VCE Health and Human Development provides students with a broad understanding of health and wellbeing that reaches far beyond the individual. They learn how important health and wellbeing is to themselves and to families, communities, nations and global society. Students explore the complex interplay of biological, sociocultural and environmental factors that support and improve health and wellbeing, and those that compromise it. The study provides opportunities for students to view health and wellbeing, and human development, holistically – across the lifespan and the globe, and through a lens of social justice.
VCE Health and Human Development is designed to build health literacy. As individuals and as citizens, students develop their ability to navigate and analyse health information, to critically recognise and carry out supportive action, and to evaluate healthcare initiatives and interventions. They take this capacity with them as they leave school and apply their learning in positive and resilient ways through future changes and challenges.
VCE Health and Human Development offers students a range of pathways including further formal study in areas such as health promotion, community health research and policy development, humanitarian aid work, allied health practices, education, and the health profession.
The study is made up of four units.
· Unit 1: Understanding health and wellbeing (HH011)
· Unit 2: Managing health and development (HH022)
· Unit 3: Australia’s health in a globalised world (HH033)
· Unit 4: Health and human development in a global context (HH034)
Each unit deals with specific content contained in areas of study and is designed to enable students to achieve a set of outcomes for that unit. Each outcome is described in terms of key knowledge and key skills.
There are no prerequisites for entry to Units 1, 2 and 3. Students must undertake Unit 3 and Unit 4 as a sequence. Units 1–4 are designed to the equivalent standard of the final two years of secondary education. All VCE studies are benchmarked against comparable national and international curriculums.
Students entering Health and Human Development for the first time at Units 3 and 4 would benefit from familiarising themselves with the foundational concepts of health, including health and wellbeing, the dimensions of health, health status and the prerequisites for health, introduced in Unit 1: Understanding health and wellbeing.
Unit 1: Understanding health and wellbeing
In this unit, students explore health and wellbeing as a concept with varied and evolving perspectives and definitions. They come to understand that it occurs in many contexts and is subject to a wide range of interpretations, with different meanings for different people. As a foundation to their understanding of health, students investigate the World Health Organization’s (WHO) definition and other interpretations. They also explore the fundamental conditions required for health as stated by the WHO, which provide a social justice lens for exploring health inequities.
In this unit, students identify perspectives relating to health and wellbeing, and inquire into factors that influence health attitudes, beliefs and practices, including among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Students look at multiple dimensions of health and wellbeing, the complex interplay of influences on health outcomes and the indicators used to measure and evaluate health status. With a focus on youth, the unit equips students to consider their own health as individuals and as a cohort. They build health literacy by interpreting and using data in a research investigation into one youth health focus area, and by investigating the role of food.
Unit 2: Managing Health and Development
In this unit, students investigate transitions in health and wellbeing, and human development, from lifespan and societal perspectives. They explore the changes and expectations that are integral to the progression from youth to adulthood. Students apply health literacy skills through an examination of adulthood as a time of increasing independence and responsibility, involving the establishment of long-term relationships, possible considerations of parenthood and management of health-related milestones and changes.
Students explore health literacy through an investigation of the Australian healthcare system from the perspective of youth and analyse health information. They investigate the challenges and opportunities presented by digital media and consider issues surrounding the use of health data and access to quality health care.
Unit 3: Australia’s health in a globalised world
In this unit, students look at health and wellbeing, disease and illness as being multidimensional, dynamic and subject to different interpretations and contexts. They explore health and wellbeing as a global concept and take a broader approach to inquiry. Students consider the benefits of optimal health and wellbeing and its importance as an individual and a collective resource. They extend this to health as a universal right, analysing and evaluating variations in the health status of Australians.
Students focus on health promotion and improvements in population health over time. Through researching health improvements and evaluating successful programs, they explore various public health approaches and the interdependence of different models. While the emphasis is on the Australian health system, the progression of change in public health approaches should be seen within a global context.
Unit 4: Health and human development in a global context
In this unit, students examine health and human development in a global context. They use data to investigate health status and human development in different countries, exploring factors that contribute to health inequalities between and within countries, including the physical, social and economic conditions in which people live. Students build their understanding of health in a global context through examining changes in health status over time and studying the key concept of sustainability. They consider the health implications of increased globalisation and worldwide trends relating to climate change, digital technologies, world trade, tourism, conflict and the mass movement of people.
Students consider global action to improve health and human development, focusing on the United Nations’ (UN’s) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the priorities of the World Health Organization (WHO). They also investigate the role of non-government organisations and Australia’s overseas aid program. Students evaluate the effectiveness of health initiatives and programs in a global context and reflect on their own capacity to act.
Satisfactory completion
The award of satisfactory completion for a unit is based on the teacher’s decision that the student has demonstrated achievement of the set of outcomes specified for the unit. Demonstration of achievement of outcomes and satisfactory completion of a unit are determined by evidence gained through the assessment of a range of learning activities and tasks.
Teachers must develop courses that provide appropriate opportunities for students to demonstrate satisfactory achievement of outcomes.
The decision about satisfactory completion of a unit is distinct from the assessment of levels of achievement. Schools will report a student’s result for each unit to the VCAA as S (satisfactory) or N (not satisfactory).
Levels of achievement
Units 1 and 2
Procedures for the assessment of levels of achievement in Units 1 and 2 are a matter for school decision. Assessment of levels of achievement for these units will not be reported to the VCAA. Schools may choose to report levels of achievement using grades, descriptive statements or other indicators.
Units 3 and 4
The VCAA specifies the assessment procedures for students undertaking scored assessment in Units 3 and 4. Designated assessment tasks are provided in the details for each unit in VCE study designs.
The student’s level of achievement in Units 3 and 4 will be determined by School-assessed Coursework (SAC) as specified in the VCE study design, and external assessment.
The VCAA will report the student’s level of achievement on each assessment component as a grade from
A+ to E or UG (ungraded). To receive a study score, the student must achieve two or more graded assessments in the study and receive an S for both Units 3 and 4. The study score is reported on a scale
of 0–50; it is a measure of how well the student performed in relation to all others who completed the study. Teachers should refer to the current VCE Administrative Handbook for details on graded assessment and calculation of the study score.
Percentage contributions to the study score in VCE Health and Human Development are as follows:
· Unit 3 School-assessed Coursework: 25 per cent
· Unit 4 School-assessed Coursework: 25 per cent
· End-of-year examination: 50 per cent.
Details of the assessment program are described in the sections on Units 3 and 4 in this study design.
Link to current study design 2018-2024: HHD Study Design