Reference no: EM132420986
PUBH632 - Public Health Law and Policy - Australian Catholic University
Assessment Task: Major Essay: Policy analysis
Learning outcomes
1. Critically apply legislative and policy responses to complex public health challenges;
2. Evaluate and critique law and policy making processes in contemporary areas of public health programmes and interventions.
Instructions
The major policy essay provides an opportunity for you to demonstrate knowledge and skills in policy analysis, development, advocacyand implementation, although the relative balance between each element might vary depending on the policy topic. Students are also expected to demonstrate a knowledge of and familiarity with theoretical policy frameworks.
In this assignment you will select acontemporary health policy of interest to you (Refer to LEO for a possible list of topics). However, you need to choose a policy topic that is different fromthe topics you submittedin Assignments 1 and 2. For instance, if you selected "Safe injecting centres" for Assignment 2 then you cannot select this topic for analysis in Assignment 3.
For this assessment task, you will analyse the policy making process - development, advocacy, andimplementation. Students will be required to:
• identify and discuss the nature and size of the problem, and its elevation to the public agenda;
• examine the historical development of the policy issue;
• analyse the wider social, economic and political factors that have influenced the development of thispolicy;
• assessthe main actors involved in advocating for and influencing the policy; and
• examine whether the policy was implemented and evaluated; and the barriers and challenges it encountered.
Possible topics will be explored during the tutorial sessions scheduled for weeks 10, 11 and 12, if required. Some topics are discouraged because they have been covered extensively in previous assignmentsand tutorial activities - each student is strongly urged to seek the Coordinator's / tutor's advice in relation to the topic and the way they propose to address the topic.
Presentation
The assignment should follow an essay-style format with an introduction, body and conclusion. Headings and sub-headings may be used to better organise and sign-post your ideas and arguments but are not mandatory. Note, use of headings will contribute to the word count.
Possible policy analysis topics
- Childhood and adult obesity
- Increasing physical activity programs for children
- Universal dental coverage
- Curbing the increase in ICE usage / drug policy
- Introducing a sugar tax
- Primary health care reforms
- E-cigarettes, plain packaging and tobacco control
- Climate change - implications for health
- Food regulation - new labelling requirements
- Genetically modified foods
- Indigenous health - national reforms - changes in health status?
- Regulation of complementary medicine products
- Men's / Women's / Children's health
- Safe injecting rooms
- Review of MBS
- Private health insurance rebate
- HIV/AIDS - minimising its spread
- Refugee and asylum seeker / offshore detention - health implications
Attachment:- Public Health Law and Policy.rar