ASSESSMENT 2 BRIEF |
Subject Code and Title | PUBH6001 Health Policy and Advocacy |
Assessment | Report: Australian Health Policy Review |
Individual/Group | Individual |
Length | 2,000 words (+/–10%) |
Learning Outcomes | The Subject Learning Outcomes demonstrated by the successful completion of the task below include: a) Critically analyze different theories and approaches to policy agenda setting to understand health policy formulation and advocacy for a specific population health issue; b) Critically analyze issues in contemporary Australian health care policy, including the evaluation of global influences on Australian health policy; c) Critically analyze and reflect on political and ethical issues in the formulation of evidence-based policy and its translation into real-world policy application; d) Evaluate the role of government and other stakeholders in the processes for ensuring the accountability for health policy and advocating for change. |
Submission | Due by 11.55 pm AEST/AEDT on the Sunday at the end of Module 9 |
Weighting | 40% |
Total Marks | 100 marks |
Assessment Task
In this assessment, you will select an Australian strategic level federal or state health policy to critically review. You will write a 2,000-word (+/–10%) report that identifies the main concepts within the policy and relate these concepts back to Kingdon’s (2011) multiple streams theory. Based on the latest evidence you will then make recommendations for future policy development.
Please refer to the Task Instructions (below) for details on how to complete this task.
Context
As a future public health professional. you will be expected to keep up to date with policy developments in your area of interest (e.g., child health). It is important that you understand what a policy is, the main concepts that comprise a strategic level health policy and how policy theory interacts with the formulation of these important documents
In this assessment, you will learn how to effectively search for a contemporary state or federal health policy relating to a specific issue or population group. You will learn how to review policies from the perspective of the theories and concepts that should inform their formulation. You will also learn how to formulate evidence-based policy recommendations to improve health policy outcomes.
Instructions
To complete this task, you must select a public health topic or population group of interest and conduct a search of Australia federal and/or state websites to find a relevant policy to review. Your policy selection needs to be approved by your learning facilitator.
Once your policy is approved, you will perform a policy review that includes the following components:
• An introduction.
• A definition of policy as per the core course readings.
• Details of the search strategy and criteria used to select your area of interest and chosen health policy to review, including any challenges.
• A description of each of the key policy elements (see list below) and an application of Kingdon’s multiple streams theory (including the problem, policy and political streams; policy stakeholders and/or policy entrepreneurs and if applicable, the window of
opportunity):
o Ministerial forward;
o Vision statement;
o Goals;
o Objectives;
o Strategies; and
o Other concepts of interest.
Note: You must provide examples using relevant quotations from the policy.
• Evidence-based recommendations that highlight further areas of consideration or improvement for future policy development. For example, consider:
o What are the policy silences?
o What is missing?
o Is the ministerial forward and/or vision statement consistent with the strategies outlined in the policy?
• Conclusions.
This Australian Health Policy Review is to be presented in a report style, you need to reference both your chosen policy and any additional primary or secondary research used. For more information on report writing, visit: https://library.torrens.edu.au/academicskills_ap/reports
Referencing
It is essential that you use appropriate APA style for citing and referencing research. Please see more information on referencing in the Academic Skills webpage.
Submission Instructions
Submit this task via the Assessment 2 link in the main navigation menu in PUBH6001: Health Policy and Advocacy. The learning facilitator will provide feedback via the Grade Centre in the LMS portal.
Academic Integrity
All students are responsible for ensuring that all work submitted is their own and is appropriately referenced and academically written according to the Academic Writing Guide. Students also need to have read and be aware of Torrens University Australia Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure and subsequent penalties for academic misconduct. These are viewable online.
Students also must keep a copy of all submitted material and any assessment draft
Assessment Rubric
Assessment Attributes | Fail (Yet to achieve minimum standard) 0–49% | Pass (Functional) 50–64% | Credit (Proficient) 65– 74% | Distinction (Advanced) 75–84% | High Distinction (Exceptional) 85– 100% |
Knowledge and understanding of health policy. Defines policy as per the core course readings. Selects an appropriate strategic level of Australian health policy. Lists, expands and comments on essential elements of the selected health policy. Percentage for this criterion = 35% | Inappropriate choice of a strategic level of an Australian health policy. Understanding of the definition and function of health policy not demonstrated. The review of the chosen health policy is not provided and/or not supported by evidence. | A strategic level of an Australian health policy has been chosen; however, more relevant options could have been considered. Limited understanding of the definition and function of health policy demonstrated. The review of the chosen health policy is inadequate and/or only supported by limited evidence. | Appropriate choice of a strategic level of an Australian health policy. Understanding of the definition and function of health policy demonstrated. A review of the chosen health policy that is well supported by evidence. | Relevant choice of a strategic level of an Australian health policy. Impressive understanding of the definition and function of health policy demonstrated. A comprehensive review of the chosen health policy that is well supported by quality evidence. | Highly relevant choice of a strategic level of an Australian health policy. Sophisticated understanding of the definition and function of health policy demonstrated. An exceptional review of the chosen health policy that is well supported by high-quality evidence. |
Critically analyzes the selected health policy in relation to Kingdon’s multiple stream theory including problems, | Application of Kingdon’s multiple streams theory in the policy review is very limited and demonstrates a lack of understanding of | Application of Kingdon’s multiple streams theory in the policy review is very limited and demonstrates an inadequate understanding of | Application of Kingdon’s multiple streams theory in the policy review is good, but more detail isrequired. The analysis demonstrates | Application of Kingdon’s multiple streams theory in the policy review is effective and demonstrates an impressive | Application of Kingdon’s multiple streams theory in the policy review is highly effective and demonstrates a sophisticated |
policy and politics streams. Discussion based on Kingdon’s multiple streams theory. Percentage for this criterion = 30% | the theory and its application in real-world settings. | the theory and its application in real-world settings. | an understanding of the theory and its application in real-world settings. | understanding of the theory and its application in real world settings. | understanding of the theory and its application in real-world settings. |
Recommendations For future policy improvement/development. Percentage for this criterion = 20% | Presents less than two recommendations for the development of future policy/and or improvement. Recommendations are not supported by evidence and demonstrate a very limited understanding of the function and application of health policy. | Presents less than three recommendations for the development of future policy/ and or improvement. Recommendations are supported by limited evidence and demonstrate a limited understanding of the function and application of health policy. | Presents Three evidence based recommendations for the development of future policy/ and or improvement. Recommendations are supported by evidence and demonstrate an understanding of the function and application of health policy. | Presents For appropriate evidence-based recommendations for the development of future policy/ and or improvement. Recommendations are supported by evidence and demonstrate a good understanding of the function and application of health policy. | Presents For Insightful and evidence-based recommendations for the development of future policy/ and or improvement (with examples). Recommendations are supported by quality evidence and demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the function and application of health policy. |
Adheres to academic writing standards, including correct grammar, clarity and comprehension. Adheres to academic integrity standards as per the TUA policy— APA style. Percentage for this criterion = 15% | A poor academic writing style. There are consistent mistakes in the application of the APA style. There may be questions about the academic integrity of the assessment. | A basic academic writing style with a basic argument presented throughout. There are mistakes in the application of the APA style, but the TUA standards of academic integrity have been adhered to and upheld. | A proficient academic writing style with a basic argument presented throughout. There are minor mistakes in the application of the APA style, and the TUA standards of academic integrity have been adhered to and upheld. | A good academic writing style with a clear argument presented throughout. There are no mistakes in the application of the APA style, and the TUA standards of academic integrity have been adhered to and upheld. | An excellent academic writing style with a clear argument presented throughout. There are no mistakes in the application of the APA style, and the TUA standards of academic integrity have been adhered to and upheld. |
The following Subject Learning Outcomes are addressed in this assessment |
SLO a) | Critically analyze different theories and approaches to policy agenda setting to understand health policy formulation and advocacy for a specific population health issue. |
SLO b) | Critically analyze issues in contemporary Australian health care policy, including the evaluation of global influences on Australian health policy. |
SLO c) | Critically analyze and reflect on political and ethical issues in the formulation of an evidence-based policy and its translation into real-world policy application. |
SLO d) | Evaluate the role of government and other stakeholders in the processes for ensuring the accountability for health policy and advocating for change. |
