James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2003

TM5553:03

Rural and Remote Public Health

Mt Isa HECS Band 2

12 modules flexible delivery. November 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: Assoc. Professor T Taufa (Coordinator).

This subject will introduce students to the principles and practices of primary health care and public health in the rural and remote Australian context. The student will gain an understanding of the nature of rural society and how these societies have changed over time, including the influences of economy, environment, geography and cultural diversity. Demography and demographic change and its impact on rural society and life will be discussed and the health status and the factors that influence the health of rural and remote Australians will be presented, including the health of indigenous people. Students will gain an understanding of policies affecting rural health as well as learning about the role of health professionals in work in rural and remote areas and the issues that they face. Different models of primary health care service planning and delivery will be presented and the role that technology plays in health service delivery will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

  1. to be able to describe the nature of rural and remote Australian society;
  2. to be able to describe the health status of rural and remote Australians;
  3. to be able to describe the factors influencing the health and health care needs of rural and remote Australians;
  4. to be able to describe the priority health issues in rural and remote Australia today;
  5. to be able to identify relevant health policy that affects rural and remote Australians;
  6. to be able to describe the health issues of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in rural and remote Australia;
  7. to be able to outline methods of consultation in rural and remote communities including Indigenous communities;
  8. to be able to compare and contrast different models of primary health care service delivery in rural and remote communities;
  9. to be able to describe the interdisciplinary role of health professionals in rural and remote Australia;
  10. to be able to describe issues faced by health professionals in rural and remote Australia including issues of staff recruitment and retention;
  11. to be able to develop a rapid needs appraisal for planning health needs in a rural and remote community;
  12. to be able to describe the role that technology plays in rural and remote health.

Assessment by individual field report (20%); group field report (30%); individual final report due four weeks after the subject (50%).