James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2001

TM5550:03

Rural and Remote Environmental Health

Townsville

10 lectures, 17 hours practicals, 5 hours workshops, 25 other contact hours. Second semester flexible delivery and July intensive block mode.

Available to students enrolled in a postgraduate program of the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine or as approved by the Head of School.

Staff: Dr D Canyon.

Once health workers are equipped with the information taught in this subject, they will be in a unique position to influence, plan and manage changes at the community level that will contribute to reducing the incidence and impact of environmental health risks in rural, remote and indigenous communities. This subject provides information on existing environmental risk factors and develops skills, knowledge and competency in the areas of management and planning which will provide the confidence required to undertake leadership roles in this area.

Learning Objectives:

  1. understand the extent of health problems that relate to environmental problems;
  2. recognise hazardous situations in rural, remote and indigenous settings that require improvement;
  3. learn what steps are being taken and what resources are available;
  4. understand the interactions between individuals and communities, interfaces (physical and cultural landscapes); project outcomes and settlement plans;
  5. understand the extent of environmental health issues relating to mining and agricultural operations;
  6. understand the public health engineering requirements of rural, remote and indigenous communities in normal and emergency environmental health situations.

Assessment by team project presentation (20%); a 3,000 word assignment (30%); field trip reports (15%); short answer open book end-of-semester examination (35%).