Code
HEAL5005
Credits
25
Graduate Attributes
This unit focuses on the improvement of health service delivery and overall health system performance to better meet the health needs of the population. Students explore strategies for aligning health services and resources to meet the changing patterns of 1) the health needs of the population, and 2) the health system environment. The unit is developed for managers both at the strategic and operational levels of the health system. It aims to facilitate the development of skills and competences in health services management and administration with a particular focus on the management function of planning in the context of the ever-changing health system environment. The unit covers the core concepts and theoretical models of planning, evaluation, population’s health, strategic management and multisectoral collaboration. It also includes hands-on application of planning and evaluation tools using real country case studies and heath industry work-based scenarios. The content follows the planning cycle as a rational and iterative process of analyzing the health system as the planning context; identifying priority health needs of the population; developing goals, objectives and strategies; commissioning of services, resource allocation and budgeting for health services; and managing implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Given that health system planning is a political process just as much it is technical; the unit facilitates development of political skills in negotiation and advocating for population’s heath as well as engaging with relevant stakeholders through partnerships and multisectoral collaborations. The unit also facilitates development of management skills and competencies in defining the evaluation scope; application of appropriate evaluation types, designs and methods; planning for and managing the evaluation process using a range of approaches and tools. By linking planning and evaluation as interrelated and embedded processes, the unit promotes evidence-based practice in managing systems and services for improving the health of the population.
Seminar
3 Hours Weekly
Unit Learning Outcomes
- 1 analyze priority health needs for planning purposes
- 2 apply techniques of health planning at both the strategic and operational planning levels of the health system
- 3 critique the conditions for successful implementation of health plans
- 4 interpret and critically evaluate indicators for health plans
Course Learning Outcomes
- 1 Apply advanced disciplinary knowledge and empirical research evidence to effectively lead and manage the delivery of quality services, thereby improving the population’s health and well-being at the local, national and global levels.
- 2 Develop and demonstrate innovative, creative, business-oriented, and entrepreneurial competencies in leading and managing change in healthcare organisations in an ever-changing environment.
- 3 Demonstrate advanced digital competencies relevant to effective communication and analytic skills in interpreting data, developing innovations to drive organisational change and improvements, evidence-informed practice in decision-making in the health industry, and digitally driven organisational culture and society.
- 4 Demonstrate critical analytical skills to evaluate health system challenges in a competitive environment and develop resilient, high-performing healthcare organisations that significantly contribute to society's economic and social value.
- 5 Critically investigate the significant histories and paradigms underpinning current health leadership and management practices and their impact on the health of Indigenous peoples and internationally diverse population groups.
- 6 Demonstrate exceptional professionalism, the ability to align personal and organisational conduct with legal, ethical and professional standards for leading and managing healthcare organisations, services, consumers, and communities, and a commitment to lifelong learning and improvement.
Assessment Breakdown