REMH8014 Ethics Power and Practice

This topic aims to develop the reflective practice of students in relation to their role within a multiprofessional team and with the remote and Indigenous community where they work. The topic examines ethics, reflective practice and power relationships as they relate to Indigenous health issues in a remote context. There is an emphasis on working cooperatively and productively within a Primary Health Care framework towards a common outcome of improving the health of remote people. Students are guided through a process of reflection that includes acknowledging their own professional, social, economic and cultural background, which locates them in specific positions of privilege, authority and power. Assessment tasks challenge students to convey their knowledge, understanding, reasoning and decision making in written form and in a culturally safe manner.

This topic aims for health professionals to develop an understanding of and analyse issues relating to the context of Remote and Indigenous health practice, specifically in relation to ethics and the dynamics of power.

1. Discuss ethical theories, the major approaches to ethics and contextualise to your own practice and code of ethics
2. Critically review principle-based ethics as it applies to informed decision making, consent and confidentiality and the analysis of ethical dilemmas in the remote and Indigenous context
3. Review and apply legal issues that are relevant to remote health practice
4. Critically analyse teams, including team member roles and conflict, and generate skills and strategies to promote and maintain effective remote health teams
5. Deconstruct overt and hidden power relationships which exist in remote and Indigenous health care and implement these findings in your own practice