1.1 An Introduction to this Unit
This is a flexible learning unit looking at HRM as a strategic activity of health organisations especially as workforce shortages pose significant challenges to the health, welfare and aged care sectors. The workforce, with appropriate knowledge and expertise, is essential to the efficient and effective delivery of quality health services. Successful organisations shape their workforce to anticipate current and future business directions and goals. Workforce planning is a crucial element of this approach and its success.
1.2 What is Expected of You
Study Load
For a 10 credit point unit, you are expected to study 10 hours per week for 14 weeks on that unit.
Attendance
It is strongly recommended that you attend all scheduled
learning activities to support your learning. Students with a poor attendance record may find themselves at risk of not passing assessment.There is a one full day workshop in week 3 and week 10 at the Parramatta campus if enrolled in day mode. Visa requirements mean that this is compulsory for international students and a roll will be taken. . All students in the unit can attend and are encouraged to do so. Times and venues will be advised via the vUWS website. The semester starts on 23 February 2015. Students who are required to attend must attend for the whole day. The timetabled dates are Friday 13 March and Friday 1 May in weeks 3 and week 10 respectively.The location is PSEB G02.
Presentations at the workshop that are approved will be placed on the vUWS website. The first workshop allows students the opportunity to discuss the unit approach, key concepts and learning outcomes in an interactive session in order to clarify key questions. At the workshop, students will be requested to undertake small group work based on a series of topics.
The second compulsory workshop for day mode students will be conducted later in the program in week 9 including guest speakers, and will review the topic for the second assessment task. This will give students the opportunity to discuss their interpretation of the assessment topic and their chosen area of workforce reform. Students who cannot attend will be requested to submit a proposal for the second assignment, including the chosen topic and the assignment approach.
Online Learning Requirements
Teaching materials will be made available on the vUWS (E-Learning) site.Regular announcements will be posted on VUWS. Students are advised to check announcements at least twice weekly, and more often in the week before assignment submission or before a workshop.
1.3 Student responsibilities and conduct
Student responsibilities Familiarise yourself with university policies on assessment and examinations.More information, including links to the policies, can be found at section 4.1 of this Learning Guide
Ensure that you understand the requirements, including timetables, for examinations and other assessments tasks.
Ensure you read and understand the assessment requirements and note the submission dates, and seek assistance from the lecturer and/or unit coordinator when needed.
Notify relevant staff (e.g. lecturer, unit coordinator, disability adviser) as soon as possible prior to, or at the beginning of, the semester to have special requirements accommodated.
Submit your own individual and unassisted assessment work, except as otherwise permitted. Cheating, plagiarism, fabrication or falsification of data will be severely dealt withas per policy.
Behave ethically and appropriately, avoiding any action or behaviour which would unfairly disadvantage or advantage another student. Where group work is assigned, ensure that every group member has the opportunity to contribute in a meaningful way to the assignment.
Student conduct and behaviour Attend all lectures, tutorials, practicals and workshops – not attending these classes is often the main cause of failure and low grades.
Respect the needs of other students who are participating in any class activities.
Payattention in lectures, tutorials, practicals and workshops for key information on examinable material.
Do not use mobile phones during the lectures, tutorials, practicals and workshops and do not have ongoing conversations with fellow students during the lecture or if another student/tutor is presenting work in any of the classes.
Please use electronic devices for taking notes and other class activities, not surfing the net or checking email.
1.4 What You can Expect from the Teaching Team
Academic staff carry out their teaching responsibilities under the authority of the Dean of the School of Science & Health. The responsibilities of staff are outlined in the following table.
Staff responsibilities Assess students’ work fairly, objectively and consistently and when in doubt consult with the unit coordinator or Director of Academic Program.
Provide students with appropriate, helpful and explanatory feedback on all work submitted for assessment.
Make reasonable accommodation (e.g. length of time to complete) in assessment tasks and examinations for students with special requirements and to seek assistance from the Disability Advisor and Counsellor where appropriate and needed.
Ensure deadlines for the submission of examination papers to the Academic Registrar are met.
Immediately report any issues or concerns related to student academic and non-academic misconduct to theDirector of Academic Program.
1.5 Changes to Unit as a Result of Past Student Feedback
More student friendly Learning Guide and Study Guide also workshops will include discussion of Assignment topics.
1. Learning and Teaching in this Unit
1.1 Unit Learning Outcomes
Becoming a professional in this field requiresknowledge and skills related to workforce planning- the nature of the workforce, qualifications, distribution, specialty skills, etc .This unit aims to assure that workforce shortages are understood, the important elements of workforce planning and human resource management in health. Upon successfully completing this unit, you should be able to:
1 Understand the health industry workforce profile based on an analysis of rigorous workforce data.
2 Understand human resources management and information systems used in health care service organisations to develop and manage critical workforce data.
3 Identify future workforce needs within the health care industry and apply principles of strategic human resource planning to address workforce issues.
4 Develop skills in workforce management, including recruitment and retention, performance management and development, education and training, workforce redesign and employee relations, for the health and aged care industry.
2.2 Course Learning Outcomes or Graduate Attributes
As a graduate from MHSc you will have achieved the following course learning outcomes upon completion of the award:
1 Critically evaluate organisational structures, organisational behaviour and management needs in the health care sector.
2 Describe the social aspects of health and ill health.
3 Analyse, develop and critically assess health care policy.
4 Demonstrate practical skills of financial planning and accounting principles.
5 Provide a global perspective on health care financing and provision.
6 Critically evaluate the economic performance of different interventions.
7 Effectively manage human resources in large and varied organisations, in both the private and public sectors of health care.
8 Critically analyse current and emerging issues in health care management and have an ability to take a leadership role in responding to change.
9 Implement effective methods of performance management.
10 Apply legislative and OH&S requirements in the management of employees in a large organisation such as the health sector.
11 Apply new and current strategies in management for effective planning and improve outcomes.
12 Use statistical, epidemiological and research skills in the implementation and analysis of health care research.
13 Explain the concept of evidence based health care and critically evaluate such evidence.
14 Identify population health data sets and how they can be used to monitor health and the outcomes of health care.
15 Demonstrate communication skills particularly in the areas of academic writing, project reports and oral presentations skills.
16 Apply key concepts and competencies associated with health policy, leadership, health financial management, and/or applied research and evidenced based practice to design and conduct a research-based project or piece of scholarship.
As a UWS graduate,you should be able to demonstrate all of the subsets of the major attributes which are:
1 Command multiple skills and literacies to enable adaptable lifelong learning;
2 Demonstrate knowledge of Indigenous Australia through cultural competency and professional capacity;
3 Demonstrate comprehensive, coherent and connected knowledge
4 Apply knowledge through intellectual inquiry in professional or applied contexts
5 Bring knowledge to life through responsible engagement and appreciation of diversity in an evolving world
