PUD104 Australian Health Care Systems
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | PUD104 |
|---|---|
| Equivalent(s): | PUB104 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $2,174 |
| Pre-2021 CSP student contribution | $1,703 The pre-2021 commonwealth supported place (CSP) contribution amount only applies to students enrolled in a course prior to 2021. To learn more, visit our Understanding your fees page. |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $3,456 |
| International unit fee | $4,932 |
Unit Outline: College 2 2026, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | PUD104 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Equivalent: | PUB104 |
| Coordinator: | Olivia Fisher | olivia.fisher@qut.edu.au |
Overview
The unit is designed to give a broad overview of the systems of health care in Australia and their operation. This knowledge is essential for anyone who is seeking to achieve the best outcomes for patients and the broader community. This unit draws on diverse disciplinary thinking to explore systems of health care in Australia and prepare you for various professional roles in a range of health contexts.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Describe the context of health and health care in Australia.
- Describe health care services, their organisation, governance and methods of operation.
- Explain issues associated with the management of health resources informed by diverse sources of evidence.
- Analyse strengths and limitations of the contemporary health system as they relate to the system’s sustainability and the promotion of equity.
- Apply health care system principles and practice to the management of contemporary health challenges.
Content
Topics addressed include:
- The context in which health care is provided in Australia including the conceptual basis of health, health status and trends, the role and classification of health systems and factors influencing health system design;
- The organisation and governance of health services including the roles of governments, the legislative framework, systems of governance and the perspectives of stakeholders;
- Health resources including finance, human resources, technology, pharmaceuticals and capital infrastructure;
- Current issues and reform in the health sector including resource allocation and decision-making; health and healthcare inequity experienced by culturally and linguistically diverse, Indigenous and rural and remote populations; and the principles, drivers and barriers of health system reform.
Learning Approaches
This unit takes a flipped approach to learning and teaching. You will be provided with eContent and weekly scheduled classes which include lectures and tutorials. eContent will be provided on your Canvas site for you to self-directedly engage with before and after your classes. The concepts covered in these digital resources will be explored and extended in tutorials where you will engage with the teaching team and your peers to explore the topics in greater depth. After your weekly classes, you should continue to engage with unit resources to ensure that you consolidate your understanding of unit content.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Throughout the semester you will be provided with feedback in various ways, including:
- informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation, group discussions, experiential activities
- formal: in writing, e.g. criteria sheets, written commentary in lectures, unit materials or communication, peer interaction
- direct: to students, either in written form or in consultation
- indirect: to the whole class.
Assessment
Overview
There are two assessments in this unit.
1. Short Answer Workbook - This will cover learnings about the way the Australian healthcare system is structured and functions.
2. Exam (invigilated) - This will require you to synthesise your learning about the health care system to inform future health system management.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Short Answer Workbook
You will respond to a series of short prompts and case studies taken from real world scenarios. In these scenarios you will need to analyse the provided information and respond to the questions. Responding to these activities provides the opportunity for you to demonstrate your learning in relation to health system design and issues that impact the effectiveness, efficiency and equity of the health system.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Exam (invigilated)
The examination will be comprised of multiple choice and extended response questions, testing your knowledge and understanding of the unit content and your overall achievement of the unit learning outcomes.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
There are no required texts for this unit however it is recommended that you have access to at least ONE of the below recommended texts.
Resource Materials
Recommended text(s)
Duckett S., Willcox, S. (2022). The Australian Health Care System (6th ed.). Australia: Oxford University Press.
Reynolds, L., Debono, D., & Travaglia, J. (2024). Understanding the Australian Health Care System (5th ed.). Chatswood, N.S.W: Elsevier Australia.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out of the ordinary risks in this unit except for those associated with substantial computer-based work. You should ensure that you take regular rest breaks when engaging in prolonged computer-based work.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.HL11 Diploma in Health Science (Health Studies)
- Demonstrate broad, foundational knowledge and skills for future studies in a range of health science disciplines.
Relates to: Short Answer Workbook, Exam (invigilated) - Apply critical thinking, judgement and evaluative skills to the analysis and synthesis of a range of predictable problems related to the health and wellbeing of individuals and/or groups in the community.
Relates to: Short Answer Workbook, Exam (invigilated) - Communicate effectively in an academic and professional manner to a range of audiences using a variety of formats.
Relates to: Short Answer Workbook
Unit Outline: College Summer 2026, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | PUD104 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Equivalent: | PUB104 |
Overview
The unit is designed to give a broad overview of the systems of health care in Australia and their operation. This knowledge is essential for anyone who is seeking to achieve the best outcomes for patients and the broader community. This unit draws on diverse disciplinary thinking to explore systems of health care in Australia and prepare you for various professional roles in a range of health contexts.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Describe the context of health and health care in Australia.
- Describe health care services, their organisation, governance and methods of operation.
- Explain issues associated with the management of health resources informed by diverse sources of evidence.
- Analyse strengths and limitations of the contemporary health system as they relate to the system’s sustainability and the promotion of equity.
- Apply health care system principles and practice to the management of contemporary health challenges.
Content
Topics addressed include:
- The context in which health care is provided in Australia including the conceptual basis of health, health status and trends, the role and classification of health systems and factors influencing health system design;
- The organisation and governance of health services including the roles of governments, the legislative framework, systems of governance and the perspectives of stakeholders;
- Health resources including finance, human resources, technology, pharmaceuticals and capital infrastructure;
- Current issues and reform in the health sector including resource allocation and decision-making; health and healthcare inequity experienced by culturally and linguistically diverse, Indigenous and rural and remote populations; and the principles, drivers and barriers of health system reform.
Learning Approaches
This unit takes a flipped approach to learning and teaching. You will be provided with eContent and weekly scheduled classes which include lectures and tutorials. eContent will be provided on your Canvas site for you to self-directedly engage with before and after your classes. The concepts covered in these digital resources will be explored and extended in tutorials where you will engage with the teaching team and your peers to explore the topics in greater depth. After your weekly classes, you should continue to engage with unit resources to ensure that you consolidate your understanding of unit content.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Throughout the semester you will be provided with feedback in various ways, including:
- informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation, group discussions, experiential activities
- formal: in writing, e.g. criteria sheets, written commentary in lectures, unit materials or communication, peer interaction
- direct: to students, either in written form or in consultation
- indirect: to the whole class.
Assessment
Overview
There are two assessments in this unit.
1. Short Answer Workbook - This will cover learnings about the way the Australian healthcare system is structured and functions.
2. Exam (invigilated) - This will require you to synthesise your learning about the health care system to inform future health system management.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Short Answer Workbook
You will respond to a series of short prompts and case studies taken from real world scenarios. In these scenarios you will need to analyse the provided information and respond to the questions. Responding to these activities provides the opportunity for you to demonstrate your learning in relation to health system design and issues that impact the effectiveness, efficiency and equity of the health system.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Exam (invigilated)
The examination will be comprised of multiple choice and extended response questions, testing your knowledge and understanding of the unit content and your overall achievement of the unit learning outcomes.
The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is prohibited in this assessment.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
There are no required texts for this unit however it is recommended that you have access to at least ONE of the below recommended texts.
Resource Materials
Recommended text(s)
Duckett S., Willcox, S. (2022). The Australian Health Care System (6th ed.). Australia: Oxford University Press.
Reynolds, L., Debono, D., & Travaglia, J. (2024). Understanding the Australian Health Care System (5th ed.). Chatswood, N.S.W: Elsevier Australia.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out of the ordinary risks in this unit except for those associated with substantial computer-based work. You should ensure that you take regular rest breaks when engaging in prolonged computer-based work.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.HL11 Diploma in Health Science (Health Studies)
- Demonstrate broad, foundational knowledge and skills for future studies in a range of health science disciplines.
Relates to: Short Answer Workbook, Exam (invigilated) - Apply critical thinking, judgement and evaluative skills to the analysis and synthesis of a range of predictable problems related to the health and wellbeing of individuals and/or groups in the community.
Relates to: Short Answer Workbook, Exam (invigilated) - Communicate effectively in an academic and professional manner to a range of audiences using a variety of formats.
Relates to: Short Answer Workbook