Psychology of Community Health

This unit is designed to apply theories and principles of health and community psychology to individual, group and community settings. Special emphasis is given to social health issues and community-based strategies such as self-help, consumer participation, and social policy initiatives in health promotion and public administration contexts. Learning will focus on the application of psychology principles and techniques to the promotion and maintenance of health and mental health, the prevention of illness, and the promotion of wellbeing in chronic illness and disability. Other factors such as various medical conditions (including chronic, acute and psychosomatic), psychosocial determinants of health (violence against women, child sexual assault, socioeconomic status, indigenous background), and life stages (e.g. paediatric, adolescent, adult and aged) are considered. Relevant skills, such as group facilitation and training, networking and advocacy, consultation, behaviour change interventions and program implementation will be developed.