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Course Outline

PUB272 Healthy Public Policy and Advocacy

Course Coordinator:Kara Lilly (klilly@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health - Public Health

2025Semester 2

UniSC Sunshine Coast

 Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

In this course you will develop the knowledge and skills to navigate the policymaking environments that influence health equity outcomes, including the role of political ideologies, evidence, power and privilege. You will learn about the role of healthy public policy, theories of the policy process, and use advocacy strategies to gain political commitment, policy support, social acceptance and systems support to create health and well-being and health inequity.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – Independent structured learning materials 2hrs Week 1 13 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Workshop (on campus) 2hrs Week 1 13 times

Course Topics

Healthy public policy

Policy process

Health in All Policies (HiAP)

Political ideology and globalisation

Power and privilege

Public health advocacy

Advocacy framing

What level is this course?

200 Level (Developing)

Building on and expanding the scope of introductory knowledge and skills, developing breadth or depth and applying knowledge and skills in a new context. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally, undertaken in the second or third full-time year of an undergraduate programs.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... Professional Standard Mapping * International Union for Health Promotion and Education
1 Discuss how healthy public policy contributes to health equity outcomes. Creative and critical thinker 
B.2, B.3, A.4, A.5, A.6, B.10, 4.1, 5.2
2 Analyse the policymaking environment to influence healthy public policy. Sustainability-focussed 
A.3, A.5, B.6, A.8, B.10, 1.1, 1.2, 5.2, 7.2
3 Advocate for healthy public policy across a range of stakeholder audiences. Empowered 
B.2, B.6, B.9, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4

* Competencies by Professional Body

CODE COMPETENCY
International Union for Health Promotion and Education
B.2 The concepts of health equity, social justice and health as a human right as the basis for health promotion action
B.3 The determinants of health and their implications for health promotion action
A.3 Respect for all aspects of diversity including gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, ethnicity, race, and cultural beliefs
A.4 Addressing health inequities, social injustice, and prioritising the needs of those experiencing poverty and social marginalisation
A.5 Addressing the political, economic, social, cultural, environmental, behavioural and biological determinants of health and wellbeing
A.6 Ensuring that health promotion action is beneficial and causes no harm
B.6 The current theories and evidence which underpin effective leadership, advocacy and partnership building and their implication for health promotion action
A.8 Seeking the best available information and evidence needed to implement effective policies and programmes that influence health
B.9 The communication processes and current information technology required for effective health promotion action
B.10 The systems, policies and legislation which impact on health and their relevance for health promotion.
1.1 Work collaboratively across sectors to influence the development of public policies which impact positively on health and reduce health inequities
1.2 Use health promotion approaches which support empowerment, participation, partnership and equity to create environments and settings which promote health
2.1 Use advocacy strategies and techniques which reflect health promotion principles
2.2 Engage with and influence key stakeholders to develop and sustain health promotion action
2.3 Raise awareness of and influence public opinion on health issues
2.4 Advocate across sectors for the development of policies, guidelines and procedures across all sectors which impact positively on health and reduce health inequities
4.1 Use effective communication skills including written, verbal, non­verbal, and listening skills
4.2 Use information technology and other media to receive and disseminate health promotion information
4.3 Use culturally appropriate communication methods and techniques for specific groups and settings
4.4 Use interpersonal communication and groupwork skills to facilitate individuals, groups, communities and organisations to improve health and reduce health inequities.
5.2 Use leadership skills which facilitate empowerment and participation (including team work, negotiation, motivation, conflict resolution, decision-making, facilitation and problem solving)
7.2 Use current models and systematic approaches for planning health promotion action

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

Not applicable

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

PUB704 and PUB742

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Early feedback will be provided via online formative quizzes and case study example activities across the semester to consolidate understanding of course concepts and skills for assessment.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Artefact - Professional Individual 25% 
600 words
 Week 4 Online Discussion Board
All 2 Oral Group 35% 
8-10 minutes
 Week 9 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check and in class
All 3 Artefact - Professional, and Written Piece Individual 40% 
Written advocacy plan and two (2) advocacy products (approx. 1200 words)
 Exam Period Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All - Assessment Task 1:Healthy public policy critique
Goal: 
To facilitate and participate in a critical evaluation of an existing healthy public policy to address health equity.
Product: Artefact - Professional
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
You will work individually to lead and contribute to an online discussion forum. Further details regarding participation in the discussion forum will be made available on Canvas.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Analysis of relationship between healthy public policy and health equity.
 1
2 
Evaluation of a given policy to address health equity.
 1
3 
Contribution to online discussion forum.
 1
Generic Skills: 
Collaboration, Applying technologies
All - Assessment Task 2:Policy planning analysis
Goal: 
To demonstrate your skills in investigating the policymaking environment of a given context.
Product: Oral
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
In groups, you will investigate the factors that influence healthy public policy in a given context. You will present your policy analysis via a presentation in a professional meeting format. 
Further details on how to approach and complete the policy planning analysis will be available on Canvas.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Appropriate application of policy factors to explain the policymaking environment
 2
2 
Quality of insight into key policy process concepts
 2
3 
Quality of communication
 2
4 
Extent of collaboration between group members
 2
Generic Skills: 
Collaboration, Problem solving, Applying technologies
All - Assessment Task 3:Advocacy plan and products
Goal: 
To demonstrate your knowledge and skills in developing an advocacy plan to advocate for a healthy public policy.
Product: Artefact - Professional, and Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
You will work individually to research, produce and justify an advocacy plan and two (2) advocacy products to advocate for a healthy public policy. 

Further details on how to approach and complete this advocacy plan will be available on Canvas.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Justification of the advocacy audience, medium and communication messages based on the evidence
 3
2 
Application of the genre for the chosen advocacy products
 3
3 
Quality of written communication and referencing.
 3
4 
Appropriateness of advocacy audiences, mediums and communication messages
 3
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Applying technologies

Assessment to competency mapping

Programme Delivery Mode Assessment Type Title Competency Teaching Methods
The CompHP Core Competencies Framework for Health Promotion 2011
All delivery modes Artefact - Professional Healthy public policy critique A.5 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
B.2 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
Artefact - Professional, and Written Piece Advocacy plan and products 2.1 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
2.4 Taught, Practiced, Assessed
Oral Policy planning analysis 1.1 Taught, Practiced, Assessed

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

There are no required/recommended resources for this course.

Specific requirements

Not applicable

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.

The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

  • In person:
    • UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
    • UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
    • UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
    • UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
    • UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
    • UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
  • Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
  • Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au
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