelines will be posted to MyUni.

Extensions
All extensions for assignments must be requested, at the latest, by the last working day before the due date of submission.   Extensions will generally be granted only on medical or genuine compassionate grounds.  Supporting documentation must be  provided at the time a student requests an extension.  Without documentation, extensions will not be granted.  Late requests for extension will neither be accepted nor acknowledged.

Only the Course Co-ordinator(s) may grant extensions.

Supporting documentation will be required when requesting an extension. Examples of documents that are acceptable include: a  medical certificate that specifies dates of incapacity, a police report (in the case of lost computers, car & household theft etc.), a  letter from a Student Counsellor, Education and Welfare Officer (EWO) or Disability Liaison Officer that provides an assessment of  compassionate circumstances, or a letter from an independent external counsellor or appropriate professional able to verify the  student’s situation.  The length of any extension granted will take into account the period and severity of any incapacity or impact  on the student.  Extensions of more than 10 days will not be granted except in exceptional circumstances.

Late submission
Marks will be deducted when assignments for which no extension has been granted are handed in late.

All assignments, including those handed in late, will be assessed on their merits.  In the case of late assignments where no  extension has been granted, 5 percentage points of the total marks possible per day will be deducted.  If an assignment that is 2  days late is awarded 65% on its merits, the mark will then be reduced by 10% (5% per day for 2 days) to 55%.  If that same  assignment is 4 days late, the mark will be reduced by 20% (5% per day for 4 days) to 45%, and so on.

The School of Public Health reserves the right to refuse to accept an assignment that is more than 7 days late.

Assignments submitted after the due date may not be graded in time to be returned on the listed return dates.
 
Students submitting examinable written work who request (and receive) an extension that takes them beyond the examination  period are advised that there is no guarantee that their grades will be processed in time to meet usual University deadlines.

Resubmission
If a student is dissatisfied with an assessment grade they should follow the Student Grievance Resolution Process  <https://www.adelaide.edu.au/student/grievance/process/>.  Students who are not satisfied with a particular assessment result should raise their concerns with Course Co-ordinator(s) in the first instance.  This must be done within 10 business days of the  date of notification of the result.  Resubmission of any assignment is subject to the agreement of the Course Co-ordinator(s) and  will only be permitted for the most compelling of reasons.