Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge to support workers to understand and apply the underlying principles and philosophy that must be reflected in all areas of population health work.
This unit applies to work in a public health context and workers at this level will demonstrate judgement and autonomy within broad guidelines.
The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand standards and industry codes of practice.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements define the essential outcomes. | Performance Criteria specify the level of performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the Element. |
1. Apply the principles of the population health approach to relevant work | 1.1 Identify current and historic concepts of health and its determinants 1.2 Identify key principles involved in a population health approach 1.3 Modify work approach to apply key principles of population health |
2. Select from a range of change action frameworks that underpin population health work | 2.1 Identify relevant population health change action frameworks 2.2 Match appropriate change action frameworks to population health tasks on the basis of theory and/or past evidence 2.3 Apply a multi-disciplinary and multi-strategic approach in population health work |
3. Collaborate with others | 3.1 Identify and assess relevant local, state/territory and national organisations, networks, policies and initiatives supporting population health 3.2 Identify and examine priority population health issues at the local, State/Territory, national and international levels 3.3 Determine limitations on actions resulting from legislation and discuss with superiors, peers and other team members 3.4 Collaborate with colleagues and clarify own role as part of a strategic approach to population health |
Evidence of Performance
The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in the elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role. There must be demonstrated evidence that the candidate has:
identified and researched at least 2 priority population health issues relating to a community and identified relevant population health change action frameworks that could be applied, including identifying and modifying at least 2 potential work practices to support strategies and address limitations.
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively complete tasks outlined in the elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. This includes knowledge of:
evidence-based practice
national, State/Territory and local health policies, goals, targets and priorities and legislative frameworks relevant to the context of the work role
a broad range of population health issues and priority areas in Australia
key principles of population health, including:
population focus
preventive focus with stress on building individual and/or community's capacity to control health determinants for a better quality of life
sensitivity to access and equity issues and health inequalities
sensitivity to cultural differences
health as a resource for everyday living
health as a result of complex interaction among determinants
health as a context for power relations with society
shared responsibility of health
educational-ecological approach
evidence-based approach
principles of equity and non-discriminatory practice
models of health, including:
medical model
salutogenic model
social view of health
academic and professional
change action frameworks of population health, including:
upstream investment (investment directed at root causes to maximise potential benefits)
increased accountability for health outcomes
re-orienting health sector
capacity building
working in partnerships (joint ventures, collaboration, alliances and coalitions)
employment of mechanisms to promote community participation
public policy development (legislation and regulation, resource allocation and incentives)
creation of supportive natural and built environments
addressing health inequalities and health inequalities approach
personal and social development through provision of information and education for health and enhancement of life skills
range of population health strategies and application of best practice in population health
relevant international charters and declarations and documents
health determinants, including:
political factors
biological and genetic factors
physical environment
social factors (social gradient, stress, early life, social exclusion, work, unemployment, social support, addiction, food, transport and housing)
behavioural
cultural
quality of and access to health services
theory and practice of population health, including health promotion, and health protection and prevention of communicable and non-communicable diseases
types of organisations involved in population health in Australia
organisation standards, policies and procedures.
Assessment Conditions
Skills must have been demonstrated in the workplace or in a simulated environment that reflects workplace conditions. Where simulation is used, it must reflect real working conditions by modelling industry operating conditions and contingencies as well as using suitable facilities, equipment and resources.
Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.
Foundation Skills
The Foundation Skills describe those required skills (language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills) that are essential to performance.
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.