UnitLevel 5Postgraduate

MPH5269 Foundations of health policy

Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

MPH5269 Foundations of health policy is a level 5, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, offered in 2026 in Semester 1 at Alfred Hospital. It has no prerequisites.

Credit points
6
Offered in 2026
Semester 1
Alfred Hospital
Assessment
No exam
3 tasks

This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.

Reviews

No reviews yet

No reviews yet. Be the first to review MPH5269.

Requisites

Before MPH5269

No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.

After MPH5269

No unit lists MPH5269 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.

Enrolment rules

Corequisite: Must be enrolled in a Postgraduate degree

Prohibition: MPH2031

Overview

Delivery of health services is underpinned by a framework of health policies and other health system elements. Health professional leaders and managers, and those who aspire to these roles, need to know about these policies and about the process of policy making so that they can understand why a policy is what it is, and how to engage in the policy making process. This unit involves a structured review of policy making processes, key challenges and major issues confronting governments and health systems around the world, and how policy can help address these. Throughout the unit, current Australian policies and senior health policy experts will be drawn on to apply theory to practice. 

Offerings in 2026

Teaching periodCampusMode
First semesterAlfred HospitalFlx blk

Assessment

  • 6 x short answer questions (400 words each. Total- 2,400 words)Quiz / Test
    30%
  • Written assignment - critical analysis report of policy (1,800 words)Written
    35%
  • Written assignment - development of policy position statement (1,800 words)Written
    35%

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Learning outcomes

When you finish this unit, you should be able to:

  1. 1

    Identify the key components of policy development.

  2. 2

    Analyse formal and informal sources of information guiding policy development.

  3. 3

    Describe the application of policy theory and process to relevant examples.

  4. 4

    Critically evaluate and explain the political context of policy development.

  5. 5

    Effectively communicate complex information related to health policy and its implications.

  6. 6

    Identify relevant stakeholders and critically analyse and interpret their policy interests.

Workload and teaching

  • Workshops16 hours
  • Teaching approachActive learning

Off-campus: 12 hours self-directed study per week, plus 2 block days.

For full details of the teaching approach to this unit, please refer to Moodle.

Learning resources

Required resources

See Moodle for details about required resources.

Where it fits

MPH5269 is part of 1 area of study in the 2026 handbook.

Contacts

Unit Coordinators
Associate Professor Charles Livingstone
Chief Examiners
Associate Professor Charles Livingstone

Common questions

What are the prerequisites for MPH5269?

MPH5269 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.

When is MPH5269 offered?

In 2026, MPH5269 runs in Semester 1 at Alfred Hospital.

Does MPH5269 have an exam?

No. MPH5269 has 3 assessment tasks and no exam.

Which majors and minors include MPH5269?

MPH5269 is part of Policy studies.

More details

Credit points
6
Level
5
Study level
Postgraduate
Faculty
Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Organisational unit
Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine
Type
Coursework
EFTSL
0.125
Student contribution
SCA Band 4
Study abroad
Not available