Overview
At a global level, rising demands for health and social supports, constrained resources, and widening health inequalities have made community needs assessments an essential tool in public health practice. This unit introduces you to the principles and practices of community needs assessment, equipping you with the skills to identify populations in greatest need and to map the physical, economic, social, and cultural assets within communities. You will explore various types of needs assessments and their application in local contexts, with a particular focus on health promotion. Through critical examination of assessment methods and evaluation strategies, you will learn how to effectively plan, implement, and assess community-based initiatives that aim to maximise health equity and resource allocation.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
48-credit unit pre-requisite
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2026
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from SUTE Unit Comments Report
Found the module and assessment contents to be too cluttered and made it confusing and worried most of the times. Some of the reading links didn't work. The assessment requirements were made a lot clearer by more concise information via separate announcements on Moodle from the coordinator who took over from week three.
The evaluation feedback indicates a need to refine the Moodle content and assessment information to enhance clarity and support student learning.
Feedback from SUTE Unit Comments Report
The unit needs to be completely restructured. The Moodle is hard to navigate due to the organisation of resources, I could never remember where anything was, it is not clear .
This suggests that a complete refresh of the unit is needed to provide clear, effective and easy-to-navigate resources to facilitate student engagement and learning.
Feedback from SUTE Unit Comments Report
Prefer the week by week content sections instead of the mixed weeks. The assessments were not clear and often confusing. Too much mixing of group work, solo work within the group work and working as a group but submitting separately.
Consideration of weekly content breakdown.
Feedback from SUTE Unit Comments Report
I think the group assessment needs some work. The roles don't really make sense for what the assignment is. It doesn't make sense to our group to have a writer role when everyone is writing their own assessment.
Assessments will be reviewed for the next offering.
- Explain the role and significance of community needs assessments in addressing health inequalities and informing public health planning and policy.
- Identify and critically evaluate different types of community needs assessments, including their application in diverse community contexts.
- Apply appropriate methods to assess community assets and needs, considering physical, economic, social, structural and cultural factors.
- Design a community needs assessment plan, incorporating ethical considerations, stakeholder engagement, and culturally responsive approaches.
- Interpret and communicate findings from community needs assessments, demonstrating how they can inform health promotion strategies and resource allocation.
Not applicable.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Presentation - 30% | |||||
| 2 - Report - 70% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||||
| 5 - Team Work | |||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||||
| 10 - First Nations Knowledges | |||||
| 11 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- PC, Laptop, tablet or hand-held device with a camera and audio
- Access to computer/laptop
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
s.kaphle@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Community Needs Assessment
Introduction and Process
Chapter
Learning materials
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture and Tutorial
Module/Topic
Community Needs Assessment
Identifying Needs and Developing Questions
Chapter
Learning materials
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture and Tutorial
Module/Topic
Community Needs Assessment
Identifying Methods and Developing Plan
Chapter
Learning materials
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture and Tutorial
Module/Topic
Community Needs Assessment Plan
Chapter
Learning materials
Events and Submissions/Topic
Presentations
Assessment 1
Community Needs Assessment Presentation Due: Week 4 Thursday (2 Apr 2026) 5:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Data Collection
Chapter
Learning materials
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture and Tutorial
Module/Topic
Data Analysis
Chapter
Learning materials
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture and tutorial
Module/Topic
Vacation
Chapter
Vacation
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation
Module/Topic
Community Needs Assessment Results
Chapter
Learning materials
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture and Tutorial
Module/Topic
Discussion of Results
Chapter
Learning materials
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture and Tutorial
Module/Topic
Implications for Policy and Practice
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Writing Assessment Report
Chapter
Learning materials
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture and Tutorial
Module/Topic
Final Report
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lecture and Tutorial
Module/Topic
Reflections of Community Needs Assessment Process
Chapter
Discussion in Class
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 2
Community Needs Assessment Report Due: Week 12 Monday (1 June 2026) 5:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Presentation
Purpose
This assessment develops foundational capabilities in planning a community needs assessment. It focuses on understanding why needs assessments matter, recognising types and contexts, and designing a plan that is ethical, culturally responsive, and feasible.
Task Overview
Prepare a need assessment plan that outlines how you would conduct a community needs assessment for a defined community.
Word Count: 1000 words
Referencing: APA 7 Referencing Style
GenAI: Level 2: AI PLANNING
Al may be used for pre-task activities such as brainstorming, outlining and initial research. This level focuses on the effective use of Al for planning, synthesis, and ideation, but assessments should emphasise the ability to develop and refine these ideas independently.
Your plan must be coherent, concise, and actionable and should include:
1. Community and Context
2. Needs and Background Data
3. Assessment Type and Rationale
4. Research Questions
5. Methods of Data Collection
6. Data Analysis Approach
7. Ethics, Stakeholders and Cultural Responsiveness
8. Application to Public Health Planning
Presentation and Audio Recording
1. Create a PowerPoint presentation
- Transfer the key points of your written plan into a PowerPoint slides.
- You may use visuals, diagrams or images to support your explanation.
- You can have up to three (3) slides only.
2. Record your presentation in PowerPoint
- Use the built‑in audio recording function in PowerPoint to record yourself presenting your slides.
- Your presentation must be no longer than five (5) minutes.
3. Upload your files
- Your written plan as a Microsoft Word document.
- Your PowerPoint slides with your audio recording included.
Week 4 Thursday (2 Apr 2026) 5:00 pm AEST
Week 6 Wednesday (15 Apr 2026)
Criterion 1: Purpose and Significance
Explains the role and significance of community needs assessments in addressing health inequalities and informing planning/policy.
Criterion 2: Assessment Type and Context Suitability
Identifies and critically evaluates community needs assessment types and justifies their application in diverse contexts.
Criterion 3: Methods for Assessing Community Needs
Applies appropriate methods considering physical, economic, social, structural, and cultural factors.
Criterion 4: Ethics, Stakeholders and Cultural Responsiveness
Design shows ethical considerations, stakeholder engagement, and culturally responsive approaches.
Criterion 5: Analysis & Communication for Planning
Outlines how findings will be analysed, interpreted, and communicated to inform health promotion policy and practice.
- Explain the role and significance of community needs assessments in addressing health inequalities and informing public health planning and policy.
- Identify and critically evaluate different types of community needs assessments, including their application in diverse community contexts.
- Apply appropriate methods to assess community assets and needs, considering physical, economic, social, structural and cultural factors.
2 Report
Purpose
This assessment builds on your Community Needs Assessment Plan. You will now implement the plan, collect and analyse data (or use provided simulated data), and write a report that interprets findings and demonstrates how they inform public health policy, planning and practice. This task develops skills in critical analysis, interpretation, and communication of evidence for decision-making.
Word Count: 3000 words
Referencing: APA 7 Referencing Style
GenAI: Level 2: AI PLANNING
Al may be used for pre-task activities such as brainstorming, outlining and initial research. This level focuses on the effective use of Al for planning, synthesis, and ideation, but assessments should emphasise the ability to develop and refine these ideas independently.
Task Description
Prepare a community needs assessment report that includes:
1. Introduction: Briefly explain the purpose of the assessment, the community you focused on, and why the issue matters.
2. Methods: Describe how you gathered your information (e.g., interviews, surveys, secondary data sources) and why these methods were appropriate.
3. Findings: Present the key results and/or themes that emerged from your data in a clear and organised way.
4. Discussion: Explain what the findings mean, why they are important, and how they relate to the broader context and existing evidence.
5. Recommendations: Provide practical, culturally appropriate and evidence informed strategies to address the identified community needs.
6. Ethical Reflection: Reflect on ethical considerations, including how you protected participants and respected the community throughout the process.
6. Conclusion: Summarise the overall insights gained from the assessment and what they imply for future action.
7. References: List all sources you cited in the report following APA 7 referencing style.
8. Appendices (if needed): Include supporting materials such as survey questions, interview guides, or additional data tables.
Week 12 Monday (1 June 2026) 5:00 pm AEST
Vacation/Exam Week Friday (19 June 2026)
Assessment Criteria
Criterion 1: Introduction
Clearly articulates the community context and the significance of the needs assessment in addressing health inequalities and informing public health planning.
Criterion 2: Methods
Provides a coherent summary of data collection and analysis processes, including limitations and ethical considerations.
Criterion 3: Findings
Presents results accurately and clearly, using appropriate formats (tables, charts, narrative summaries) to highlight community needs and assets.
Criterion 4: Interpretation, Discussion and Recommendations
Critically interprets findings, identifies priority issues, discusses the relevance and proposes culturally responsive, practical recommendations to inform health promotion policy and practice.
Criterion 5: Ethical Reflection and Communication
Reflects on ethical and cultural responsiveness throughout the process.
Criterial 6: Writing and Referencing
Demonstrates clear, logical report writing with correct use of evidence adhering with APA referencing style.
- Explain the role and significance of community needs assessments in addressing health inequalities and informing public health planning and policy.
- Identify and critically evaluate different types of community needs assessments, including their application in diverse community contexts.
- Apply appropriate methods to assess community assets and needs, considering physical, economic, social, structural and cultural factors.
- Design a community needs assessment plan, incorporating ethical considerations, stakeholder engagement, and culturally responsive approaches.
- Interpret and communicate findings from community needs assessments, demonstrating how they can inform health promotion strategies and resource allocation.
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
