§-Health and Human Development syllabus

VIC · VCAA← Health and Human Development

Health and Human Development syllabus, dot point by dot point

Every dot point in the VIC Health and Human Development study design, in syllabus order, with a focused answer for each. Open any dot point for the answer, exam-style questions and links to related points.

Unit 3: Australia's health in a globalised world - AoS 1 Understanding health and wellbeing

Unit overview →

Why is optimal health and wellbeing valued as a resource for individuals, the nation and the world?

Benefits of optimal health and wellbeing and its importance as a resource individually, nationally and globally

14 min read →

What are the concepts and dimensions of health and wellbeing?

Concepts of health and wellbeing (physical, social, emotional, mental and spiritual dimensions), illness, and the dynamic and subjective nature of these concepts

15 min read →

How is the health status of Australians measured and described?

Indicators used to measure and understand health status: incidence, prevalence, morbidity, burden of disease, disability-adjusted life year (DALY), years of life lost (YLL), years lived with disability (YLD), life expectancy, health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE), mortality (maternal, infant and under five) and self-assessed health status

16 min read →

What biological, sociocultural and environmental factors explain why some groups have poorer health than others?

Biological, sociocultural and environmental factors that contribute to variations in health status between population groups

16 min read →

How do overweight, obesity and nutritional imbalance contribute to Australia's health status?

The contribution to Australia's health status of overweight and obesity, and nutritional imbalance (under-consumption of fruit and vegetables, and dairy foods; high intake of fat, salt and sugar; low intake of fibre)

14 min read →

How do smoking, vaping and alcohol contribute to Australia's health status?

The contribution to Australia's health status of smoking and vaping, and alcohol

14 min read →

How healthy are Australians, and why do some population groups have poorer health than others?

Use data to evaluate the health status of Australians and analyse variations in health status between population groups

15 min read →

Unit 3: Australia's health in a globalised world - AoS 2 Promoting health in Australia

Unit overview →

Why is nutritional change difficult to achieve in Australia?

Challenges in bringing about nutritional change, including sociocultural, environmental and commercial factors

14 min read →

How do the biomedical approach and the social model of health differ and why are both needed?

The biomedical approach to health and improvements in medical technology, the concept of the social model of health, and the relationship between them, including the strengths and limitations of each

13 min read →

How does the Ottawa Charter guide action to promote health and wellbeing?

The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion as part of the social model of health, and the role of health promotion (through its five action areas) in improving population health

14 min read →

How does Australia promote healthy eating to improve health and wellbeing?

Initiatives to promote healthy eating in Australia, including the Australian Dietary Guidelines, the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Guide to Healthy Eating

14 min read →

How well does the Australian health system promote funding, sustainability, access and equity?

The values and operation of Australia's health system, including funding, sustainability, access and equity, and how it promotes health and wellbeing

14 min read →

How do programs improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples?

Programs to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples' health, including how they promote social justice

15 min read →

How has Australia used health promotion to reduce smoking and its burden of disease?

The role of health promotion in improving population health, applied to tobacco and vaping: initiatives and strategies, including those reflecting the action areas of the Ottawa Charter, used to reduce smoking and vaping in Australia

16 min read →

How did 'old' public health improve Australia's health status since 1900?

Reasons for improvements in Australia's health status since 1900, focusing on 'old' public health, and analysing data that shows improvements in health over time

13 min read →

How does the Australian health system fund and provide healthcare?

The role of Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, the National Disability Insurance Scheme and private health insurance in promoting health and wellbeing, and how each promotes funding, sustainability, access and equity

15 min read →

Unit 4: Health and human development in a global context - AoS 1 Global health and human development

Unit overview →

What factors explain differences in health and human development between countries?

Factors that contribute to similarities and differences in health status and human development: access to safe water, sanitation, poverty, and discrimination (race, religion, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity)

15 min read →

How is human development measured and what are the limitations of the Human Development Index?

The concept of human development and the Human Development Index, including its components, advantages and limitations as a measure

13 min read →

What is sustainability and how does it support health and human development?

The concept and dimensions of sustainability (environmental, social and economic) and its role in the promotion of health and human development

16 min read →

Why do health status and human development differ between countries?

Similarities and differences in health status and human development in low-, middle- and high-income countries, including Australia

14 min read →

How do low-, middle- and high-income countries differ in their characteristics?

The characteristics of low-, middle- and high-income countries and the classification of countries by income

13 min read →

How do global trends such as climate change and trade affect health and human development?

Implications for health and human development of global trends including climate change (rising sea levels, changing weather patterns and increasing number of extreme weather events), conflict, mass migration, increased world trade (global distribution and marketing of tobacco products, e-cigarette products and processed foods), tourism and digital technologies

15 min read →

Unit 4: Health and human development in a global context - AoS 2 Health and the Sustainable Development Goals

Unit overview →

What makes an aid program effective in promoting health and the SDGs?

Features of effective aid programs, and evaluating the effectiveness of aid programs in promoting health and human development

14 min read →

What role do non-government organisations play in promoting global health?

The role of non-government organisations in providing aid (humanitarian assistance, reducing poverty, improving human development and promoting health) and in supporting the achievement of the SDGs

13 min read →

How can individuals take meaningful action to support global health and wellbeing?

Ways in which individuals can engage with communities and/or national and international organisations to take individual and social action that promotes health and human development

12 min read →

How do the Sustainable Development Goals aim to improve health and human development?

The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, with a focus on SDG 3 Good Health and Wellbeing, and how the goals are interconnected and promote health and human development globally

13 min read →

How is SDG 3 connected to the other Sustainable Development Goals?

The relationships between SDG 3 ('Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages') and SDGs 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 12, and how progress on one supports the others

16 min read →

What are the goal and objectives of the World Health Organization, and how are they reflected in real programs?

Goal and objectives of the WHO (as set out in the Fourteenth General Programme of Work, GPW 14, 2025-2028)

13 min read →

How does Australia's aid program support the Sustainable Development Goals?

The role of Australia's overseas aid program in supporting the achievement of the SDGs, including its focus and the partnerships involved

14 min read →

How do different types of aid work to improve global health and human development?

The purpose and characteristics of different types of aid, including bilateral, multilateral and aid provided by non-government organisations (providing humanitarian assistance, reducing poverty, improving human development and promoting health)

13 min read →