Assessment Task: Ministerial Briefing Paper

You are employed by the Australian Government Department of Health. The Minister for Health, the Hon Greg Hunt, has requested a series of briefing papers that will provide a clear overview of selected health issues and guide his decisions in relation to recommended actions, including policy, funding and/orservice delivery concerning these issues.

You have been asked to prepare a briefing paper for the Minister and his advisors on ONE of the following issues:

Topic 1: Thunderstorm asthma and public health

The Minister would like to be briefed on the recent outbreak of thunderstorm asthma in Victoria which claimed several lives. The Minister wants to ensure that the Australian public health system is adequately prepared to prevent, where possible, and respond to any significant incidents in the future. What actions can we take to enhance our readiness?

Topic 2: Dengue fever and public health

Dengue Fever has traditionally troubled residents in northern Australia where tropical climates prevail, however it would appear that it is poses a significant public health threat further south as well now. The Minister requires you to provide an overview of the actions taken by Australia in dealing directly with this threat, contrasting this with international guidelines and protocols for preparedness, and to consider what further actions we should be taking in prevention and response.

Topic 3: Nutrition deficiencies (e.g. vitamin A deficiencies) and public health

The Minister wishes to be advised on the latest evidence about Vitamin deficiencies in Australia. Who is most affected and why? Have there been changes in recent years (for instance due to migration patterns, changes in dietary trends, or other reasons)? What are the potential consequences of these deficiencies? What is currently being done about it in Australia (e.g. supplementing through foods such as breads, cereals and milk), and what else could we in Public Health be doing to ease the burden that Vitamin deficiencies inflicts?

Please do it on Topic 2: Dengue fever and public health.

What SHOULD appear on your submitted paper:

1. A clear structure. A 'stream of consciousness' piece may get you to top marks for literary creativity, but will see you fail this exercise. You are basing your work on the literature, not your own personal opinions or experience.

2. You need to demonstrate that you have read the literature (probably about 15 to 35 references for this assignment), have analysed it and can develop a position on the issue based on this information. You should show that you can synthesize material from different sources. And always, always, cite the sources of the literature you are basing your argument on. This is not just about plagiarism. It is about demonstrating that you are basing your argument on credible and authoritative sources of information.

3. Develop an argument. There is nothing more monumentally boring than an essay that goes something like this: "Radcliffe said..., but Lewis said..., on the other hand Austen wrote...". Not only are you entitled to have an independent opinion, you are encouraged to express it - just make sure you have some evidence to back it up.

Attachment:- Assignment Files.rar