Overview

This unit provides students with an understanding of the nature and scope of communicable diseases, including identification, control and contemporary management techniques.

Requisites

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:

  • Explain the relationship between immunology and immunisation
  • Contrast the major transmission routes for communicable diseases of public health importance
  • Apply the principles of public health surveillance and epidemiology in relation to investigating communicable disease outbreaks
  • Explain the legislative frameworks for preventing and controlling communicable diseases in Australia
  • Analyse the human and environmental factors that contribute to the emergence of new communicable diseases

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Live Online
Lecture		 2.00  12 weeks  24
On Campus
Class		 1.00  12 weeks  12
Specified Activities 
Various		 2.00  12 weeks  24
Unspecified Activities 
Various		 7.50  12 weeks  90
TOTAL     150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Assignment 1 Individual  15 - 25%  1,2,3
Assignment 2 Individual  15 - 25%  2,3
Assignment 3 Individual  25 - 40% 2,3,4,5
Mid-Semester Test Individual  20 - 30%  1,2 

Content

  • The immune system
  • Vaccines and vaccine-preventable diseases
  • Immunisation requirements and procedures in Australia
  • Social determinants of health and vaccination
  • Principles of epidemiology and outbreak investigation
  • Communicable disease surveillance
  • Public health legislation and notifiable diseases
  • Principles of infection control in skin penetration premises
  • Emerging communicable diseases

Study resources

Reading materials

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