Assessment Task: Legal case study addressing a public health issue

Background

For this assessment task you will write a case study, in a report format, addressing the legislative and regulatory requirements of a contemporary public health issue. You are required to select a topic from the list provided below. If you have your own topic that you are interested in, you will need to first seek written approval from the Lecturer in Charge (LIC).

Purpose

To enable students to develop their legal knowledge of public health reforms, and the likely effect the implementation of these reforms may have on public health practice and individual health

Instructions

Select one of the following public health topics:

1) A voluntary health warning scheme for alcohol containers was implemented in Australia in 2011. Discuss the merits and disadvantages of voluntary industry self-regulation as an approach to providing health warnings for consumers on alcohol containers. In addressing this topic, you will need to discuss the literature about voluntary vs mandatory approaches to public health regulation as well as the circumstances in which the voluntary scheme was introduced and the research evidence about its effectiveness.

2) Discuss the regulation of electronic nicotine delivery systems (e-cigarettes) in Australia. (Note: you will need to consider regulation at both national and state/territory levels). To what extent is Australia's regulation of e-cigarettes consistent with the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control and the World Health Organization's report on Electronic nicotine delivery systems (submitted to the sixth session of Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2014)?

3) Choose a health-related profession that is not currently registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, such as social work, speech pathology, dietetics or audiology. Discuss the arguments for and against registration of this profession under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, in comparison with other regulatory approaches.

Presentation
The assignment should follow a report-style format with an introduction, number of sections and conclusion. Headings and sub-headings should be used; they also provide clear 'signposts' to your content.

In preparing a report, you should include:

1. A brief introduction (stating rationale, purpose and structure)

2. Number of sections (most of the report)
- describe background and context (historical development, nature and scale of the health problem, political and social context of the legislation)
- explain and analyse the legislative and regulatory framework of the topic
- analyse the legislation in the context of changes and improvements (or otherwise) to public health outcomes
- critique the roles and responsibilities of major stakeholders (government, industry, non-government organisations, etc.) and what role have they played in influencing this legislation? (if applicable)
- analyse and explain whether the national legislation is consistent with international frameworks (if applicable)
- explain the strategies adopted in implementing the legislation.
[Note: The information in the body of the report will vary according to the topic selected for analysis]

3. Conclusion (1 paragraph)
- summarise key points and arguments, and discuss future implications (if applicable). If appropriate, you may also include a number of recommendations in the conclusion.

4. References
A list of references documenting the evidence used to support your arguments, should be presented at the end of the report. Refer to References below for additional details.

In preparing your assignments, students are expected to submit work that adheres to the academic standards required in relation to grammar, expression, formatting, footnoting, referencing and numbering.

1. Factors influencing marking of assignments: While all assessment contains a degree of subjectivity, the following concerns will influence the marking of assignments
- The degree to which to work displays originality
- Ability to obtain and analyse data and to present it appropriately
- Ability to synthesize ideas
- The use of appropriate concepts, models and theories
- The ability to develop and sustain a line of argument
- Wider reading
- Ability to use sources in a critical way
- Recognition of alternative perspectives
- The quality of written expression
- Factual accuracy
- Observance of conventions governing the citation of sources and the use of the words and ideas of others