Health issues are often complex or 'wicked'. This means that the issues cannot be easily addressed or managed using one discipline, training or approach. Instead, many ways of thinking, understanding and knowing are required: from economics to medicine to psychology to environmental science. This new course (written and launched in 2020) provides a beginner's guide to exploring wicked problems in health. To ground the learning journey, this course will employ a semester-long case study of human health impacts from climate change and address it through the perspectives from medicine and epidemiology, law and governance, and health and natural resource economics. Students will be exposed to a range of professionals and practitioners who will all bring their own data, training and perspective to improving health. In doing so, students studying health may identify how and where they may ultimately choose to take their future career and study.
Health issues are often complex or 'wicked'. This means that the issues cannot be easily addressed or managed using one discipline, training or approach. Instead, many ways of thinking, understanding and knowing are required: from economics to medicine to psychology to environmental science.This course (launched in 2020) provides an introductory guide to exploring wicked problems in health. To ground the learning journey, this course will employ a semester-long case study of human health impacts from climate change, and address it through the perspectives from medicine and epidemiology, law and governance, and health and natural resource economics. Students will be exposed to a range of professionals and practitioners who will all bring their own data, training and perspective to improving health. In doing so, students studying health may identify how and where they may ultimately choose to take their future career and study.
Please email to book a consultation about personal matters affecting study of the course. For course-related questions, please post to Ed Discussion board (via the course site on Blackboard).
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
The structure of the course is:
Public health is not a discipline, but instead is informed by a range of disciplines and perspectives- from medicine and epidemiology, to sociology and psychology, to governance and policy, and to economics of health and natural resources. Therefore, the aim of PUBH1110 is to give students the opportunity to understand integrative thinking by breaking down these silos in a public health context. Students will be offered multiple perspectives from different disciplines of relevance to health on the ‘big questions’ that form the global ‘wicked’ problem of human health impacts from climate change; this is a wicked problem as it cannot be solved by one discipline or from perspective. Students will learn to explore and evaluate these problems in a way that reflects integrative thinking, which involves critically reconciling the tension of opposing goals and/or priorities, and critiquing synthesised, creative resolutions which attempt to satisfy multiple objectives.
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Demonstrate an understanding of the many disciplines related to public health and how they are interconnected.
LO2.
Demonstrate an understanding of 'wicked' public health issues that lack simple solutions
LO3.
Apply a range of perspectives to analyse the policies, structures and systems influencing health outcomes
LO4.
Apply critical thinking and an integrative approach to research that investigates public health issues
LO5.
Demonstrate skills in written and in oral communication.
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tutorial/ Problem Set |
Tasks 1a-f: In-class writing task (5% each x 6)
|
30% |
Week 2, Fri 3:00 pm Week 4, Fri 3:00 pm Week 6, Fri 3:00 pm Week 8, Fri 3:00 pm Week 10, Fri 3:00 pm Week 12, Fri 3:00 pm
This task is written and submitted in class during the workshops in weeks 2,4,6,8,10 and 12. |
| Essay/ Critique |
Task 2: Advocacy Letter
|
35% |
29/08/2025 2:00 pm |
| Presentation |
Task 3: Oral presentations with slides
|
35% |
31/10/2025 5:00 pm
Presentations are delivered live online in small group zoom sessions during Week 13 workshop times. |
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.
Week 2, Fri 3:00 pm
Week 4, Fri 3:00 pm
Week 6, Fri 3:00 pm
Week 8, Fri 3:00 pm
Week 10, Fri 3:00 pm
Week 12, Fri 3:00 pm
This task is written and submitted in class during the workshops in weeks 2,4,6,8,10 and 12.
These six in-tutorial writing tasks are worth 5% each and based on the set reading or other preparatory material for the tutorial.
Students must bring an internet-connected device with sufficient power or a charger to write and submit the task.
It is an open book assessment. No communication with other students will be permitted.
See Blackboard/Assessment 1 for the task sheet.
The week 1 workshop will provide an explanation of the task.
This is a non-mandatory (non-hurdle) assessment.
Submit to Turnitin through Blackboard.
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 refer to 10. Policies and guidelines
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.
Please apply online for an extension if you have a valid reason for a later submission date.
Please refer to 10. Policies and Guidelines
29/08/2025 2:00 pm
See details on Blackboard under 'Assessments/ Assessment 2'.
This is a mandatory (hurdle) assessment which students must pass in order pass the course.
Submit via Turnitin on Blackboard
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 refer to 10. Policies and guidelines
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.
Please refer to 10. Policies & Guidelines
31/10/2025 5:00 pm
Presentations are delivered live online in small group zoom sessions during Week 13 workshop times.
See Blackboard for details under 'Assessments/ Assessment 3'.
This is a mandatory (hurdle) assessment which students must pass in order to pass the course overall.
A pdf of the slides (without 'notes' view) are due 5pm on the day of presentation through Turnitin (in Blackboard).
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 refer to 10. Policies and guidelines
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.
Please see 10. Policies & Guidelines
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: (Typically 0-19%) |
| 2 (Fail) |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: (Typically 20-44%) |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: (Typically 45-49%) |
| 4 (Pass) |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: (Typically 50-64%) |
| 5 (Credit) |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: (Typically 65-74%) |
| 6 (Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: (Typically 75-84%) |
| 7 (High Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: (Typically 85-100%) |
Assessment 2 and 3 are mandatory hurdle assessment items and students must pass these in order to pass the course overall.
Tasks 1a-f (in-class writing tasks) are not mandatory, but students are strongly recommended to complete these to maximise their learning and grades. Please ensure that you bring a laptop to workshops to complete and submit Task 1 online during the workshop.
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
The final grade awarded will be based on the results of the supplementary assessment only, and a passing grade will be awarded if, and only if, the student receives at least 50% of the marks on the supplementary assessment.
Please note that in order to pass this course, each student must complete and submit at least a good effort for the mandatory assessment tasks 2 and 3.
Tasks 1a-f (in-class writing tasks) are not mandatory, but students are strongly recommended to complete these to maximise their learning and grades. Please ensure that you bring a laptop to workshops to complete and submit Task 1 online during the workshop.
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 are available on the UQ Library website.
If we've listed something under further requirement, you'll need to provide your own.
| Item | Description | Further Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Laptop or other digital device with connection to Turnitin | Please ensure that you bring a laptop to workshops to complete and submit Task 1 online during the workshop. | own item needed |
All course readings and other materials are provided on Blackboard under 'Course Resources'.
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 |
Workshop |
Module 1 Part A- A wicked problem Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L04, L05 |
Week 2 |
Workshop |
Module 1 Part B- A wicked problem Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L04, L05 |
Week 4 |
Workshop |
Module 3- Climate change harms our health Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05 |
Week 6 |
Workshop |
Module 3- How we live, love and work Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05 |
Week 8 |
Workshop |
Module 4- Policy, law & governance Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05 |
Week 10 |
Workshop |
Module 5- Are we counting what really matters? Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05 |
Week 12 |
Workshop |
Module 6- Making sense of this mess Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05 |
Week 13 |
Workshop |
Final workshop- oral presentations (held online) Presentation of Task 3 oral presentations (held in small sessions on zoom) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05 |
In-person workshops are compulsory and will be held in Weeks 1,2,4,6,8,12 and 13. Workshop duration is 3 hours.
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:
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
School of Public Health (SPH) Guidelines for late submission of progressive assessment - Preamble
To apply for an extension to the due date for a piece of progressive assessment (eg assignments, oral presentations and computer-based assignments) students should complete the online request at https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/exams-and-assessment/applying-assessment-extension?p=2#2
Information regarding deferral of in-semester exams and end-of-semester exams is available from https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/exams-and-assessment/deferring-exam
If requesting an extension on medical grounds, a medical certificate must be provided. The extension will be approved for the number of days included in the medical certificate that the student was not fit to study or work, eg if the medical certificate is for 3 days, an extension will be approved for 3 days maximum regardless of the student's request.
If requesting an extension using a Student Access Plan (SAP) as evidence, a maximum of 7-day extension will be approved in the first instance. Updated medical documentation, as well as a copy of the SAP, is required if requesting an extension for more than 7 days.
A student may have a maximum of three extension requests approved for a single assessment task.
An extension for an assessment item due within the study period in which the course is offered, must not exceed four weeks in total.
The following SPH guidelines are consistent with the UQ policy. However, the SPH Guidelines contain specific rules and interpretations for SPH courses, and requests for extension and penalties for late submissions will be judged according to the guidelines outlined in this document. You should read both the information in your my.UQ at the following link: https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/exams-and-assessment/applying-assessment-extension and the SPH guidelines (below) before submitting a request for an extension. The SPH Guidelines apply to all courses offered by the School of Public Health unless the Course Profile explicitly states otherwise.
SPH Guidelines for late submission of progressive assessment
Initial extension for an individual item of assessment – the SPH Student & Academic Administration Team and/or the Course Coordinator decides.
This could be for medical or compassionate reasons, or if, in the opinion of the Course Coordinator, there are exceptional circumstances.
Acceptable and unacceptable reasons for an extension are listed at the following link, along with the required evidence to be provided: https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/exams-and-assessment/applying-assessment-extension?p=1#1
A request for an extension to an assessment due date must be submitted through mylUQ as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed, but no later than one calendar day after the assessment task submission due date and time.
If applying for an extension after the due date and time of the assessment item, your request may not be approved. An explanation as to why your request was not submitted prior must be included.
If approved, a new due date will be set. This would generally be no later than 7 days after the original due date, however this can be modified to take account of the circumstances of the request and the time that would have been lost from studies.
If the new due date is past the date for submission of end-of-semester results, the student will receive an INC (incomplete) result.
Second and all subsequent extensions for an individual item of assessment – the SPH Student & Academic Administration Team and/or the Program Convenor together with the Course Coordinator decides.
This would only be approved for exceptional circumstance with supporting documentation.
A student may have a maximum of three extension requests approved for a single assessment task.
An extension for an assessment item due within the study period in which the course is offered, must not exceed four weeks in total.
Please Note: In order to support course progression, extensions that total more than 14 calendar days from the original due date of an assessment item will only be approved in very exceptional circumstances. These requests are assessed and approved or denied on a case-by-case basis.
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 this semester. You might need to consider applying for removal of course.
Penalty for late submission
Submission of assignments, practical reports, workbooks, and other types of written assessments after the due date specified in the Course Profile will receive a penalty.
The penalty will be a deduction of 10% RELATIVE PERCENTAGE per day (24 hour period or part thereof, including weekends and public holidays) or for work graded on a 1-7 scale, a deduction of one grade per day, e.g. If the original mark is 73%, then 10% relative percentage is 10% of this value, ie 7.3%, The final mark for this assessment item after applying the penalty for 1 day late submission would be 73 -7.3 = 65.7% The same outcome is achieved by multiplying the original score by .9; ie 73 x .9 = 65.7%
The penalty for multiple days late is the relative percentage multiplied by the number of days late.
A submission that is not made within 10 days of the due date will receive a mark of 0% for that assessment item.
Where a student has sought more than one extension, the due date for calculating the penalty will be the due date for the most recently approved extension.
Submission of Medical Certificates
Students are responsible for ensuring that any medical documentation they submit is authentic and signed by a registered medical practitioner. Such practitioners can be identified via the AHPRA website. Also note that:
Medical documentation may be subjected to an audit by the University.
SPH Assessment Guidelines
The School of Public Health assessment tasks have been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. While students may use AI technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
A failure to reference AI use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI tools.