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 subgroup 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


Context includes:
Statutory framework within which work takes place
Historical context of work, e.g. changing attitudes to environmental health, changing approaches to public health
Changing social context of work, e.g. changing government and societal views of environmental health, health promotion and disease prevention aspects of primary health care
Political context, e.g. government policies and initiatives affecting environmental health work
Economic context, e.g. the current economic situation as it relates to and affects environmental health and the subsequent impact on individual and community needs


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


Different models of work in the sector may include:
Early intervention/ disease prevention
Community development and education
Health promotion
Working with individuals
Working with families and the community
Community funded indigenous environmental health workers
Government health services funded indigenous environmental health workers


Health determinants may include:
Political
Biological and genetic factors
Physical environment
Socio-economic factors (e.g. Social gradient, stress, early life, social exclusion, work, unemployment, social support, addiction, food, transport, housing, etc.)
Behavioural
Cultural
Quality of 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
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
Shared responsibility of health
Educational-Ecological approach
Evidence-based approach
Principles of equity and non-discriminatory practice


For some workers, especially those working with remote and / or Indigenous communities, additional principles might include:
A holistic and community development approach
Commitment to empowering individuals and the community
Commitment to meeting the needs and upholding the rights of individuals and the community


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


Examples of local, state and national organisations, 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


National charters/declarations include:
Health for All by the Year 2000
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 is most appropriately assessed in the classroom environment
this unit may be undertaken by workers training for a range of jobs in the population health and related sectors
assessment where practicable should allow for knowledge of population health to be applied to a prospective or actual work role
Access to:
a range of government and non government policy documents and reports and statistics


Method of assessment may include:
Interviewing and questioning
Assignment
Scenarios as a basis for the application knowledge of the population health approach to a specific work role
Scenarios as a basis for the application of knowledge about the foundations of the health of populations to a specific work role