Overview
Public Health Practice in the Cross-Cultural Community develops advanced knowledge and applied skills for effective public health engagement in culturally diverse contexts. The unit focuses on critically examining how social, cultural, structural, and systemic factors interact to influence health behaviours, health outcomes, and access to services across populations. You will develop the capacity to analyse complex public health challenges, apply evidence-informed perspectives, and engage with ethical and culturally responsive approaches to public health decision-making. Emphasis is placed on translating theory into practice through the evaluation, design, and improvement of public health initiatives relevant to real-world cross-cultural settings. The unit will prepare you to work effectively with communities, organisations, and stakeholders, demonstrating advanced judgement, cultural responsiveness, and professional accountability consistent with contemporary public health practice.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre-requisite: PBHL20009 Health and Wellbeing in the Cross-Cultural Community. CC59 Bachelor of Public Health students need 96 credit points to enrol in the 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 2 - 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 Postgraduate 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 feedback and self-reflection
To adjust the due date of Assessment 1 from Week 8 to Week 6 to provide students with increased spacing between the two assessments, supporting better workload management and reduced pressure.
The due date for Assessment 1 should be moved from Week 8 to Week 6.
- Critically evaluate complex public health issues by examining the interaction of social, cultural, structural, and systemic determinants within diverse community contexts
- Critically appraise public health strategies, policies, and ethical frameworks to assess their effectiveness, equity, and cultural responsiveness in cross-cultural settings
- Formulate culturally responsive public health initiatives that address community-based health issues through the informed integration of theory, evidence, and contextual analysis
- Develop feasible methodological and implementation approaches to support the evaluation or analysis of public health initiatives using appropriate existing evidence or secondary data sources
- Propose informed improvements to public health policies and practices through the integration of relevant public health perspectives and critical engagement with scholarly evidence.
N/A
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 50% | |||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 50% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | |||||
| 2 - Communication | |||||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | |||||
| 4 - Research | |||||
| 5 - Self-management | |||||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | |||||
| 7 - Leadership | |||||
| 8 - First Nations Knowledges | |||||
| 9 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
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.
a.fard@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 13 Jul 2026Module/Topic
Health Literacy and Community Diversity
Chapter
Recommended readings listed in study guide.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 2
Begin Date: 20 Jul 2026Module/Topic
Health Literacy and Risk Communication
Chapter
Recommended readings listed in study guide.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3
Begin Date: 27 Jul 2026Module/Topic
Community Resilience, Health and Wellbeing
Chapter
Recommended readings listed in study guide.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 4
Begin Date: 03 Aug 2026Module/Topic
Community Capacity Building and Health Promotion
Chapter
Recommended readings listed in study guide.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 5
Begin Date: 10 Aug 2026Module/Topic
Social Inclusion, Health and Wellbeing
Chapter
Recommended readings listed in study guide.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 6
Begin Date: 17 Aug 2026Module/Topic
Discussion: Public Health Initiative Proposal
Chapter
Recommended readings listed in study guide.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assignment 1 Due: Week 6 Thursday, 5:00pm
Written Assessment Due: Week 6 Thursday (20 Aug 2026) 5:00 pm AEST
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 24 Aug 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 7
Begin Date: 31 Aug 2026Module/Topic
Public Health and the Law
Chapter
Recommended readings listed in study guide.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 8
Begin Date: 07 Sep 2026Module/Topic
Ethics in Public Health Practice
Chapter
Recommended readings listed in study guide.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 9
Begin Date: 14 Sep 2026Module/Topic
Health in All Policies
Chapter
Recommended readings listed in study guide.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 10
Begin Date: 21 Sep 2026Module/Topic
Social Media and Informatics in Public Health
Chapter
Recommended readings listed in study guide.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 11
Begin Date: 28 Sep 2026Module/Topic
Demographic Transition and the Ageing Population
Chapter
Recommended readings listed in study guide.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 12
Begin Date: 05 Oct 2026Module/Topic
Final Session: Review and Assignment Support
Chapter
Recommended readings listed in study guide.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assignment 2 Due: Week 12 Thursday, 5:00pm
Written Assessment Due: Week 12 Thursday (8 Oct 2026) 5:00 pm AEST
Exam Week
Begin Date: 12 Oct 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation/Exam Week
Begin Date: 19 Oct 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
The first assessment task is an individual Scholarly Public Health Proposal of 2500 words (+/-10%), excluding references, tables, and figures. In this task, you will examine a significant public health issue affecting a specific and clearly defined population, community, or context, and develop a proposal for a practical and culturally responsive public health initiative. You will select one of the approved topic areas provided by the lecturer and refine it to focus on a specific population, community, or context. Drawing on relevant evidence and public health principles, you will analyse the issue, consider its impact on the selected population or community, and develop an evidence-informed initiative that addresses identified needs and circumstances. The proposal should demonstrate an understanding of the public health significance of the issue, any associated inequities, and the practical considerations involved in designing, implementing, and supporting the initiative through appropriate evidence and methodological reasoning. The proposal should also consider the anticipated outcomes and broader contribution of the initiative to public health policy, practice, equity, and culturally responsive public health. This assignment must be written in a formal academic style and fully referenced using APA 7th edition.
Full details on the required content and structure of this assessment are provided in the Assessment Handbook on Moodle.
This assessment is due by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday of Week 6.
The level of GenAI use permitted for this unit is Level 2 (AI Planning). This means you may use AI for pre-task activities such as brainstorming, outlining, and initial research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas.
Week 6 Thursday (20 Aug 2026) 5:00 pm AEST
Week 9 Thursday (17 Sept 2026)
The assessment criteria for this assignment are:
1. The public health issue, population, and overall aim of the proposed initiative are clearly defined and justified.
2. The methodological approach and evidence sources are appropriate and clearly justified.
3. The proposed public health initiative is clearly described, justified, and responsive to the identified issue, population needs, and implementation considerations.
4. The anticipated outcomes and broader contribution of the initiative are clearly discussed and justified.
5. Relevant scholarly literature and other credible evidence are effectively used and accurately referenced using APA 7th edition.
6. Academic writing is clear, well structured, and appropriately presented.
*A detailed assessment rubric is available on Moodle.
- Critically evaluate complex public health issues by examining the interaction of social, cultural, structural, and systemic determinants within diverse community contexts
- Critically appraise public health strategies, policies, and ethical frameworks to assess their effectiveness, equity, and cultural responsiveness in cross-cultural settings
- Formulate culturally responsive public health initiatives that address community-based health issues through the informed integration of theory, evidence, and contextual analysis
- Develop feasible methodological and implementation approaches to support the evaluation or analysis of public health initiatives using appropriate existing evidence or secondary data sources
- Propose informed improvements to public health policies and practices through the integration of relevant public health perspectives and critical engagement with scholarly evidence.
2 Written Assessment
The second assessment task is an individual Scholarly Research Paper of 2500 words (+/-10%), excluding references, tables, and figures. In this task, you will critically examine the public health issue and population selected in Assessment 1. Drawing on relevant scholarly literature and public health evidence, you will analyse current public health responses addressing the issue, considering their implementation, effectiveness, strengths, limitations, and gaps. You will also examine the broader public health context in which the issue occurs, including relevant social, cultural, community, policy, service, and system factors that influence the issue and current public health responses. Building on this analysis, you will develop evidence-informed recommendations for policy, practice, or service delivery and reflect on the implications of the evidence for your proposed public health initiative. The paper should demonstrate critical thinking, effective use of evidence, and an understanding of the opportunities and challenges associated with addressing complex public health issues. This assignment must be written in a formal academic style and fully referenced using APA 7th edition.
Full details on the required content and structure of this assessment are provided in the Assessment Handbook on Moodle.
This assessment is due by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday of Week 12.
The level of GenAI use permitted for this unit is Level 2 (AI Planning). This means you may use AI for pre-task activities such as brainstorming, outlining, and initial research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas.
Week 12 Thursday (8 Oct 2026) 5:00 pm AEST
Vacation/Exam Week Thursday (22 Oct 2026)
The assessment criteria for this assignment are:
1. The public health issue and analytical focus are clearly defined and justified.
2. Relevant factors shaping the public health context of the issue are clearly described and explained.
3. Current public health responses are critically analysed and evaluated using relevant scholarly literature and public health evidence.
4. Evidence-informed recommendations and implications are clearly discussed and justified.
5. Relevant scholarly literature and other credible evidence are effectively used and accurately referenced using APA 7th edition.
6. Academic writing is clear, well structured, and appropriately presented.
*A detailed assessment rubric is available on Moodle.
- Critically evaluate complex public health issues by examining the interaction of social, cultural, structural, and systemic determinants within diverse community contexts
- Critically appraise public health strategies, policies, and ethical frameworks to assess their effectiveness, equity, and cultural responsiveness in cross-cultural settings
- Formulate culturally responsive public health initiatives that address community-based health issues through the informed integration of theory, evidence, and contextual analysis
- Develop feasible methodological and implementation approaches to support the evaluation or analysis of public health initiatives using appropriate existing evidence or secondary data sources
- Propose informed improvements to public health policies and practices through the integration of relevant public health perspectives and critical engagement with scholarly evidence.
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?
