Course coordinator
Dr Arosha Weerakoon
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2026 (16/02/2026 - 29/05/2026)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- Herston
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- Herston
- Coordinating unit
- Dentistry School
This course provides a foundation in dental public health and professionalism in the practice of dentistry. Topics include oral health promotion, the Australian oral health system, equity and access to care for various groups in the population. Emphasising patient-centred outcomes, the course explores oral care planning tailored to diverse groups, ranging from individual patients to broader community contexts. Students will engage in designing preventive-focused treatment plans and will learn about the principles of behaviour management in clinical care. The competency building activities of this course will provide students with learning through the design and production of oral health promotion materials, workshops and a series of case-based virtual patients.
Dentistry as a profession requires clinical skills built on the foundation of being able to understand and connect with people. In this course, you’ll learn how to enhance patient engagement and build meaningful professional relationships by understanding the broader social context that influences oral health. Designed with real-world applications in mind, this course equips you with skills you’ll use daily in clinical practice, while also preparing you to navigate ethical, professional, and policy-driven challenges.
Course requirements
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
DENT3000
Restrictions
Restricted to students in the DDM program only.
Course contact
Lecturer
Dr Arosha Weerakoon
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Please refer to Blackboard for updates.
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to provide an introduction to dental public health, health systems, social determinants of oral health and cultural safety as they are applied in dentistry. This course aims, in conjunction with the clinical courses, to support the ability of the student to provide patient-centred care.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Apply knowledge of the determinants of health, risk factors, and behaviours that influence health to individual patients, communities, and populations.
LO2.
Describe and critique the relevance of social determinants of oral health to the oral health status of Australians and national priority populations.
LO3.
Apply knowledge of theories and principles of health promotion to the development of evidence-based, public oral health promotion activities.
LO4.
Evaluate strengths and limitations in Australian health systems and regulatory bodies relevant to dentistry, to analyse how these impact on oral health outcomes for the population.
LO5.
Explain the ethical principles and legal responsibilities of dental practitioners which underpin the provision of oral health care to individual patients, communities, and populations in Australia.
LO6.
Describe the principles of efficient, effective, and equitable utilisation of resources, and recognise local and national needs in health and access to appropriate service delivery across Australia's geographical areas.
LO7.
Explain principles of cultural safety in clinical practice, social sensitivity, respect for patients’ differences and autonomy.
LO8.
Design innovative and evidence-based strategies for redressing inequalities in healthcare for populations from diverse social and cultural backgrounds.
LO9.
Design, implement and adapt oral care plans and preventive care programs to manage individuals with diverse backgrounds.
LO10.
Recognise and demonstrate interprofessional practice skills including role clarification, team functioning, interprofessional communication, conflict management, collaborative leadership and client-centred care.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tutorial/ Problem Set |
GEMS Interprofessional Collaborative Practice Module (Pass/Fail)
|
Must Pass |
21/02/2025 - 28/02/2025 |
| Creative Production/ Exhibition, Essay/ Critique |
Health Promotion: Mars-Wrigley Foundation Healthier Smiles Community Services Grant.
|
25% Part 1 5% and Parts 2&3 20% |
23/03/2026 1:00 pm
Submit assessment via ePortfolio. If you would like feedback on Part 1 of your submission, submit to the course coordinator by 4 March at 1pm via ePortfolio. |
| Essay/ Critique, Reflection |
Patient Case Study: AI & peer collaboration
|
25% |
22/04/2026 1:00 pm
Part 1 should be submitted to your team/group members by 27 March at 1pm and the final group assessment is due 13 April at 1pm. |
| Creative Production/ Exhibition, Essay/ Critique, Portfolio |
Using media to improve oral health literacy & public engagement.
|
20% |
18/05/2026 1:00 pm |
| Examination |
End of Semester Exam
|
30% Must Pass |
End of Semester Exam Period 6/06/2026 - 20/06/2026
This assessment is scheduled during end of semester exam period. |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
GEMS Interprofessional Collaborative Practice Module (Pass/Fail)
- Hurdle
- Team or group-based
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Tutorial/ Problem Set
- Weight
- Must Pass
- Due date
21/02/2025 - 28/02/2025
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
- Learning outcomes
- L10
Task description
The assessment will be completed in the tutorial class. The due date is determined by the class allocation.
This is a team assessment, and all team members are expected to contribute equally to the team’s assessment items during the tutorial. Teams will be assigned prior to the tutorial. There are two (2) parts to this assessment both based upon a client case conference role play that your team will complete during the tutorial class.
Part one requires you to complete a worksheet and will draw on your case conference role play, focusing on role-clarification, team functioning and client-centred care.
Length: There is no word limit for the worksheet.
Part two requires you to complete a team reflection on the processes adopted during your case conference role play specifically focusing on interprofessional communication, team functioning, conflict management and collaborative leadership.
Length: The team reflection will be limited to 500 words.
Teams will need to submit both assessment pieces in the Assessment tab on the IPCP Learn.UQ course site prior to the end of the tutorial class. Additional information regarding submission will be provided on the IPCP Learn.UQ course site.
Please refer to the assessment information on Learn.UQ for further details and requirements for the assessment.
Submission:
Teams will need to submit both assessment pieces in the Assessment tab on the IPCP Learn.UQ course site prior to the end of the tutorial class. The IPCP module is a Pass/Fail assessment task. Students who pass the module will receive a course grade based on the remaining assessment in the course.
Hurdle requirements
This is a Must Pass Assessment item. Teams will need to submit both assessment pieces in the Assessment tab on the IPCP Learn.UQ course site prior to the end of the tutorial class. Additional information regarding submission will be provided on the IPCP Learn.UQ course site. Please refer to the assessment information on Learn.UQ for further details and requirements for the assessment.Submission guidelines
Online submission via the Assessment tab on the IPCP Learn.UQ course site prior to the end of the tutorial class.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Students who are unable to attend the module because they are away from Brisbane or ill on the day of the tutorial class, will be given an opportunity to complete the assessment individually.
If you need to request an extension for your assessment task, you must seek approval from the IPCP Coordinator, Dr Ashlee Forster. Requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and require endorsement from the teaching team. Please note that assessments for GEMS IPCP are scheduled for submission during the allocated tutorial. If you are unable to attend, you must apply for an individual assessment task through Dr Forster.
For extension requests, please contact Dr Ashlee Forster at ashlee.forster@uq.edu.au.
Late Submission Policy for GEMS IPCP: 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Successful completion of the assessment will enable a PASS grade for the module.
· For students who engage with the module, participate in the group work and submit a genuine attempt but do not achieve a pass grade for their submitted work, will be given a second opportunity to pass the module by completing a reflective essay. If this is task is successfully completed, a grade will be awarded based on the remaining assessment in the course.
· Students who do not engage with the module, fail to participate in the group work, or do not submit a genuine attempt, will be given an opportunity to complete a 5,000 word assignment on teamwork. Successful completion of this assignment will enable to be eligible to achieve a Pass grade for the course.
· Students who fail the module who do not complete either the reflective essay nor the teamwork assignment will be awarded a Fail grade for the course (if the remaining assessment in the course would result in a Pass, a Fail grade will be awarded).
Late submission
You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.
Health Promotion: Mars-Wrigley Foundation Healthier Smiles Community Services Grant.
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Creative Production/ Exhibition, Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 25% Part 1 5% and Parts 2&3 20%
- Due date
23/03/2026 1:00 pm
Submit assessment via ePortfolio.
If you would like feedback on Part 1 of your submission, submit to the course coordinator by 4 March at 1pm via ePortfolio.
- Other conditions
- Student specific, Time limited.
Task description
This assessment develops your ability to address oral health inequities using evidence-based, culturally safe, and feasible strategies. You will work within a realistic grant scenario and produce outputs typical of professional public health submissions (target population rationale, intervention appraisal, logic framework, and evaluation approach)
- Part 1 develops population insight and ethical reasoning by requiring you to justify a priority group using determinants of health and equity principles. If you would like feedback on Part 1 of your submission, submit to the course coordinator by 4 March at 1pm via ePortfolio.
- Part 2 strengthens critical appraisal and decision‑making: you evaluate AI‑suggested strategies for feasibility, cultural safety, and system fit, then justify a preferred intervention for a defined community.
- Part 3 consolidates professional practice through structured planning and reflection. It asks you to translate your chosen intervention into an implementable plan, demonstrate systems thinking and evaluation literacy, and explicitly show how feedback informed improvements which are key competencies in accountable, evidence‑based public health practice.
Together, these tasks mirror authentic public health practice and grant preparation, translating theory into actionable, ethical, and system-aware proposals.
Submission guidelines
See ePortfolio for further submission details.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Submissions after 1pm are considered late, and will incur an immediate 10% penalty.
Patient Case Study: AI & peer collaboration
- Team or group-based
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique, Reflection
- Weight
- 25%
- Due date
22/04/2026 1:00 pm
Part 1 should be submitted to your team/group members by 27 March at 1pm and the final group assessment is due 13 April at 1pm.
Task description
This task prepares you to navigate complex clinical and public health challenges with confidence and professionalism. The collaborative structure of this task mirrors real-world professional practice, where teamwork and constructive feedback are essential to delivering safe, equitable care. Through iterative reflection and justification, you’ll strengthen your capacity to apply social determinants, health promotion theories, and cultural safety principles to authentic scenarios.
Patient care and management is multi-faceted and complex. Often, our clinical decision-making is influenced by a mix of evidence-based principles, peer support and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated outputs. Yet, the final decision and ultimate responsibility rests on you, the treating practitioner.
This task develops your ability to critically evaluate oral health management strategies and adapt them to diverse patient contexts. By engaging with AI-generated suggestions, peer critiques, and evidence-based principles, you’ll learn to identify cultural, ethical, and systemic factors that influence how we plan for our patient care.
Submission guidelines
See ePortfolio for submission instructions.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Submissions after 1pm are considered late, and will incur an immediate 10% penalty.
Using media to improve oral health literacy & public engagement.
- Team or group-based
- Mode
- Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written
- Category
- Creative Production/ Exhibition, Essay/ Critique, Portfolio
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
18/05/2026 1:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Time limited, Peer assessment factor.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L07, L08, L10
Task description
This task helps you develop basic communication and engagement strategies and implement them with your community to improve oral health outcomes, and enhance your profile as an oral health champion.
As a respected dentist, you will often engage with your local community to inform or educate. Engagement could involve writing educational pieces to publish in your community newspaper, practice website or personal blog. It is then common to use your practice social media channels to drive patients and the community to the written pieces.
If you would like feedback on Part 1 of your submission, submit to the course coordinator by 29 April at 1pm via ePortfolio.
Submission guidelines
See ePortfolio for submission instructions.
If you would like feedback on Part 1 of your submission, submit to the course coordinator by 29 April at 1pm via ePortfolio.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Submissions after 1 pm are considered late, and will incur an immediate 10% penalty.
End of Semester Exam
- Hurdle
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 30% Must Pass
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
6/06/2026 - 20/06/2026
This assessment is scheduled during end of semester exam period.
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
Task description
A 60 minute exam consisting of different question types including but not limited to multiple choice, short answer questions, short essays and problem-solving covering content from the course delivery.
This exam contains questions related to Cultural Safety Reflection in Practice.
This is a MUST PASS assessment item (achieve a minimum of 50% of total mark to pass). Supplementary assessment is available for this item (in accordance with PPL Assessment Procedure Section 3 Part J).
Inspera Assessment will be used for this invigilated on-campus exam.
Feedback to exams may be requested through the processes as defined by School of Dentistry student services.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Hurdle requirements
Must attain at least 50% overall mark to pass this exam.Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 60 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Closed book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Exam platform | Inspera |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Late submission
Exams submitted after the end of the submission time will incur a late penalty.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 19 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Attains an overall mark of less than 20% |
| 2 (Fail) | 20 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Attains an overall mark of at least 20% but less than 45% OR Has failed two or more hurdle requirements |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: Attains an overall mark of at least 45% but less than 50% OR has obtained overall 50% or more but has failed ONE hurdle requirement |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Attains an overall mark of at least 50% but less than 65% AND has passed all the hurdle requirements |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Attains an overall mark of at least 65% but less than 75% AND has passed all the hurdle requirements |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Attains an overall marks of 75% but less than 85% AND has passed all the hurdle requirements |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Attains an overall mark of at least 85% AND has passed all the hurdle requirements |
Additional course grading information
Overall mark will be rounded to the nearest whole number in computing score. For example, 74.50 and above will be rounded up to 75 and 74.49 will be rounded down to 74. This applies to all grade cutoffs except for a grade of 4. The minimum pass mark is 50%, and a pass cannot be achieved with 49.5%.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
This course provides guidelines for the ethical use of AI in learning and assessment tasks.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
Students will have access to a variety of learning resources, including podcasts, recorded lectures, readings, and interactive UQ Extend modules. In addition, workshops will provide opportunities to explore complex topics through discussions in both small and large group settings.
You will also have access to Zoom meetings featuring special guest expert speakers, offering unique insights into key course themes. Practice questions will be provided during lectures and in-class activities to help you prepare for the standard of questions expected in the summative end-of-semester examination.
All course materials, including those required for classes and assessment tasks, will be accessible through the DENT7221 Blackboard website and UQ Extend, either directly or via internet links.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
O-week (16 Feb - 22 Feb) |
Not Timetabled |
Extend Course Content UQ Extend Module - 1. Introduction to course, Introduction to Course Handbook, Assessment Tasks & the Ethical use of AI. 2. People and Health Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 1 (23 Feb - 01 Mar) |
Tutorial |
Workshops Sub-activity: UQ Extend & LearnUQ: 3. Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 2 (02 Mar - 08 Mar) |
Workshop |
Workshops Sub-activity: UQ Extend: 4 Introduction to Priority Populations Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L07, L08 |
Week 3 (09 Mar - 15 Mar) |
Not Timetabled |
Extend Course Content Sub-activity: UQ Extend: Health Behaviours & Health Promotion Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05 |
Week 4 (16 Mar - 22 Mar) |
Workshop |
Workshops Sub-activity: UQ Extend: 5 Health Behaviours & Health Promotion |
Week 5 (23 Mar - 29 Mar) |
Not Timetabled |
Extend Course Content Sub-activity: UQ Extend 6: Motivational Interviewing & Smoking Cessation |
Week 6 (30 Mar - 05 Apr) |
Workshop |
Workshops Sub-activity: UQ Extend 7. Public Policy & Creating Change Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L06, L07 |
Week 7 (13 Apr - 19 Apr) |
Not Timetabled |
Extend Course Content Sub-activity: UQ Extend: Professionalism & Ethics in Clinical Practice |
Week 8 (20 Apr - 26 Apr) |
Workshop |
Workshops Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08 |
Week 9 (27 Apr - 03 May) |
Not Timetabled |
Extend Course Content Sub-activity: UQ Extend: 9 The Australian Oral Health System |
Week 11 (11 May - 17 May) |
Workshop |
Case Studies: Round Table Discussion (putting it all together) |
Week 12 (18 May - 24 May) |
Tutorial |
Consolidation of knowledge & Exam Preparation Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08 |
Additional learning activity information
Please refer to Blackboard for updated timetable, lecture and workshop information.
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure
- AI for Assessment Guide
- Recording of Teaching Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
You'll also need to be aware of the following policies and procedures while completing this course:
School guidelines
Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course: