Effective Term: | 2025/05 |
Institute / School : | Institute of Health and Wellbeing |
Unit Title: | Public Health Ethics |
Unit ID: | HEAPH7001 |
Credit Points: | 15.00 |
Prerequisite(s): | Nil |
Co-requisite(s): | Nil |
Exclusion(s): | Nil |
ASCED: | 061311 |
Other Change: | |
Brief description of the Unit |
This unit will provide the basic concepts of ethical issues relevant to public health research and practice. All health professionals need to abide by a professional Code of Ethics and all researchers are expected to work within a framework of ethical conduct. This subject will provide an overview of foundations and development of public health ethics, principles of ethics, core challenges of public health ethics, evaluation and communication of ethical issues in public health work and policy, and application of ethical principles in public health practice. Students will be able to explore ethical issues embedded in everyday health practice and issues to be aware of so that people are protected from harm and coercion. |
Grade Scheme: | Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF) |
Work Experience Indicator: |
No work experience |
Placement Component: No |
Supplementary Assessment:Yes |
Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment |
Course Level: |
Level of Unit in Course | AQF Level(s) of Course | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Introductory | | | | | | | Intermediate | | | | |  | | Advanced | | | | | | |
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Learning Outcomes: |
Knowledge: |
K1. | Appraise principles of ethics relevant to public health research and programs |
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K2. | Comprehend key concepts, approaches and frameworks for public health ethics |
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K3. | Summarise the process of ethical analyses for any public health issue |
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Skills: |
S1. | Identify and analyse ethical implications relevant to any public health issue |
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S2. | Apply theoretical concepts into public health ethics |
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S3. | Critically appraise ethical issues from any public health literature |
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Application of knowledge and skills: |
A1. | Demonstrate higher level of thinking skills to resolve any ethical challenges in public health |
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A2. | Ability to work productively with multidisciplinary teams to make informed decision on ethical aspects of a public health issue |
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A3. | Demonstrate competency on resolving ethical dilemmas on public health practice and policy |
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Unit Content: |
Introduction and development of Public Health Ethics. Ethical theories and principles. Codes of ethics. Application of ethics in Public Health Research. Equity in health. Smoking, health and ethics. Population screening ethics. Vaccination ethics.Ethical decision making. |
Graduate Attributes: |
Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FEDTASKS (Transferable Attributes Skills and Knowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are be embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and Co-operative Learning opportunities. One or more FEDTASK, transferable Attributes, Skills or Knowledge must be evident in the specified learning outcomes and assessment for each FedUni Unit, and all must be directly assessed in each Course.
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FED TASK and descriptor | Development and acquisition of FEDTASKS in the Unit | Level | FEDTASK 1 Interpersonal | Students at this level will demonstrate an advanced ability in a range of contexts to effectively communicate, interact and work with others both individually and in groups. Students will be required to display high level skills in-person and/or online in: • Using and demonstrating a high level of verbal and non-verbal communication • Demonstrating a mastery of listening for meaning and influencing via active listening • Demonstrating and showing empathy for others • High order skills in negotiating and conflict resolution skills\\ • Demonstrating mastery of working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams. | 1 - Yes | FEDTASK 2 Leadership | Students at this level will demonstrate a mastery in professional skills and behaviours in leading others. • Creating and sustaining a collegial environment • Demonstrating a high level of self -awareness and the ability to self-reflect and justify decisions • Inspiring and initiating opportunities to lead others • Making informed professional decisions • Demonstrating initiative in new professional situations. | 1 - Yes | FEDTASK 3 Critical Thinking and Creativity | Students at this level will demonstrate high level skills in working in complexity and ambiguity using the imagination to create new ideas. Students will be required to display skills in: • Reflecting critically to generate and consider complex ideas and concepts at an abstract level • Analysing complex and abstract ideas, concepts and information • Communicate alternative perspectives to justify complex ideas • Demonstrate a mastery of challenging conventional thinking to clarify complex concepts • Forming creative solutions in problem solving to new situations for further learning. | 1 - Yes | FEDTASK 4 Digital Literacy | Students at this level will demonstrate the ability to work competently across a wide range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks. Students will be required to display skills in: • Mastering, exploring, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and sharing digital information professionally • Collating, managing complex data, accessing and using digital data securely • Receiving and responding professionally to messages in a range of professional digital media • Contributing competently and professionally to digital teams and working groups • Participating at a high level in digital learning opportunities. | 1 - Yes | FEDTASK 5 sustainable and Ethical Mindset | Students at this level will demonstrate a mastery of considering and assessing the consequences and impact of ideas and actions in enacting professional ethical and sustainable decisions. Students will be required to display skills in: • Demonstrate informed judgment making that considers the impact of devising complex solutions in ambiguous global economic environmental and societal contexts • Professionally committing to the promulgation of social responsibility • Demonstrate the ability to evaluate ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable challenges and generating and articulating responses • Communicating lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to the diverse professional others • Generating, leading and implementing required actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life | 1 - Yes |
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| Learning Outcomes Assessed | Assessment Tasks | Assessment Type | Weighting | 1. | K1, S1, A1, A2, A3 | Digital presentation | Digital presentation | 20% | 2. | K2, K3, S1, S2, S3, A1, A2, A3 | Discuss ethical principles and theories in relation to the proposed research proposal | Critical Analysis Essay | 40% | 3. | K1, K2, K3, S1, S2, S3, A1, A2, A3 | Draft Human Research Ethics application (HREA) including Participant Information and Consent Form (PICF) | Ethics application | 40% |
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