Overview

This unit aims to equip students with the ability to critically analyse and apply current approaches to dealing with uncertainty in rapidly changing complex environments, with a focus on risk assessment and management. Students will also explore the drivers of change to health and environmental outcomes, including the societal responses required to ensure a sustainable healthy future.

Requisites

Prerequisites
ENH60001 Environmental Health Concepts
Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
04-August-2025
02-November-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-August-2025
Census date
31-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
19-September-2025
Results released date
09-December-2025

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Reflect on the nature of uncertainty, complexity and ‘wicked problems’ in environmental health settings
  • Critically evaluate current approaches to dealing with uncertainty and ‘wicked problems’ in environmental health settings
  • Select and apply appropriate strategies to deal with uncertainty appropriate to the context
  • Examine future challenges associated with dealing with uncertainty in rapidly changing complex environments in order to sustain a healthy societal future

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
Lecture		3.00 3 weeks 9
Online
Lecture		3.00 9 weeks 27
Unspecified Activities
Independent Learning		9.50 12 weeks 114
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Case Study ReportIndividual 30 - 40% 2,3,4 
EssayIndividual 20 - 30% 1,2 
ReviewIndividual 30 - 40% 1,2,3 

Content

  • Uncertainty, complexity and wicked problems in environmental health settings
  • Global to local governance frameworks for managing uncertainty
  • Risk assessment and risk management frameworks in environmental health, including Health Impact Assessment (HIA), Driver, Pressure, State, Exposure, Effect, Action (DPSEEA), Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) 
  • Evaluating and applying the appropriate approach to managing risks
  • Role of quantitative and qualitative approaches as an evidence base for decision making
  • Systems based thinking, interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary and cross disciplinary approaches
  • The environmental health professional in collaboration, leadership, innovation, ethical practice and as a change agent
  • Future challenges, globalisation, mega risks, societal influences

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.