Course and Subject Handbook

This subject introduces students to the broad concepts surrounding demographic characteristics of the Australian population; location, age, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status and education. Changes in the Australian population over time; births, deaths, migration and changes in the composition of the population will be examined. Throughout this subject, epidemiological patterns of the Australian population; what makes people sick and well will also be explored with a particular focus on rural, remote and tropical Australia. Factors which impact upon the health status of the population and how these factors are measured, comparisons of the health status of Australia with other nations, the structure of the Australian health care system, how decisions are made about health service activity; access, resource allocation, federal/state relations, paying for health will all be explored throughout this subject. Further comparison will be made between rural, remote and metropolitan localities and how these factors influence health service delivery throughout these areas. Methods for accessing health and demographic data will also be introduced as well as the interpretation of this data. This subject will conclude by exploring the future of health care in Australia and how this will impact the practice of health professionals.