Health & Human Development

Purpose and Structure

VCE Health and Human Development provides students with a deep understanding of health and wellbeing individually, and around the world. Students will learn about the importance of good health and wellbeing and the complex interplay of factors (biological, sociocultural, environmental) that support and improve the health and wellbeing of people everywhere. VCE Health and Human Development aims to improve student's health literacy including navigating and analysing health information, evaluating healthcare initiatives and interventions and critically analysing the role that we play in improving our own health and wellbeing, and the wellbeing of those around us. This subject provides students with learning and skills that can be applied once they leave school, and offers a range of pathways including health promotion, community health, humanitarian aid work, education and the wider healthcare sector.

Unit 1: Understanding health and wellbeing 

This unit explores health and wellbeing as a dynamic and subjective concept. Students will learn about the different dimensions of health and wellbeing, the indicators used to measure health status and analyse the factors that influence their own health and wellbeing. Students will also explore the World Health Organisation's prerequisites for health, the health and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians and the major health issues affecting young Australians. Students will also explore food and nutrition as good foundations for health and wellbeing and learn how to evaluate sources of nutritional information to make positive health and wellbeing choices.

Unit 2: Managing health and development 

In this unit students will learn about human development across the lifespan, focusing on the physical, intellectual, emotional and social changes that occur as we mature and age. This unit focusses on the transition from youth to adulthood including the expected changes, significant decisions and protective factors that assist in positive decision making. Students will also the role of family and health and wellbeing as an intergenerational concept. Students will learn how to access the healthcare system through investigation of Australia's healthcare system, including Medicare, Private Health Insurance, The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Students will learn how to critically evaluate the healthcare system by unpacking their rights and responsibilities associated with accessing healthcare and the ethical considerations of evolving medical technologies and procedures.

Unit 3: Australia’s health in a globalised world 

This unit looks at health, wellbeing and illness in Australia with a focus on the major health issues impacting Australians and different population groups within the nation. Students will draw on skills learnt in Units 1 and 2 to interpret data and explain how different factors can influence the health of Australians. Students will learn about initiatives to promote healthy eating and Indigenous health and wellbeing and the role of healthcare and social justice in achieving positive health outcomes. Students will learn how to critically evaluate the success of health initiatives in improving health outcomes in Australia.

Unit 4: Health and human development in a global context 

This unit examines health and wellbeing, and human development in a global context. Students will learn about the gaps in health status and burden of disease between high- middle-, and low- income countries around the world, and explore factors that contribute to health inequalities between and within countries. Students build their understanding of health in a global context through a focus on the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals, the work of the World Health Organisation and the role of Australia's aid program in supporting improvements in global health and wellbeing.