92282 Australian Health Care System

Subject level: Undergraduate

Handbook description

This subjects provides an opportunity for students to study the structure of the Australian health care system. The role of both federal and state governments in the provision of health services is examined along with the opportunity to critique financing and legislation of services as a means of control over both Indigenous and non-Indigenous women. The place of government, policy development and legislation in defining practice is also studied along with the mechanisms and results of legislative change.

Subject objectives/outcomes

On successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

1. distinguish between the roles and responsibilities of levels of government in health care (including regulation) regarding the provision of maternity services
2. explain how the current health system is funded and critique issues of cost shifting
3. explore the role of the consumer in health care planning
4. identify relevant professional bodies and describe how these relate to the provision of health care in Australia
5. identify the different quality measures used in health care
6. describe processes of lobbying for health policy change.

Content

• Structure of the Australian health care system
• Levels of health care and roles and responsibilities
• Funding arrangements and their impact on service delivery
• Health policy processes
• Consumer participation in health care
• Processes of lobbying and influence