Course Description
This course gives an overview of the Australian health system and describes how different providers intersect to deliver primary, secondary and tertiary health care to the community. Students explore the different approaches to 'doing business' by public and private healthcare providers and the funding models that affect the health sector. Students examine service quality, including patient safety and accreditation, along with aspects of human resource management, risk management and governance unique to the health sector. Students explore various approaches to address emerging challenges in the health care industry and the main drivers of the health 'business'. Students will be able to engage with key stakeholders in the health sector and address the problems facing sustainable, high-quality healthcare delivery in Australia.
Learning Outcomes
- Identify the key players involved in the planning, delivery and maintenance of healthcare in Australia
- Identify the significant issues driving the demand for healthcare including demographic, epidemiological and social factors.
- Analyse the main problems facing the delivery of safe and sustainable healthcare for the Australian population.
- Examine various financial, technological, governance, and social propositions to address the challenges facing the Australian healthcare system.
- Apply a sustainable business framework to address the problems facing a mid-size health service.
Learning Experience
Topics
- The Australian Healthcare System
- Healthcare System Design
- Healthcare Business Drivers
- Determinants of Health Business
- Healthcare Financing
- Australian Healthcare Financing
- Healthcare Workforce
- Health Leadership
- Healthcare Business Challenges
- Healthcare Business Reform
- Healthcare Change Management
Development Team
Andrew Gardner
Course Author
Lead
Brianna Morello
Course Author
Collaborator
Athar Qureshi
Course Author
Contributer
Rosemarie Fonseka
Learning Designer
Lead
Dalestair Kidd
Digital Education Developer
Lead
Assessments
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Comparative Analysis
Report
Learners develop a report identifying the range of healthcare services provided in the Australian healthcare system, and how service availability is organised and impacted by demographics and healthcare needs.
25%
-
Executive Briefing Paper
Report
Learners identify and analyse the main concerns regarding delivering safe and sustainable health care for regional and rural Australians. They examine how hospital services can change over time to serve the needs of their community better and describe the resource needs for such a change.
25%
-
Report and Pitch: Business Case
Report, Media Task
Learners develop a business case and present a recorded, three-minute elevator pitch seeking a specific amount of funding from the Department of Health.
35%
-
Briefing Paper and Reflection
Learning Journal
Through weekly journal entries learners evaluate what they have learned and prepare a 500-word critical business reflection as a briefing paper proposing how a health organisation can adapt to changing environmental pressures.
15%
