Elements and Performance Criteria

RANGE STATEMENT

The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.


The term population may refer to:
General Australian population
Any sub-group within that population identified by age, sex, ethnicity, sexual identity, geographical location, physical environment, lifestyle choices, socio economic status, disability, health status, etc.
Any community defined as collective group of people identified by common values and mutual concern for the development and well-being of their group or geographical area


Relevant work implies:
That not all of a particular worker's (paid) role may be classified as 'population health'
Indeed for most workers, population health work will be a component only (sometimes small) of their total work role.
This unit applies only to that part of the role that adopts the population health principles and change action frameworks listed below


Concepts/models of health include:
Medical model
Salutogenic model
Social view of health
Academic/professional models of health


Health determinants may include:
Political
Biological and genetic factors
Physical environment
Social factors (e.g. social gradient, stress, early life, social exclusion, work, unemployment, social support, addiction, food, transport, housing, etc.)
Behavioural
Cultural
Quality of and access to health services


Key principles to a population health approach may include
Population focus
Preventive focus with stress on building individual/community's capacity to control health determinants for a better quality of life
Sensitivity to access and equity issues/health inequalities
Sensitivity to cultural differences
Health as a resource for everyday living and not as end in itself
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


Change action frameworks of population health may include:
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 (e.g. joint ventures, collaboration, alliances, coalitions, partnerships)
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/health inequalities approach
Personal and social development through provision of information and education for health and enhancement of life skills


Different settings for population health action may include
Home
School
Hospital
Health services
Community
Work
Transport
Sports, arts and recreation facilities


Examples of local, national and international organisations, networks and initiatives supporting Population Health work include:
Establishments that provide primary health care
Community clinics
Local public health units
State and national Health departments
Professional and industry associations
Non-government organisations
International health organisations


Relevant international charters/declarations include:
Lalonde Report
The Solid Facts by WHO
Health for All by the Year 2000
Declaration of Alma Ata
Healthy Toronto 2000
38 Targets for Health in the European region
Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion
Jakarta Declaration on Health Promotion into the 21st Century
Health Promotion: Bridging the Equity Gap

EVIDENCE GUIDE

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate this competency unit:
The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills


Access and equity considerations:
All workers in the health industry should be aware of access and equity issues in relation to their own area of work
All workers should develop their ability to work in a culturally diverse environment
In recognition of particular health issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, workers should be aware of cultural, historical and current issues impacting on health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues, in particular relating to factors impacting on health of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities


Context of and specific resources for assessment:
This unit may be assessed in the workplace or in a simulated workplace under normal conditions
The unit may be assessed in the classroom and may contain a strong theoretical emphasis
Access to:
a range of government and non-government policy documents and reports and statistics
journals, books and external expertise
documents and other materials (charters, declarations, discussion papers, etc.) from international conferences on population health
a range of government and non government policy documents and reports and statistics
organisation policies and procedures


Method of assessment
Observation of performance
Written tasks
Interviewing and questioning
Formal appraisal systems
Staff client feedback
Portfolio/CV
Supporting statement of supervisors
Evidence of relevant work experience/formal or informal learning
Case studies and scenarios as a basis for the discussion of issues in population health project planning
Project, exercise or investigation with relaxed time restraints requiring a significant part of the work to be carried out without close supervision and requiring the completion of a project report