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

ASSESSMENT 2 BRIEF

Subject Code and Title 

PUBH6001 Health Policy and Advocacy

Assessment 

Report: Australian Health Policy Review

Individual/Group 

Individual

Length 

2,000 words (+/–10%)

Learning Outcomes 

The Subject Learning Outcomes demonstrated by the successful  completion of the task below include: 

a) Critically analyze different theories and approaches to policy  agenda setting to understand health policy formulation and  advocacy for a specific population health issue; 

b) Critically analyze issues in contemporary Australian health  care policy, including the evaluation of global influences on  Australian health policy; 

c) Critically analyze and reflect on political and ethical issues in  the formulation of evidence-based policy and its translation  into real-world policy application; 

d) Evaluate the role of government and other stakeholders in  the processes for ensuring the accountability for health  policy and advocating for change.

Submission 

Due by 11.55 pm AEST/AEDT on the Sunday at the end of Module 9

Weighting 

40%

Total Marks 

100 marks

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 introduction. 

• 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): 

o Ministerial forward; 

o Vision statement; 

o Goals; 

o Objectives; 

o Strategies; and 

o Other concepts of interest. 

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: 

o What are the policy silences? 

o What is missing? 

o Is the ministerial forward and/or vision statement consistent with the strategies  outlined in the policy? 

• Conclusions. 

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 draft

 

Assessment Rubric

Assessment  

Attributes

Fail 

(Yet to achieve  

minimum standard)  0–49%

Pass  

(Functional)  

50–64%

Credit  

(Proficient) 65– 

74%

Distinction  

(Advanced)  

75–84%

High Distinction  

(Exceptional) 85– 

100%

Knowledge and  

understanding of  

health policy. 

Defines policy as per the  core course readings. 

Selects an appropriate  strategic level of  

Australian health policy. 

Lists, expands and  

comments on essential  elements of the selected  health policy. 

Percentage for this  

criterion = 35%

Inappropriate choice of a strategic level of an  

Australian health policy. 

Understanding of the  

definition and function of  health policy not  

demonstrated. 

The review of the chosen  health policy is not  

provided and/or not  

supported by evidence.

A strategic level of an  

Australian health policy has  been chosen; however, more  relevant options could have  been considered. 

Limited understanding of the  definition and function of  health policy demonstrated.  The review of the chosen  health policy is inadequate  and/or only supported by  limited evidence.

Appropriate choice of a  strategic level of an  

Australian health policy. 

Understanding of the  

definition and function of  health policy  

demonstrated. 

A review of the chosen  health policy that is well  supported by evidence.

Relevant choice of a  

strategic level of an  

Australian health policy. 

Impressive understanding  of the definition and  

function of health policy  demonstrated. 

A comprehensive review of  the chosen health policy  that is well supported by  quality evidence.

Highly relevant choice of a  strategic level of an  

Australian health policy. 

Sophisticated  

understanding of the  

definition and function of  health policy  

demonstrated. 

An exceptional review of  the chosen health policy  that is well supported by  high-quality evidence.

Critically analyzes the  selected health policy  in relation to Kingdon’s  multiple stream theory including problems,

Application of Kingdon’s  multiple streams theory in  the policy review is very  limited and demonstrates a lack of understanding of

Application of Kingdon’s  multiple streams theory in  the policy review is very  limited and demonstrates an inadequate understanding of

Application of Kingdon’s  multiple streams theory in  the policy review is good,  but more detail isrequired. The analysis demonstrates

Application of Kingdon’s  multiple streams theory in  the policy review is  

effective and demonstrates an impressive

Application of Kingdon’s  multiple streams theory in  the policy review is highly  effective and demonstrates a sophisticated

 

policy and politics  

streams. 

Discussion based on  Kingdon’s multiple  streams theory. 

Percentage for this  

criterion = 30%

the theory and its  

application in real-world  settings.

the theory and its application  in real-world settings.

an understanding of the  theory and its application in  real-world settings.

understanding of the theory  and its application in real world settings.

understanding of the 

theory and its application in  real-world settings.

Recommendations For  future policy  

improvement/development. 

Percentage for this  

criterion = 20%

Presents less than two  recommendations for the  development of future  policy/and or  

improvement. 

Recommendations are not  supported by evidence  and demonstrate a very  limited understanding of  the function and  

application of health  

policy.

Presents less than three  

recommendations for the  development of future  

policy/ and or improvement. 

Recommendations are  

supported by limited  

evidence and demonstrate a  limited understanding of the  function and application of  health policy.

Presents Three evidence based recommendations  for the development of  future policy/ and or  

improvement. 

Recommendations are  

supported by evidence and  demonstrate an  

understanding of the  

function and application of  health policy.

Presents For appropriate  evidence-based  

recommendations for the  development of future  

policy/ and or  

improvement. 

Recommendations are  

supported by evidence and  demonstrate a good  

understanding of the  

function and application of  health policy.

Presents For Insightful and  evidence-based  

recommendations for the  development of future  policy/ and or  

improvement (with  

examples). 

Recommendations are  

supported by quality  

evidence and demonstrate  an in-depth understanding  of the function and  

application of health policy.

Adheres to academic  writing standards,  

including correct  

grammar, clarity and  comprehension. 

Adheres to academic  integrity standards as  per the TUA policy— APA style. 

Percentage for this  

criterion = 15%

A poor academic writing  style. 

There are consistent  

mistakes in the  

application of the APA  style. 

There may be questions  about the academic  

integrity of the  

assessment.

A basic academic writing style  with a basic argument  

presented throughout. 

There are mistakes in the  application of the APA style,  but the TUA standards of  academic integrity have been  adhered to and upheld.

A proficient academic  

writing style with a basic  argument presented  

throughout. 

There are minor mistakes in  the application of the APA  style, and the TUA  

standards of academic  

integrity have been 

adhered to and upheld.

A good academic writing  style with a clear argument  presented throughout. 

There are no mistakes in  the application of the APA  style, and the TUA  

standards of academic  

integrity have been  

adhered to and upheld.

An excellent academic  

writing style with a clear  argument presented  

throughout. 

There are no mistakes in  the application of the APA  style, and the TUA  

standards of academic  

integrity have been  

adhered to and upheld.

The following Subject Learning Outcomes are addressed in this assessment

SLO a) 

Critically analyze different theories and approaches to policy agenda setting to understand health policy formulation and  advocacy for a specific population health issue.

SLO b) 

Critically analyze issues in contemporary Australian health care policy, including the evaluation of global influences on Australian health policy.

SLO c) 

Critically analyze and reflect on political and ethical issues in the formulation of an evidence-based policy and its translation  into real-world policy application.

SLO d) 

Evaluate the role of government and other stakeholders in the processes for ensuring the accountability for health policy