Overview
In this unit, you will have the opportunity to identify historical and current inequalities in the health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, families, and groups. You will learn about culturally safe care to gain a better understanding of how to partner and collaborate to meet health needs and improve health outcomes. Focus will be given to the inequities that continue in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health status compared to their non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander counterparts. You will develop the knowledge and skills needed to work with people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. In this unit, you will propose ways of collaborating with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, groups or communities to facilitate equal access to equitable and appropriate health services.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
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 3 - 2025
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 Student SUTE feedback, email and phone call.
The provision of evening sessions for distance and working students was reported to be valuable by the limited number of students who attended.
Retain the evening sessions. As this is a first-year unit, providing multiple opportunities to engage is a sound investment of time by the teaching staff and benefitting the students.
Feedback from Student SUTE feedback and conversations.
ALC presentations specifically tailored to the assessment were considered valuable; however, the content component was reported as being better delivered by the academics in the preceding week, and then the ALC was re-visited and well summarised in the subsequent weeks.
Maintain the scheduling of the ALC components in the weeks after the content information has been presented to the students by an academic.
Feedback from Attendance records.
Student engagement remains low.
Across all platforms, student engagement and attendance are lower than anticipated. In the early weeks of the unit, the academics should emphasise the need for engagement and suggest study strategies to keep up to date with the unit. As this is a first-year unit, many students are challenged by the need for self-directed learning and study. Reminding students and imparting helpful study strategies should continue.
Feedback from Student SUTE feedback, emails and conversations.
Using a "practice" or parallel case study was a valuable platform to discuss the application of the theory to an authentic situation.
Students appreciated using a similar scenario to unpack the requirements for applying theory to a real-world situation. The use of this teaching strategy should continue.
Feedback from Audit of student submissions.
Maintaining academic integrity and reducing the number of case reports emerging.
Providing examples to students regarding the extent to which artificial intelligence can be utilised and how to concisely link theory to a case study requires greater focus. These elements of academic skills should be emphasised from the early weeks of the unit.
- Describe the impact that colonisation has had on the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Examine current demographic, health indicators and statistical trends for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Define and reflect on different forms of white privilege and racism in healthcare
- Outline the contemporary role of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professionals, organisations and communities in delivering culturally safe health care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Identify professional practice factors that facilitate quality health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Content in this unit incorporates a number of professional nursing requirements
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and National Boards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Strategy
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia Registered Nurse Standards for Practice
Thinks critically and analyses nursing practice
Maintains the capability for practice
Evaluates outcomes to inform nursing practice
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia Nursing Code of Conduct
Legal compliance
Person-centred practice
Cultural practice and respectful relationships
Professional behaviour
Research in health
Health and wellbeing
International Council of Nursing Code of Ethics for Nursing
Nurses and People
Nurses and Practice
Nurses and the Profession
Nurses and co-workers
National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards
Partnering with consumers
Comprehensive care
Communicating for safety
Patient Safety Competency Framework
Person-centred care
Therapeutic communication
Cultural competence
Teamwork and collaborative practice
Evidence-based practice
Preventing, minimising and responding to adverse events
Aged Care Quality Standards
Consumer dignity and choice
Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers
Personal care and clinical care
Services and supports for daily living
Organisation’s service environment
Feedback and complaints
Human resources
Organisation governance
Intraprofessional and Interprofessional prep
Working with other health professionals including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 40% | |||||
| 2 - Case Study - 60% | |||||
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 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Academic Learning Centre services
- Wordprocessing, spreadsheeting and powerpoint software; access to audio or video recording technology
- CQUniveristy Library Resources
- Microsoft Teams (both microphone and webcam capability)
- Student will need to access Zoom sessions. Equipment such as a microphone and web camera is highly recommended.
- Australian Standards (through CQU library)
- CQUniversity Library Nursing/Midwifery Resources
- Zoom access WEEKLY
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.
p.heidke@cqu.edu.au
m.vanlaarhoven@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Contextualising: Walking in someone else's shoes
Chapter
Review the Moodle site and click on all the links.
Find out what is in Student Support?
Find out how to find the Library?
Click on the link and learn what is in the Academic Learning Centre.
Readings and activities as outlined in module.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Recorded presentations:
Welcome and Unit Introduction.
Weekly lecture/tutorial.
Activity: Access the General Discussion page and introduce yourself to your colleagues by providing your name and maybe why you are studying this unit and course.
Assessments: Review the assessment tasks and make a study plan.
Foundations of Academic Integrity Program: Complete your annual program.
Announcements and Discussion Forums: Check for posts and updates.
Module/Topic
From history to contemporary times: Understanding intergenerational trauma
Chapter
All the required readings are contained in the e-book for the unit. Optional material is located in the e-reading list.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom/Teams – Tutorial as per tile in Moodle
Assessment 1 – Quiz week 3 - take notes from each week.
Announcement and Discussion Forums – Check for posts and updates.
Student email – Check your student email at least twice per week for important communications.
Module/Topic
Exploring the constructs of racism and white privilege
Chapter
All the required readings are contained in the e-book for the unit. Optional material is located in the e-reading list.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Quiz Part A
Quiz opens: 00:01 hours (AEST) Wednesday 26th November 2025 (week 3)
Quiz closes: 23:59 hours (AEST) Friday 28th November 2025 (week 3)
Zoom/Teams – Tutorial and unit content and assessments
Census Date is next week. If you are struggling, please contact your Unit Coordinator for help.
Announcement and Discussion Forums – Check for posts and updates.
Student email – Check your student email at least twice per week for important communications.
Module/Topic
Identifying health gaps: Social and cultural determinants of health
Chapter
All the required readings are contained in the e-book for the unit. Optional material is located in the e-reading list.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom/Teams – Tutorial as per tile in Moodle
Assessment 1 - Continue taking notes from this weeks content for the end-of-term quiz.
Assessment 2 – Read the case study. Start your literature searching and preparing assessment - take notes from each week.
Announcement and Discussion Forums – Check for posts and updates.
Student email – Check your student email at least twice per week for important communications.
Census Date – Tuesday, 2nd December, Week 4
Module/Topic
Protective factors: Cultural safety and community-controlled health services
Chapter
All the required readings are contained in the e-book for the unit. Optional material is located in the e-reading list.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom/Teams – Tutorial as per tile in Moodle
Assessment 1 - Continue taking notes from this weeks content for the end-of-term quiz.
Assessment 2 – Read the literature to identify the credibility of the evidence and continue preparing your assessment.
Announcement and Discussion Forums – Check for posts and updates.
Student email – Check your student email at least twice per week for important communications.
Module/Topic
Primary health care
Chapter
All the required readings are contained in the e-book for the unit. Optional material is located in the e-reading list.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom/Teams – Tutorial as per tile in Moodle
Assessment 1 - Continue taking notes from this weeks content for the end-of-term quiz.
Assessment 2 – Read the literature to identify the credibility of the evidence and continue preparing your assessment.
Announcement and Discussion Forums – Check for posts and updates.
Student email – Check your student email at least twice per week for important communications.
Module/Topic
Vacation week: Take a break to refresh and replenish
Chapter
Please use this mid-term break as an opportunity to rest and recover. Enjoy your break!
Events and Submissions/Topic
No timetabled learning activities. Please use this week to progress your assessments.
Module/Topic
Vacation week: Take a break to refresh and replenish
Chapter
Please use this mid-term break as an opportunity to rest and recover. Enjoy your break!
Events and Submissions/Topic
No timetabled learning activities. Please use this week to progress your assessments.
Module/Topic
Respectful communication
Chapter
All the required readings are contained in the e-book for the unit. Optional material is located in the e-reading list.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom/Teams – Tutorial as per tile in Moodle
Assessment 1 - Continue taking notes from this weeks content for the end-of-term quiz.
Assessment 2 – Continue preparing your assessment.
Announcement and Discussion Forums – Check for posts and updates.
Student email – Check your student email at least twice per week for important communications.
Module/Topic
Effecting change in practice
Chapter
All the required readings are contained in the e-book for the unit. Optional material is located in the e-reading list.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom/Teams – Tutorial as per tile in Moodle
Assessment 1 - Continue taking notes from this weeks content for the end-of-term quiz.
Assessment 2 – Continue preparing your assessment.
Announcement and Discussion Forums – Check for posts and updates.
Student email – Check your student email at least twice per week for important communications.
Module/Topic
Advocacy & health promotion
Chapter
All the required readings are contained in the e-book for the unit. Optional material is located in the e-reading list.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom/Teams – Tutorial as per tile in Moodle
Assessment 1 - Continue taking notes from this weeks content for the end-of-term quiz.
Assessment 2 – Continue preparing your assessment.
Announcement and Discussion Forums – Check for posts and updates.
Student email – Check your student email at least twice per week for important communications.
Module/Topic
Decolonisation
Chapter
All the required readings are contained in the e-book for the unit. Optional material is located in the e-reading list.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Don’t forget - Check your unit enrolments for next term.
Zoom/Teams – Tutorial as per tile in Moodle
Assessment 1 - Continue taking notes from this weeks content for the end-of-term quiz.
Assessment 2 – Continue preparing your assessment.
Announcement and Discussion Forums – Check for posts and updates.
Student email – Check your student email at least twice per week for important communications.
Module/Topic
Social innovation and moving forward
Chapter
All the required readings are contained in the e-book for the unit. Optional material is located in the e-reading list.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Check the originality of your assessment through Turnitin and make relevant changes to your assessment after reviewing your originality report.
Student Unit and Teaching Evaluation survey – We encourage you to provide feedback about your unit and teaching experiences in this unit. Survey opens Week 11 and closes one week before release of grades.
Essay Due: Week 11 Wednesday (4 Feb 2026) 4:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Reflection, debriefing and feedback
Chapter
All the required readings are contained in the e-book for the unit. Optional material is located in the e-reading list.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Quiz Part B
Quiz opens: 00:01 hours (AEST) Monday 9th February 2026 (week 12)
Quiz closes: 23:59 hours (AEST) Wednesday 11th February 2026 (week 12)
Student Unit and Teaching Evaluation survey – Please complete the unit evaluation survey.
Congratulations on completing this unit. Don’t forget to check your unit enrolments for next term.
Module/Topic
Chapter
There is no exam scheduled for this unit.
Events and Submissions/Topic
As this unit is offered online, students are asked to prepare their own individual study plan to undertake self-led and self-directed study throughout the term. A key to your success is a strategic self-directed approach to learning and regular contact with your Unit Coordinator/s. Please check the Announcements and Discussion forums at least twice a week – there will be regular announcements about assessments and unit resources throughout the term and reviewing this information is essential to unit knowledge and your success. CQUniversity communicates with students through CQUniversity email. We recommend that you access your CQUniversity email at least twice a week so that you do not miss vital information about your studies.
1 Online Quiz(zes)
Assessment 1 – Quizzes
Type: Two Online Quizzes (Quiz A and Quiz B)
Task Description:
You will complete two online quizzes to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of historical and current inequalities in the health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, families, and groups. The quizzes will test your knowledge and understanding of culturally safe care and creating equitable health services.
Instructions
Please refer to the assessment task instructions on the unit Moodle site.
Academic Integrity
You must abide by the principles of academic integrity (see Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure). Completion of this assessment with another party or sharing of responses is not permitted at any time. This assessment requires students to adhere to the guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence tools as specified in the Artificial Intelligence Assessment Scale (AIAS). Any misuse or lack of disclosure regarding the use of AI tools will be considered a breach of academic integrity. No Generative AI use is permitted in the completion of this assignment. You must not use AI tools or technology to produce substantive content. You are permitted to use technology or tools that assist with spelling, grammar or formatting.
Level of GenAI Use Allowed: Level 1: You must not use AI at any point during the assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge.
Extensions
Extensions to this assessment are not available as per policy. The 72-hour grace period does not apply to this assessment.
Minimum Pass Criteria
You must achieve a cumulative grade of at least 49.5% across all assessments to pass this unit.
In the event you are eligible for a supplementary assessment, all assessment tasks must be reasonably attempted in this unit.
2
Other
Quiz A: This quiz will test your knowledge of the content from modules 1, 2 & 3. Quiz opens:00:01 hours (AEST) Wednesday 26th November 2025 (week 3) Quiz closes: 23:59 hours (AEST) Friday 28th November 2025 (week 3) Quiz B: This quiz will test your knowledge of the content in modules 4 to12 (inc). Quiz opens: 00:01 hours (AEST) Monday 9th February 2026 (week 12) Quiz closes: 23:59 hours (AEST) Wednesday 11th February 2026 (week 12)
Quiz results will be available immediately after the attempt is completed.
This assessment is automatically scored in Moodle. The number of correct responses will be indicated when the student completes each quiz.
- Describe the impact that colonisation has had on the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Examine current demographic, health indicators and statistical trends for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Define and reflect on different forms of white privilege and racism in healthcare
- Outline the contemporary role of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professionals, organisations and communities in delivering culturally safe health care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Identify professional practice factors that facilitate quality health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
2 Case Study
The aim of this assessment is for you to demonstrate your learning of the impact of colonisation on health outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and cultural safety strategies to reduce health disparities.
Instructions
Please refer to the assessment task instructions on the unit Moodle site.
Academic Integrity
You must abide by the principles of academic integrity (see Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure). Completion of this assessment with another party or sharing of responses is not permitted at any time. This assessment requires students to adhere to the guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence tools as specified in the Artificial Intelligence Assessment Scale (AIAS). Any misuse or lack of disclosure regarding the use of AI tools will be considered a breach of academic integrity. CQUniversity Gen AI tools approved for use in this assessment are Microsoft CoPilot (protected version), Studiosity and Grammarly. You are permitted to use technology or tools that assist with spelling, grammar or formatting.
Level of GenAI Use Allowed: Level 2: You may use Al for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas.
AI declaration must be completed and included on the cover page as per the instructions.
Extensions
Extensions to this assessment are available as per policy. The 72-hour grace period may apply to this assessment.
Minimum Pass Criteria
· You must achieve a cumulative grade of at least 49.5% across all assessments to pass this unit.
· In order for a supplementary assessment to be considered, all assessment tasks must be reasonably attempted in this unit.
Week 11 Wednesday (4 Feb 2026) 4:00 pm AEST
Please note (AEST) applies
25th February 2026
Refer to the marking rubric on the Moodle site for more details on how marks will be assigned.
- Describe the impact that colonisation has had on the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Examine current demographic, health indicators and statistical trends for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Define and reflect on different forms of white privilege and racism in healthcare
- Outline the contemporary role of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professionals, organisations and communities in delivering culturally safe health care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Identify professional practice factors that facilitate quality health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
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?
