Year 12 Health and Human Development Units 3 and 4
Overview
Unit 3: Australia’s health in a globalised world
In this unit, you will look at health and wellbeing, disease and illness as being multidimensional, dynamic and subject to different interpretations and contexts.
You will explore health and wellbeing as a global concept, and consider the benefits of optimal health and wellbeing and its importance as an individual and a collective resource. You will also analyse and evaluate variations in the health status of Australians.
Finally, you will finish the unit by focusing on health promotion and improvements in population health over time. Through researching health improvements and evaluating successful programs, you will explore various public health approaches and the interdependence of different models. While the emphasis is on the Australian health system, the progression of change in public health approaches should be seen within a global context.
Unit 4: Health and human development in a global context
In this unit, you will examine health and human development in a global context. You will use data to investigate health status and human development in different countries, and explore factors that contribute to health inequalities between and within countries, including the physical, social and economic conditions in which people live.
You will build your understanding of health in a global context through examining changes in health status over time, and studying the key concept of sustainability. You will also consider the health implications of increased globalisation and worldwide trends relating to climate change, digital technologies, world trade, tourism, conflict and the mass movement of people.
Finally, you will finish the unit by considering global actions to improve health and human development, focusing on the United Nations’ (UN’s) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the priorities of the World Health Organization (WHO). You will also investigate the role of non-government organisations and Australia’s overseas aid program, and evaluate the effectiveness of health initiatives and programs in a global context.
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
- 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?
In these units you will:
- attend or watch the online lessons
- complete interactive activities
- interpret, analyse and compare health data
- complete quizzes
- watch videos
- complete case studies
- complete research tasks
- write short and extended answer responses
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. VCE Unit 1 and 2 Health and Human Development) is an advantage
What skills do you develop?
Some key skills that you will develop throughout Unit 3 and 4 VCE Health and Human Development include:
- 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 human development globally, and the factors that contribute to the differences in health status and human development
- Analyse relationships between the Sustainable Development Goals and their role in the promotion of health and human development
Requirements
- You must have access to the internet in order to access this course
- all required work will be completed and submitted online
- you need an active email address to communicate with your teacher
Things to think about
Successful students have a strong foundation in data analysis and are able to apply their knowledge to various case studies, as well as short and extended response questions.
Students should be prepared to dedicate 5–6 hours per week to study and maintain regular contact with their teacher. Active participation in the online learning environment is essential.
This includes reading weekly announcements in the class news forum, completing online activities and submission tasks, and attending weekly online lessons.
Things you can do now
Look out for media items on current health issues or health related information both nationally and globally (newspaper articles, TV and YouTube documentaries). For example, look out for topics on smoking and vaping, Closing the Gap, health promotion, poverty in low-and middle-income countries, and the Sustainable Development Goals.
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.
Head to the VCAA Website and download the 2025-2029 Study Design:
Read the Study Design especially the key knowledge and key skills for each outcome to become familiar with the requirements and assessments of Unit 3 and 4 VCE Health and Human Development.
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.