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Unit outline_

NURS2008: Indigenous People, Health and Care

Semester 2 Early, 2020 [Normal day] - Mallett Street, Sydney

This unit of study explores Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's health, history and culture through the lens of cultural competence. It examines the impact of historical and contemporary social and political forces, including the continued long term effects that colonisation has had on the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Students will engage with historical and contemporary policy developments and the associated health programs that have set out to address issues of equity as these relate to health and social outcomes. The unit will focus on the specific impacts of the social determinants of health from an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's perspective and the relationship between access to health services and health outcomes. The unit also briefly focuses on research evidence of patterns of health and illness in indigenous populations in other comparable western nations, for example New Zealand and Canada. Students will explore the concept of cultural competence and how this relates to caring appropriately for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, particularly in relation to the provision of health services. Students will be encouraged to examine their own cultural beliefs and how these may influence their nursing practice. From within a cultural competency framework, students will learn about the critical role that they will fulfill, as health professionals, in contributing to the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Their responsibility includes ensuring that those in their care enjoy the same level of freedoms and opportunities as other Australians, particularly the right that Indigenous peoples are equal to all other peoples, while recognising the right of all peoples to be different, to consider themselves different and to be respected as such (UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples).

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Nursing and Midwifery
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
36 Year 1 credit points including NURS1003
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
HSBH3001
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Heather McKenzie, h.mckenzie@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Record+) Type B final exam Assessment 4: Written examination
Short answer and long answer
40% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Assignment Assessment 1: Online Quiz
Multiple choice quiz with 20 questions
10% Week 06
Due date: 07 Sep 2020 at 09:00

Closing date: 09 Sep 2020
20 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO5 LO6
Assignment Assessment 2: Critical essay
Essay
30% Week 09
Due date: 11 Oct 2020 at 23:59
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO2
Presentation group assignment Assessment 3: Group presentation
Oral presentation
20% Week 10 15 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6
group assignment = group assignment ?
Type B final exam = Type B final exam ?

Assessment summary

  • Critical essay: Key findings from the Closing the Gap Report 2020 indicated that only two out of the original seven targets were on track to be met (available from https://ctgreport.niaa.gov.au/content/closing-gap-2020). Choose one (1) of the targets and provide a critical discussion of the reasons behind the level of progress for your chosen priority area.
  • Group presentation – Further information will be provided on canvas
  • Examination: All lecture/tutorial material (including audio-visual and online activities) and all essential readings for this unit are examinable.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Welcome to Country & Why Indigenous Health Matters Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO4
Week 02 Lecture 1: Worldview: Colonisation, Invasion and Beyond. Lecture 2: Culture: What does it mean for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples? Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO4 LO6
Week 03 Social Determinants of Health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples? Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5 LO6
Week 04 Cultural Safety and Health Care in Australia Tutorial (2 hr) LO4 LO6 LO7
Week 05 Closing the Gap in Health and Wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Lecture (2 hr) LO3 LO5
Week 06 1. Aboriginal Health Professionals' Panel 2. Closing the Gap Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO4 LO6
Week 07 An Aboriginal Registered Nursing Perspective Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 08 Challenges and Opportunities in Caring for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 09 Self-directed Learning Activity on Canvas Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 10 1. Culturally Safe Health Care in Rural and Remote Settings. 2. Group Presentations Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 11 Art and Health with Indigenous Artist, Ms. Tanya Martin and Artists from Boomali Gallery Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO4 LO6
Week 12 1. Semester revision; 2. Exam preparation Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance and participation: The Sydney Nursing School Resolutions specifically outline attendance requirements. Resolution
    8.2 states that if students are absent without leave for more than 10% of classes in a particular unit of study in any one semester, the Dean may call upon them to show cause why they should not be deemed to have failed that unit of study.
  • Referencing: The Sydney Nursing School has adopted the American Psychological Association (APA) Referencing style, 6th Edition, 2010 as its official referencing style.  This is an author-date style of referencing.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. demonstrate an understanding of the impact of the historical and policy factors that have influenced the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
  • LO2. describe the current status of the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in comparison with non-Indigenous Australians and the challenges for health professionals when confronted with these health inequalities
  • LO3. critically evaluate media commentary on an identified Indigenous health issue
  • LO4. identify what is considered as ethical and culturally competent when communicating with Indigenous peoples and/or communities
  • LO5. understand the importance of primary health care in Aboriginal community control health services for addressing Indigenous people’s health
  • LO6. analyse Indigenous health while recognising and avoiding cultural bias when considering the social and cultural contexts of health issues
  • LO7. demonstrate an understanding of the complexities in collecting and recording accurate population health data of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

The lecture & assessment program has be modified to accommodate relevant information regarding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Health Care

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.