Assessment Task

In this assessment, you will select an Australian strategic level federal or state health policy to critically review. You will write a 2,000-word (+/–10%) report that identifies the main concepts within the policy and relate these concepts back to Kingdon’s (2011) multiple streams theory. Based on the latest evidence you will then make recommendations for future policy development.

Please refer to the Task Instructions (below) for details on how to complete this task.

Context

As a future public health professional. you will be expected to keep up to date with policy developments in your area of interest (e.g., child health). It is important that you understand what a policy is, the main concepts that comprise a strategic level health policy and how policy theory interacts with the formulation of these important documents.

In this assessment, you will learn how to effectively search for a contemporary state or federal health policy relating to a specific issue or population group. You will learn how to review policies from the perspective of the theories and concepts that should inform their formulation. You will also learn how to formulate evidence-based policy recommendations to improve health policy outcomes.

Instructions

To complete this task, you must select a public health topic or population group of interest and conduct a search of Australia federal and/or state websites to find a relevant policy to review. Your policy selection needs to be approved by your learning facilitator.

Once your policy is approved, you will perform a policy review that includes the following components:

• An
• A definition of policy as per the core course readings.
• Details of the search strategy and criteria used to select your area of interest and chosen health policy to review, including any challenges.
• A description of each of the key policy elements (see list below) and an application of Kingdon’s multiple streams theory (including the problem, policy and political streams; policy stakeholders and/or policy entrepreneurs and if applicable, the window of opportunity):
  • Ministerial forward;
  • Vision statement;
  • Goals;
  • Objectives;
  • Strategies; and
  • Other concepts of

Note: You must provide examples using relevant quotations from the policy.

• Evidence-based recommendations that highlight further areas of consideration or improvement for future policy development. For example, consider:
  • What are the policy silences?
  • What is missing?
  • Is the ministerial forward and/or vision statement consistent with the strategies outlined in the policy?

This Australian Health Policy Review is to be presented in a report style, you need to reference both your chosen policy and any additional primary or secondary research used. For more information on report writing, visit: https://library.torrens.edu.au/academicskills_ap/reports

Referencing

It is essential that you use appropriate APA style for citing and referencing research. Please see more information on referencing in the Academic Skills webpage.

Submission Instructions

Submit this task via the Assessment 2 link in the main navigation menu in PUBH6001: Health Policy and Advocacy. The learning facilitator will provide feedback via the Grade Centre in the LMS portal.

Academic Integrity

All students are responsible for ensuring that all work submitted is their own and is appropriately referenced and academically written according to the Academic Writing Guide. Students also need to have read and be aware of Torrens University Australia Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure and subsequent penalties for academic misconduct. These are viewable online.

Students also must keep a copy of all submitted material and any assessment drafts.