Health Policy units of study

• HPOL5000 - Introduction to Health Policy
• HPOL5001 - Economics and Finance for Health Policy
• HPOL5003 - Analysing Health Policy
• HPOL5007 - Global Health Policy
• HPOL5008 - Evidence into Policy and Practice
• HPOL5009 - Health Policy Project
• Electives

HPOL5000 - Introduction to Health Policy

Coordinators: Dr James Gillespie, Prof Stephen Leeder
Value: 6 credit points
Semester: 1

This unit explores historical perspectives on the development of the structures, systems and institutions of health policy. The focus is comparative, setting Australian developments in a wider context. Case studies will include the political development of the main institutions of health policy such as Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, the legal system and interest group politics. The unit investigates the theoretical basis of policy and policy frameworks including conflicts between rival notions of equity.

HPOL5001 - Economics and Finance for Health Policy

Coordinators: Dr James Gillespie, A/Prof Christine Giles, Dr Stephen Jan
Value: 6 credit points
Semester: 1

This unit will cover the following issues:

• Comparative perspectives on health systems: what are the main models in developed OECD countries and the implications of each for the structure, planning and delivery of services?
• Public-private mix - what is meant by 'public' and what is meant by 'private' ? What shapes the very different patterns of public-private mix when we compare health systems?
• Governance and accountability: how are decisions made in each system? To whom should decision makers be held accountable? And for what aspects of their work?

HPOL5003 - Analysing Health Policy

Coordinators: Dr James Gillespie, Prof Stephen Leeder
Value: 6 credit points
Semester: 2

This unit develops and integrates practical policy analysis skills. Participants will develop analytic skills through an exploration of:

• the components of the policy cycle from the formulation of the question or problem to which a policy response is proposed through to its implementation.
• opportunities and limitations for policy development and implementation;
• frameworks of comparative policy. systematic study of methods – and problems – involved in ‘policy-borrowing’.
• strengths and weakness of current policy frameworks;
• methods and limitations of evidence-based health policy
• the relevance of equity concerns when developing and applying policy.

Day schools will include seminars on the use of epidemiological and social science literature in policy development.

HPOL5007 - Global Health Policy

Coordinators: Dr James Gillespie
Value: 6 credit points
Semester: 2

This unit explores the impact of globalization on health policy, and the way in which global health problems – HIV/AIDS and the prevalent chronic diseases, for example – shape policy. The educational goal of the unit is to equip students with skills to appraise critically global health policy proposals and to offer informed advice on how these policies may be made more effective.

First, it will explore new global health threats that transcend national boundaries, especially those whose causes or results exceed the capacity of individual states to influence – avian flu, for example. Second, it will examine the governance of the policy responses – good and poor – that these global health threats evoke. The influence and power of agencies in the United Nations system, including the World Health Organisation and UNICEF, the World Bank, the Gates Foundation and activist organizations such as Médecins sans Frontières, will be examined. Third, teaching will make extensive use of current case studies. The unit will concentrate on less developed countries.

Assessment will allow students to demonstrate their acquisition of skills in global policy, critical analysis and their application to emerging problems.

HPOL5008 - Evidence into Policy and Practice

Coordinators: Dr James Gillespie
Value: 6 credit points
Semester: 1

There is a growing recognition of the importance of the evidence from research to inform the development and evaluation of health policy. Strengthening understanding of the links between evidence and policy and practice is a crucial element in the improvement of health systems. This unit will equip students with skills to critically appraise policy proposals and to offer informed advice on making policies more effective by using evidence.
Students will gain experience in techniques to assess evidence needed for policy development, including systematic and rapid reviews. Specifically, students will learn how evidence can be used to:
a) identify areas that require effective interventions,
b) implement the most effective interventions and
c) monitor and evaluate outcomes.

The unit emphasizes the manner in which political processes and imperatives shape new policy approaches.

Assessments will allow students to demonstrate their acquisition of policy assessment / interpretation skills, critical analysis of data and evidence and their application to emerging problems. This unit prepares students for the policy research project in HPOL5009, for which it is a prerequisite. The unit is taught in conjunction with the Sax Institute and the Menzies Centre for Health Policy

HPOL5009 - Health Policy Project

Coordinators: Prof Stephen Leeder
Value: 6 credit points
Semester: 2

This unit is a capstone project that allows students to apply theory, tools and skills developed in previous units of study to a real life problem or issue where health policy can make a difference. It provides students with an opportunity to develop their issues analysis and subsequent policy development skills under close supervision of an allocated academic mentor. Students will choose an approved policy project. This can be drawn from their work experience or identified with the assistance of their academic mentor. The first workshop will be devoted to the skills needed for the policy writing project. By the conclusion of the project, students will have developed a policy document including: a critical literature review; an appraisal of relevant evidence and possible options; an analysis of the environment in which the policy will be introduced; a communication strategy, and; implementation, evaluation and accountability mechanisms. The project will be presented at the final student workshop

Electives

For further information on availability and instructional formats please consult the unit listings in the University Handbook

Students can apply for other units to be included as electives. They will need the permission of the coordinator of the Graduate Diploma in Health Policy and the department offering the unit. Applications must be made well before enrolment.

Full-time Graduate Diploma students will normally complete their elective from first semester options. The list will widen for the Masters degree in 2009. Students who have not completed other studies in health research methods (for example epidemiology) or law should give careful consideration to enrolling in MEDF5005 and/or BETH5104.