Complex Cases in Rural, Remote and Indigenous Communities

Unit Outline (Higher Education)

Level of Unit in Course

AQF Level(s) of Course

Level of Unit in Course

Introductory

Intermediate

Effective Term:

2027/05

Institute / School :

Institute of Health and Wellbeing

Unit Title:

Complex Cases in Rural, Remote and Indigenous Communities

Unit ID:

NHPPS2224

Credit Points:

15.00

Prerequisite(s):

(NHPPS2013 and NHPPS2113)

Co-requisite(s):

Nil

Exclusion(s):

Nil

ASCED:

061701

Other Change:

Brief description of the Unit

This unit introduces students to the principles and practices of primary health care and public health in the rural and remote Australian context. The past and current history and diverse and complex cultures of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Peoples will be explored, through engagement with the experiences of Indigenous Australians particularly in Victoria, and of the Gunai Kurnai People, the Traditional Custodians of the land the Churchill Campus is situated on. The role of Health professionals in Closing the Gap will be explored and Cultural Safety will be imbedded into clinical reasoning & practice. The unit aims to develop professional knowledge, clinical reasoning, problem-solving, cultural sensitivity and Cultural Safety practices that are required by health professionals to meet the health needs of people from diverse backgrounds in rural, remote and Indigenous communities. Complexity and diversity will be identified and explored from a strengths based approach and will include consideration of location & availability of services, connections to and within communities, intercultural understandings, systems of care, structural competency, health literacy & practitioner scope of practice. The unit makes use of targeted lectures, tutorials, and practical sessions. Case based scenarios will be used to provide students with the opportunity to develop a deeper engagement with the biopsychosocial model of health to facilitate more informed decision making and effective therapeutic alliances. Students will apply learning of Cultural Safety and collaborative practice to support clinical reasoning, problem solving and an evidence-based approach to physiotherapy practice.

Grade Scheme:

Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF)

Work Experience Indicator:

No work experience

Placement Component:

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:

Learning Outcomes:

Knowledge:

Skills:

Application of knowledge and skills:

Other outcomes:

O1.	Apply knowledge of place and related services to plan care with particular attention to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ health and wellbeing.

O2.	Acknowledge decolonising and trauma‑informed principles to adapt communication and interprofessional collaboration with individuals, families and communities.

O3.	Demonstrate reflexivity in relation to personal biases and assumptions, and apply this awareness to align practice with professional standards and cultural safety principles.

O4.	Demonstrate advocacy and leadership in ways that respects connection with culture in communities.

O5.	Apply cultural safety principles at individual, community and systems levels in working with people and communities.

Unit Content:

Topics May Include Reflective practice for lifelong learning. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples of Australia and Gippsland. Indigenous health and wellbeing Cultural Safety. The role of Health practitioners in Closing the Gap. Working with diverse populations. Ethical Practice & Professionalism. Developing therapeutic alliances. Working in rural and remote settings. Working with Children and Families. Collaborative practice within & across diverse settings. Allyship and advocacy

Graduate Attributes:

	Learning Outcomes Assessed	Assessment Tasks	Assessment Type	Weighting	Professional Standards
1.	2, 3	Individual reflections on personal biases and cultural safety in practice	e-Portfolio	40-60%	2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2
2.	1, 4, 5	Group presentation on rural/remote communities and care planning	Group Presentation	40-60%	1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.1, 2.2, 4.4, 4.5, 5.1, 7.2

Adopted Reference Style:

APA ()

Professional Standards / Competencies:

Standard / Competency