Psychology of Health and Community

This unit is designed to apply theories and principles of clinical health psychology to individual, group and community settings. Emphasis is given to community-based strategies and social policy initiatives in health promotion and public administration contexts in their application to health issues. With consideration of the role of the lived experience, and of the interprofessional context, social health issues identified in this unit will include family violence, violence against women, child sexual assault, and socioeconomic status. This unit will also examine the psychological health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Learning will include intervention strategies for the promotion of mental health and wellbeing and prevention of illness in those impacted by acute and chronic medical conditions and disability. Students will have the opportunity to interview a person with lived experience of an acute or chronic health condition to contextualise and deepen their understanding of its psychosocial impact. Consideration will be given to psychosocial determinants of health and life stage applying an ecological framework lens.