Indigenous Health and Wellbeing

Unit code: AEK1203 | Study level: Undergraduate
12
(Generally, 1 credit = 10 hours of classes and independent study.)
City Campus
St Albans
N/A
Overview
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Overview

This unit aims to introduce students undertaking a health-related course to the capabilities required to deliver culturally safe health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by critically reflecting on the concept of cultural safety to deliver safe, accessible and responsive healthcare that is free from racism. The unit applies the five cultural capabilities of respect, communication, safety and quality, reflection and advocacy with the aim to: recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ way of doing in the context of history, culture and diversity; engage in culturally appropriate, safe and sensitive communication that facilitates trust and the building of respectful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; apply evidence and strengths based best practice approaches in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health care; examine and reflect on how one’s own culture and dominant cultural paradigms, influence perceptions and interactions with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; and to recognise that the whole health system is responsible for improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

  1. Exhibit an understanding of historical contexts, diversity, humility and lifelong learning, through the development of the cultural capability of respect;
  2. Critically review the role of culturally safe communication and partnerships through the development of the cultural capability of communication;
  3. Critically analyse issues in clinical presentations and population health through introduction to the cultural capability of safety and quality;
  4. Critically reflect the cultural self in the context of healthcare and racism through reflection; and
  5. Substantiate an understanding of equity, human rights and leadership through the introduction to advocacy.

Study as a single unit

This unit can be studied on its own, without enrolling in a full degree.

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Assessment

For Melbourne campuses

The assessment tasks link the learning outcomes and graduate capabilities. Assessment 1, students will work in small groups (approximately 4-5 students) to analyse the historical contexts that have impacted on the contemporary health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and then present this as a group essay. In Assessment 2 students will work independently to write a 750-word essay to understanding of the cultural capability of Respect and the cultural self in the context of healthcare. In Assessment 3 students will work independently on a case study and present this work as an essay. In Assessment 4 students will work in groups to research a specific health issue and develop a culturally appropriate health resource and present this as a video.

Assessment type: Essay
|
Grade: 10%
Group essay (250 words per person)
Assessment type: Essay
|
Grade: 20%
Individual essay (750 words)
Assessment type: Case Study
|
Grade: 40%
Written assessment (1000 words)
Assessment type: Presentation
|
Grade: 30%
Group video presentation (8-10 mins)

Required reading

Required readings will be made available on VU Collaborate.

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