Course coordinator
Dr Ashlee Forster
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2025 (28/07/2025 - 22/11/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Health, Med & Behav Science Fac
HLTH1000 (Professions, People and Healthcare) has been designed for students with an interest in working in the Australian health and behavioural sciences sectors.
The multidisciplinary approach to the course delivery will provide students an understanding of the range of roles within Australia's health system and how they contribute to the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.
Students will have an enhanced capacity to navigate the health landscape in increasingly complex and changing interprofessional collaborative workplaces.
HLTH1000 (Professions, People and Healthcare) has been designed to appeal to students with an interest in working in, or alongside, the Australian health care system. The course will help prepare graduates for future roles in increasingly complex and changing workplaces, especially those that are interprofessional or multidisciplinary.
Course requirements
Restrictions
Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences undergraduate programs only
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Ashlee Forster
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Please allocate to one tutorial from the available options for each week with timetabled classes (i.e. week 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13).
- Each tutorial has limits set by discipline so you may not be allocated a place if your discipline's allocations have been filled. Ensure you have at least three alternatives that you can select from the wide number of options across the week.
- You will attend the same tutorial group each week, and within the tutorial you will be allocated a smaller multidisciplinary team of 4-6 students. There will be three to five tutors allocated per session, with approximately 4-5 teams per tutor. It is not possible to swap classes after week 2 as the allocations are linked to assessment tasks after week 2.
Aims and outcomes
The course aims to introduce first year HMBS students with a foundational learning experience, focussed on perspectives on health, our health system within a global context, healthcare practices and services that are person-centred and collaborative, and health trends and priorities.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Identify determinants of health and well-being, reflecting on socio-economic and physical aspects, along with individual characteristics and behaviours.
LO2.
Recognise population groups experiencing social exclusion and marginalisation in Australia, and the impact on their health and well-being.
LO3.
Describe the range of roles in health and health-related settings within the workforce in Australia.
LO4.
Explain the structure and layers of the Australian health care system, comparing it to global healthcare systems.
LO5.
Demonstrate effective communication and collaborative practice in a healthcare context, emphasising person centred practices.
LO6.
Communicate the importance of culturally relevant and safe health care practice and services to advance Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health outcomes.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quiz, Reflection |
Pre-class preparation: IRATs (Individual Readiness Assurance Tasks)
|
20% |
Week 1 quiz is formative. Week 2 - Week 13 features a weekly pre-class quiz or reflective tasks based on the self-directed online learning content for that week. 28/07/2025 - 27/10/2025
Each pre-class preparation activity must be completed prior to your weekly tutorial. E.g. if your tutorial is timetabled for 8am Tuesday, you must complete your IRAT (pre-class quiz/reflections) prior to class. In week 3 and week 10, where no tutorials are scheduled, there will still be a weekly IRAT to complete but you will have until the next face-to-face tutorial to complete the tasks. |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Essay/ Critique, Reflection |
Health Care System Report
|
30% |
10/10/2025 4:00 pm |
| Poster |
Infographic
|
20% |
10/11/2025 4:00 pm
Teams will receive feedback on their draft poster in the week 12 tutorial. |
| Examination |
Exam
|
30% |
End of Semester Exam Period 8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025
The exam date will be set by central examinations and communicated to the students when known. |
Assessment details
Pre-class preparation: IRATs (Individual Readiness Assurance Tasks)
- Online
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Written
- Category
- Quiz, Reflection
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
Week 1 quiz is formative. Week 2 - Week 13 features a weekly pre-class quiz or reflective tasks based on the self-directed online learning content for that week. 28/07/2025 - 27/10/2025
Each pre-class preparation activity must be completed prior to your weekly tutorial. E.g. if your tutorial is timetabled for 8am Tuesday, you must complete your IRAT (pre-class quiz/reflections) prior to class.
In week 3 and week 10, where no tutorials are scheduled, there will still be a weekly IRAT to complete but you will have until the next face-to-face tutorial to complete the tasks.
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
Task description
Pre-class preparation: Individual Readiness Assurance Tasks (IRAT) or 'pre-class quizzes'
- The aim of this assessment task is to ensure that students come prepared with a foundational understanding of the course material before engaging in deeper application exercises with their team.
- Students will have approximately five (5) questions or tasks each week. The format will range from multiple choice (single best answer), short answer, or reflective writing.
- There will be a formative (practice) IRAT to orientate you to the platform in Week 1. This does not count to the overall IRAT total.
- IRATs will be marked as 0% (not attempted), 1% (minimal effort or incomplete) or 2% (satisfactory level of effort)
- Each IRAT is worth up to 2% each, to a maximum total of 20%. This means that students who complete 10 or more IRATs to a satisfactory level of effort will receive a score of 20%.
Two of the IRATs are mandatory (i.e. a hurdle) as they contain reflective questions related to the Cultural Safety in Practice modules. Students who do not complete these initially will be prompted to do so again. Failure to do so may result in an alternative assessment to meet the hurdle requirements related to the Cultural Safety in Practice learning outcomes.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) provides emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI in each instance. A failure to reference AI use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Extension or deferral not available as the pre-class tasks are designed to prepare learners for in-class activities. The tasks can be undertaken anytime in the week leading up to your tutorial. Students may miss two (2) of the 12 IRATs yet still reach the maximum total of 20%.
Late submission
You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.
Health Care System Report
- Online
- Mode
- Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Essay/ Critique, Reflection
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
10/10/2025 4:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L04, L05
Task description
Task Description:
You are a future health professional preparing a briefing for international colleagues at a student health conference. Choose one country from the list provided. Then, write a 1000-word essay that compares Australia's healthcare system with your chosen country in relation to two key factors required for universal health coverage (UHC) (as defined by the WHO). You should:
1. Select two of the following WHO UHC factors: Efficient and well-run health system, Affordability, Availability of medicines and technologies, Health workforce, Action on social determinants of health
2. Compare how these factors are applied in Australia vs your chosen country, using up-to-date data. Where available, prioritise data post-2015, and especially post-2020 to reflect pandemic-era changes.
3. Discuss challenges each country faces in implementing these factors, supported by current literature and health performance data.
4. Discuss how these differences impact your own future profession (e.g. as a physiotherapist, speech pathologist, nurse, radiographer, physical education teacher, biomedical scientist etc.). What will be your role in contributing to a more equitable and effective health system?
5. Include a short critical reflection (100–150 words) on how emerging technologies—particularly AI in health (e.g. diagnostic tools, triage bots, decision support)—may support or hinder efforts to achieve universal healthcare in your own field.
Choose ONE country to compare with Australia:
· South Korea
· Canada
· Vietnam
· United States of America
· Sweden
· India
Further information including the assessment task sheet, cover sheet, marking rubric and assessment support is available on BlackBoard.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing their assessment tasks (excluding the exam). Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Online submission via Blackboard Turnitin
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
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.
10% penalty per 24 hours late submission.
Infographic
- Team or group-based
- Mode
- Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
- Category
- Poster
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
10/11/2025 4:00 pm
Teams will receive feedback on their draft poster in the week 12 tutorial.
Task description
This assessment task aims to develop students' understanding and skills in interprofessional collaboration within the context of health promotion.
This could take on the context of health promotion poster to an individual (e.g. smoking cessation or education about lifestyle risk factors in chronic disease), a community (e.g. importance of vaccinations for preventing widespread disease or promoting community health protection such as water fluoridation) or global health (e.g. climate change). The topic should have potential for interprofessional collaboration, rather than being from a narrow disciplinary focus.
The audience that the infographic is being pitched to has low health literacy.
Students will work in small multi-disciplinary teams to create an infographic (poster). Teams will be formed in class by week 2 and will ideally contain students from 4 or 5 disciplinary backgrounds. Teams should be between 4-6 students.
Part 1: The infographic
In your groups, create an infographic that illustrates a health promotion campaign addressing a specific topical health issue that needs interprofessional collaboration. This should include:
- A clear title and brief introduction to the health issue and your chosen population.
- Key statistics and data related to the health issue.
- Relationship with determinants of health
- Evidence-based health promotion strategies.
- The role of various health professionals in addressing the issue and how those roles might collaborate.
- Visual elements (graphs, images, icons) to enhance understanding and engagement.
- References should be added to the end of the infographic and cited within the infographic using APA style.
- The infographic should be A3 portrait or landscape.
- The infographic should be visually appealing, easy to read, and follow a logical flow. Use online tools such as PowerPoint, Canva, Piktochart, or Adobe Spark.
This will be assessed on the following criteria:
Infographic: Clarity and Relevance of Content, Exploration of Health Determinants, Health Systems Context, Explanation and Application of Health Promotion Strategies, Accuracy and Use of Evidence-Based Information and Inclusion of Interprofessional Roles and Collaboration.
A Team Contract will be submitted along with the final infographic on Blackboard.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing their assessment tasks (excluding the exam). Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Infographic only needs to be submitted by one team member. Submit online via Blackboard Assignments. All students in the team must contribute as agreed in the Team Contract.
If a team member does not contribute to the group assessment task, despite following the steps in the Team Contract, they may be removed from the group and given a score of 0% for this task.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Please ensure you check eligibility for extensions for group assessments.
Ensure you communicate with your tutors and your team throughout to ensure ongoing collaboration and successful completion.
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.
Penalty applies for late submission of infographic.
Exam
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025
The exam date will be set by central examinations and communicated to the students when known.
Task description
The end-of-semester exam will consist of 60 multiple-choice questions (single best answer) in a style that you have been practicing in the weekly IRAT pre-class quizzes. 90 minutes will be allocated to the exam.
The exam will test all learning outcomes related to this course in a secure environment where the use of artificial intelligence (AI) is prohibited.
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Closed book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 29 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Attains an overall mark of less than 30% |
| 2 (Fail) | 30 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Attains an overall mark of at least 30% but less than 45% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
Additional course grading information
Students must attempt all assessment tasks.
The final percentage mark will be rounded to the nearest whole number (e.g. 54.50 and above will be rounded up to 55 and 54.49 and below will be rounded down to 54).
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
Late submissions:
There are penalties for late submissions:
- a mark of 0% for each IRAT, if it is not completed within the specific deadline. No extensions are possible. Students who complete 10 or more IRATs will be able to accrue the 20% mark allocated to IRATs, which allows for up to 2 missed IRATs without penalty.
- The cultural safety in practice reflections, which are built into your IRATs, are mandatory and must be completed by all students. If they are not completed as part of the IRAT, we will follow up with you and remind you submit these tasks.
- 10% penalty per 24-hour block on Infographic (group task) and Health Systems Report (individual task). The 10% penalty will apply for every 24-hour block. So, if the submission is 1-24 hours late from the due date/time, a penalty of 10% will mean that if the final mark was 60% - it is adjusted down to 50%; and if late by 24-48 hours, final mark of 60% is adjusted down to 40% and so on. All submissions are time stamped for transparency.
The best preparation for unexpected illnesses and other disruptive events is to start working on your assessments early and to mitigate technical issues is to submit at least a day before the due date. If you suspect you will not meet the submission date, consider if you are eligible for an extension (see below)
You should seek further advice from the faculty if you feel you are experiencing more significant interruptions to study or ongoing personal issues.
Please note: If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 4 weeks in a semester, we advise you to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses. You might need to consider applying for removal of course.
Extension requests are through my.UQ.
Check the assessment task information to see if it is eligible for an extension.
Applying for an assessment extension will provide an overview of acceptable reasons for an extension and the types of assessments eligible.
- You should submit a request for an extension as soon as it becomes clear you need an extension.
- Your request should be submitted no later than 1 calendar day after the assessment item's due date and time.
- Your request may be refused if you do not meet the acceptable reasons for an extension.
- If approved, the extension granted will in proportion to the period of illness or disruption caused by the exceptional circumstances and will typically be no more than 4 weeks in duration in total and is applied in 24-hour blocks.
- Students on a Student Access Plan (SAP) with a clause on extension requests must still adhere to the extensions request policy outlined.
- Students need to attach the SAP and a note outlining their current situation with the online extension application.
- A period of 7 days will be granted for applications on the basis of an SAP. An extension request beyond 7 days will require additional supporting information as this request will not be considered on the basis of the SAP, but rather additional events (whether they relate to the circumstances of the SAP or not).
Please note: If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 4 weeks in a semester, we advise you to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses. You might need to consider applying for removal of course.
Assessment Feedback and Re-mark process:
Once you have received any assessment mark, you are able to seek feedback from your tutors where appropriate for improvement on future tasks.
- Please consult my.UQ in conjunction with UQ procedure for Assessment for information on how to apply for a re-mark. Timeframes for re-mark request applications are listed in the policy and are strictly adhered to.
- It is important to note that the result from a re-mark is final and your mark (and possibly your final grade for the course) can go up or down.
- For group assessment item/s, requests for a re-mark will only be considered where all group members support the request.
Assessment ineligible for re-mark:
Weekly pre-class IRAT tasks are ineligible for a re-mark.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing their assessment tasks (excluding the exam, which is conducted using secure conditions). Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
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
UQ Academic Integrity Module
UQ is committed to maintaining excellent academic standards of the university. One of the ways the university ensures this is the provision of resources around the moral code and ethical policy of academia to all member of the UQ community (both staff and students).
Please complete the UQ Academic Integrity module via Learn.UQ (Blackboard) https://web.library.uq.edu.au/library-services/it/learnuq-blackboard-help/academic-integrity-module. It is crucial that you complete this module if you have not already done so in your first semester. This will ensure that you develop a respect for orginal work and clear understanding of standards for academic integrity in your work.
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 |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 13 |
Not Timetabled |
Online Self Directed Learning Complete the relevant online learning modules the week prior to face to face sessions. |
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 4 |
Tutorial |
Theme 1: People and Populations Complete the weekly online self-directed learning modules prior to class. (TBL = weekly team-based learning tutorial) Week 1: Introduction to HLTH1000 lecture by course coordinator Dr Ashlee Forster. There are no tutorials (TBLs) this week. A formative IRAT/quiz will be available for practise. Week 2: Health (definitions, measures, context), Determinants of Health and Health of Populations (TBL 1) Week 3: Cultural Safety in Practice Module 1 (no TBL) Week 4: Cultural Safety in Practice Module 2, identity, reflection, patient-centred care (TBL 2) |
Multiple weeks From Week 5 To Week 9 |
Tutorial |
Theme 2: Healthcare Systems Complete the weekly online self-directed learning modules prior to class. (TBL = weekly team-based learning tutorial) Week 5: Universal health care (TBL 3) Week 6: Global healthcare systems (TBL 4) Week 7: Australia's healthcare system (TBL 5) Week 8: AI in healthcare (TBL 6) Week 9: Health workforce and health promotion (TBL 7) Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04 |
Multiple weeks From Week 10 To Week 13 |
Tutorial |
Theme 3: Professions and Collaborative Care Complete the weekly online self-directed learning modules prior to class. (TBL = weekly team-based learning tutorial) Week 10: Professional identity and regulation of health professions (no TBL) Week 11: Roles, registration and score of practice of health professions (TBL 8) Week 12: Pillars of interprofessional collaborative practice (TBL 9) Week 13: Revision, reflection, exam preparation and finalisation of group project (TBL 10) Learning outcomes: L03, L05 |
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
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.