090005 Contemporary Women's Health Issues
Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a
particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Postgraduate
Result type: Grade and marksThere are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
Females experience different health outcomes than males and there are variances in health outcomes across female population sub-groups. The general health status of women can have lasting impacts for themselves as well as the health and well-being of families and the greater community. Contemporary Women’s Health Issues examines existing issues in women’s health and well-being in Australia. Factors influencing women’s health are investigated, including the social determinants, biomedical risk factors and behavioural risk factors of health, addressing the gender bias that pervades health care. Students explore theoretical frameworks for these determinants of health, using knowledge acquired in their own health discipline.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| A. | Evaluate and compare women’s health statuses across regions and populations and correlate the status of women’s health with gender and the social determinants of health |
|---|---|
| B. | Explain the impact of ongoing colonisation and its pervasive discourse on Indigenous women’s health and wellbeing |
| C. | Appraise existing theoretical frameworks for women’s health and wellbeing and relate them to the student's health discipline |
| D. | Synthesise complex information and concepts to develop appropriate strategies and design solutions to health issues facing women in Australia |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the following graduate attributes:
- Demonstrate reflective critical thinking to enable appraisal of current practice, policy and research relating to women’s and children’s health care and health outcomes. (1.1)
- Are effective, collaborative and responsive health professionals and potential leaders in a particular field of women’s and children’s health. (2.1)
- Plan for ongoing professional development and skills in order to support practices within the scope of their role which focus on women’s and children’s health. (5.1)
- UTS graduates will have knowledge of Indigenous Australian contexts to inform their capability to work effectively for and with Indigenous Australians within their profession (6.0)
Teaching and learning strategies
Orientation activities
In preparation for the session students have access to activities during orientation week. These activities are designed to introduce them to the subject and their peers, and will assist students to prepare for the subject's assessment tasks.
Independent learning activities
This subject is taught using a variety of teaching and learning strategies. An overarching theme of the approaches to teaching and learning is to support students to actively learn with the support of a facilitator who can assist and coach them. Understanding and critical thinking skills will be encouraged via a range of activities, including but not limited to:
- On-line resources to prepare students for active engagement with the subject content
- Thought provoking readings, videos and other activities to stimulate thinking, promote understanding and support analysis and evaluation
- Problem solving, discovery-based and critical thinking activities via a range of guided and self-directed learning opportunities
- Learning that is supported by real world examples, case studies, illustrations and data
- Real-time feedback to student responses to key online activities
- Opportunities for students to reflect on, explain and record their input under advice and guidance.
Readings, videos and activities will be available online relevant to the topic of the week. This will help students progress through the subject and complete assessment items effectively. The online material aims to enhance your understanding of the topic or delve deeper into a more specific area, compare experiences and ideas with others and gain feedback. Information and links to learning activities can be accessed via Canvas.
Zoom meetings
Students are strongly encouraged to attend all scheduled Zoom meetings as they will provide opportunities for group activities, discussion, self-assessment, peer review and formative feedback from the subject coordinator and your teaching team. Additionally, they will also help students prepare for the subject’s assessment tasks. The schedule for this subject’s zoom meetings can be found on Canvas in the Zoom tab.
Feedback
Feedback in this subject takes several forms including self-assessment, peer review, automatic feedback from interactive activities and the teaching team. Formative feedback throughout the subject aims to increase students' performance in summative assessments.
Content (topics)
- Framing women’s health
- Gender and the social determinants of health
- Puberty to Young Adulthood
- Menstruation and Reproductive health challenges
- Sexuality, Gender identity and Sexual Violence
- Body Image and Eating Disorders
- Contemporary mental health challenges
- Women through the lens of childbirth
- The transition to motherhood (or not)
- Cultural Safety and Cultural Humility
- Racism and Intergenerational trauma
- Domestic and family violence
- Menopause: equity, employment and success
- Homelessness in older women
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Reflection: Health frameworks in practice
| Intent: | This assessment task is designed to help students identify appropriate frameworks in their practice discipline, how these frameworks support professional practice, and how studetn's practice could be refined to meet their client's needs. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): C and D This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.1 and 5.1 |
| Weight: | 15% |
| Length: | 250 words (+/- 10%), plus respond to at least 1 other post. |
Assessment task 2: Creative piece and artist statement
| Intent: | Employing a creative medium to explore one’s own understanding can profoundly assist with understanding and integrating new knowledge, particularly when the journey to this knowledge is difficult or challenging. This assessment allows students to explore their understanding of the experience of Aboriginal women and their families through creative means, whether that’s visual or written. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A and B This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 6.0 |
| Weight: | 45% |
Assessment task 3: Discussion paper
| Intent: | The purpose of this assignment is to allow students to bring together all the concepts they have learned throughout the subject and apply them to the student's specific discipline or workplace. Given what has been learned, how will the student use this knowledge to support their professional practice, and how will practice be enhanced to meet the needs of the clientele? |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A and D This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.1 and 2.1 |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Length: | 2000 words |
Other resources
UTS Student Centre
Building 10
Monday to Friday: 9am - 5pm
Tel: 1300 ASK UTS (1300 275 887)
Details for student centres: www.uts.edu.au/current-students/contacts/general-contacts
For other resources/ information refer to the Faculty of Health website (www.uts.edu.au/about/faculty-health) and Canvas at: https://canvas.uts.edu.au/.
UTS Library
The Library has a wide range of resources, facilities and services to support you including textbooks, subject readings, health literature databases, workshops and bookable study rooms. There is also a team of librarians to help you with your questions available via online chat, phone and in person. W: https://www.lib.uts.edu.au/, Facebook: utslibrary, Twitter: @utslibrary Tel: (02) 9514 3666.
Improve your academic and English language skills
Marks for all assessment tasks such as assignments and examinations are given not only for what you write but also for how you write. If you would like the opportunity to improve your academic and English language skills, make an appointment with the HELPS (Higher Education Language & Presentation Support) Service in Student Services.
HELPS (Higher Education Language & Presentation Support)
HELPS provides assistance with English language proficiency and academic language. Students who need to develop their written and/or spoken English should make use of the free services offered by HELPS, including academic language workshops, vacation intensive courses, drop-in consultations, individual appointments and Conversations@UTS (www.ssu.uts.edu.au/helps). HELPS staff are also available for drop-in consultations at the UTS Library. Phone (02) 9514 9733.
Please see www.uts.edu.au for additional information on other resources provided to students by UTS.
The Accessibility and Financial Assistance Service
?The Accessibility Service can support students with disabilities, medical or mental health conditions, including temporary injuries (e.g., broken limbs). The Accessibility Service works with Academic Liaison Officers in each Faculty to provide ‘reasonable adjustments’ such as exam provisions, assistive technology, requests and strategies for managing your studies alongside your health condition. If you’re unsure whether you need assistance, we recommend getting in touch early and we can provide advice on how our service can assist you. Make an appointment with an Accessibility Consultant (AC) on +61 2 9514 1177 or Accessibility@uts.edu.au.
The Financial Assistance Service can assist you with financial aspects of life at university, including Centrelink information, tax returns and budgeting, interest-free student loans and grants to assist with course-related costs. Check eligibility and apply online and make an appointment on +61 2 9514 1177 or Financial.assistance@uts.edu.au.