Year 12 Health and Human Development Units 3 and 4
Overview
Health and Human Development looks at health, wellbeing and human development as dynamic concepts influenced by the interplay of various factors. Australian and global contexts are considered.
Health and Human Development Units 3 and 4 has four main areas:
- Understanding Health and Wellbeing (Unit 3)
- Promoting Health and Wellbeing (Unit 3)
- Health and Wellbeing in a Global Context (Unit 4)
- Health and the Sustainable Development Goals (Unit 4).
Understanding Health and Wellbeing
In Understanding Health and Wellbeing, you will explore health and wellbeing and illness as complex, dynamic and subjective concepts. Although the major focus is on Australians’ health, we are not isolated from the rest of the world. You will inquire into the World Health Organisation (WHO) prerequisites for health and wellbeing. Then you will reflect on the increasing influence of global conditions on Australians. Finally you will look at indicators used to measure and evaluate health status and study factors that contribute to variations between population groups in Australia.
Promoting Health and Wellbeing
In Promoting Health and Wellbeing you will look at different approaches to public health over time. The emphasis is on changes and strategies that have succeeded in improving health and wellbeing. You will examine the progression of public health in Australia since 1900. Part of this will note global changes and influences such as the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion and the change of focus from the health and wellbeing of individuals to that of populations. You will investigate the Australian health system and its role in promoting health and wellbeing. Finally, you will study a successful health promotion campaign and look into priorities for health improvements in Australia.
Health and Wellbeing in a Global Context
Health and Wellbeing in a Global Context looks at similarities and differences in major burdens of disease in low, middle and high income countries, including Australia. You will investigate a range of factors that contribute to health inequalities. You will also study the concepts of sustainability, human development and the Human Development Index. Finally, you will consider the global reach of marketing, looking into the effects of global trends on health and wellbeing.
Health and Sustainable Development Goals
Health and the Sustainable Development Goals looks at action for promoting health globally. It looks at the rationale, objectives and interdependencies of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. It focuses on their promotion of health and wellbeing and human development. You will investigate the priorities and work of WHO and evaluate Australia’s aid program and the role of non-government organisations. Then you will select one aid program for detailed research and analysis. Finally, you will reflect on meaningful and achievable individual actions that could contribute to the work of national and international organisations that promote health and wellbeing.
Who is it for?
This subject is for you if you are interested in learning about:
- health and wellbeing and illness for both Australians and globally
- fundamental conditions required for health improvement
- benefits of optimal health and wellbeing
- health promotion and improvements in population health
- health and human development in a global context
- exploring factors that contribute to health inequalities
- health implications of increased globalisation and worldwide trends
- health promotion initiatives that have been developed to address Australian and global health issues
- global action to improve health and wellbeing and human development with a focus on the UN’s SDGs and the work of the WHO
- the role of non-government organisations and Australia’s overseas aid program
- social action that promotes health and wellbeing.
What do you do?
Activities include:
- reading current Australian and global health information, issues and various case studies
- writing short and extended answer responses (but not essays)
- describing key health concepts
- interpreting, comparing and analysing health data from various sources, e.g. in tables or different types of graphs and case studies
- researching and evaluating Australian and global health issues and initiatives developed to address these
- using and evaluating data to analyse similarities and differences and draw conclusions.
What skills do you need?
There are no prerequisites, however:
- an interest in learning about health issues in Australia and globally is important
- some health vocabulary and theoretical knowledge (e.g. Year 11 Health and Human Development) is an advantage.
What skills do you develop?
This study enables you to:
- Explain the complex dynamic and global nature of health and wellbeing,
- Interpret and apply Australia’s health status data
- Analyse variations in health status
- Explain changes to public health approaches
- Analyse improvements in population health over time
- Evaluate health promotion strategies.
- Analyse similarities and differences in health status and burden of disease globally and the factors that contribute to differences in health and wellbeing.
- Analyse relationships between the Sustainable Development Goals and their role in the promotion of health and human development.
Requirements
Internet is needed. You must have access to the internet in order to access this course. All weekly work will be completed and submitted online.
You need an email address that you will check regularly.
If students would like to purchase a textbook, the recommended textbook is below:
VCE Health & Human Development 3 & 4
Key Concepts in VCE Health & Human Development 3 & 4: learnON & Print, (7th ed.) Andrew Beaumont, Meredith Fettling. Jacaranda, John Wiley, 2021
OR
Digital Key Concepts in VCE Health & Human Development 3 & 4: learnON. Access code (7th ed.) – Digital access only
Things to think about
For latest Australian and global health information, reading the newspapers and watching various health-related documentaries on TV and YouTube (e.g. UN videos) will be helpful.
Things you can do now
Look out for media items (newspaper articles, TV and YouTube documentaries) about rural, Indigenous, obesity, poverty in low and middle income countries, Sustainable Development Goals, etc. Start a scrapbook or digital collection of these articles.
Here are some sources to get you started:
- a video on the progress of the Closing the Gap initiative for Indigenous Australians
- a website outlining the current progress on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals
- a video on Health Promotion for Wellbeing, Equity and Sustainable Development following COVID-19.
Take a look at the VCAA Health and Human Development website. Familiarise yourself with the 2023 Study Design and assessment criteria for Health and Human Development Units 3 and 4. This site also offers useful support material and samples of past exams.
Things to have a look at
If the world was only 100 People
Imagine trying to picture the entire world’s population, but this time imagine it as a tiny village with just 100 people.
A healthy diet, a healthy world
This video is here to help you understand this double burden of malnutrition and what’s causing it.
Red Alert – How to meet the Sustainable Development Goals together | SDG Moment | United Nations
This video shows how we can team up to make the world better by achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, following the COVID-19 pandemic and its repercussions.