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HPER71-117: Sustainable Healthcare

Description

The sustainability of current healthcare practice is being challenged by expanding healthcare options, spiralling costs, changing demographics, and patient expectations. The demand for healthcare often exceeds supply. In some countries, people are consuming healthcare excessively and consequently risk being harmed, while others receive inadequate healthcare, suggesting health resources are wasted. In this subject, you will examine the potential reasons for this and explore possible responses. You will investigate variations in healthcare practices, explore low value care, learn about overdiagnosis, overtreatment, and expanding healthcare definitions. You will develop creative solutions in an attempt to mitigate unsustainable healthcare practices that aim to improve healthcare outcomes for patients and communities. Content for this subject is based on the current research from national and international leaders in sustainable healthcare and supported by a global network of innovators.

Subject details

Type: Postgraduate Subject
Code: HPER71-117
EFTSL: 0.125
Faculty: Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine
Semesters offered:
  • September 2025 [Standard Offering]
Credit: 10
Study areas:
  • Health, Biomedical, and Sport Sciences
  • Medicine
Subject fees:
  • Commencing in 2024: $3,300.00
  • Commencing in 2025: $3,370.00
  • Commencing in 2026: $3,410.00
  • Commencing in 2024: $3,300.00
  • Commencing in 2025: $3,450.00
  • Commencing in 2026: $3,610.00

Learning outcomes

  1. Describe current and emerging challenges in providing quality healthcare services.
  2. Analyse reasons for variations in the quality of healthcare services.
  3. Demonstrate knowledge of effective use of resources including overdiagnosis and consumption in a contemporary health system.
  4. Evaluate strategies to reduce overdiagnosis and overtreatment in healthcare.
  5. Develop strategies to manage and maximise the quality and sustainability of health services.

Enrolment requirements

Requisites:

Nil

Assumed knowledge:

Assumed knowledge is the minimum level of knowledge of a subject area that students are assumed to have acquired through previous study. It is the responsibility of students to ensure they meet the assumed knowledge expectations of the subject. Students who do not possess this prior knowledge are strongly recommended against enrolling and do so at their own risk. No concessions will be made for students’ lack of prior knowledge.

An understanding of the Australian health system and evidence based practice.

Restrictions:

Subject dates

  • Standard Offering
    Enrolment opens: 20/07/2025
    Semester start: 15/09/2025
    Subject start: 15/09/2025
    Last enrolment: 28/09/2025
    Teaching census: 10/10/2025
    Withdraw - Financial: 11/10/2025
    Withdraw - Academic: 01/11/2025
Standard Offering
Enrolment opens: 20/07/2025
Semester start: 15/09/2025
Subject start: 15/09/2025
Last enrolment: 28/09/2025
Teaching census: 10/10/2025
Withdraw - Financial: 11/10/2025
Withdraw - Academic: 01/11/2025