Undergraduate Course Guide Fremantle 2020

30 The heart of the matter While we all accept the fact that ‘prevention is better than cure’, the stresses of modern life often lead us down a path to poor lifestyle choices which, in turn, result in poor health outcomes. That’s why Notre Dame took the bold step of introducing the Bachelor of Health Promotion, a degree aimed directly at equipping students with the knowledge and the skills to bring positive and lasting change to health in the community. And for graduate Hannah Tarrant, it’s already showing real and lasting results. As a former Project Officer with the Heart Foundation, Hannah used the health promotion skills she obtained at Notre Dame to create environments that support healthy and active living. “The Health Promotion program puts a lot of emphasis on the social contributors to health, so you develop a broad understanding of how these factors can influence the wellbeing of individuals in the community,” says Hannah. “The program also develops the ability to address complex, real-world issues through out-of- the-box thinking and collaborative problem solving. “It not only tackles the big picture issues like poor health outcomes and health inequalities, it also addresses the everyday, individual issues. “Whether it’s making a process more efficient or reorienting a health message to ensure it’s resonating with specific target communities, problem solving, critical thinking and strategic thinking are the key to successful outcomes.” Integral to the degree is extensive professional experience that was invaluable to Hannah’s smooth transition into the workplace. “Theory alone won’t ready you for the workplace. My 300 hours of practical placements ensured I was job-ready and gave me the interpersonal skills I need as I work with a lot of different industries,” she says. Hannah’s passion for health promotion continues. As a PhD student at Notre Dame she is studying the impact of ‘social farming’ on young adults with mental illness. She has secured a location to carry out the project in partnership with North Fremantle Social Farm, a community-driven project where local residents connect through growing fruit and vegetables together, on the site of a former bowling green. Hannah has recruited 30 participants through the mental health support service, Headspace Fremantle who have come together to design and build the farm complete with features such as benches and raised plant beds – before planting and growing their crops. “I’m really passionate about physical activity and the built environment, on top of my research focus on mental health,” Hannah says. “I became aware that there is very limited research being conducted in WA in this mental health space, while rates of mental illness— especially among young people— are rising. “Notre Dame gave me the opportunity to combine my passions and pursue this important area of research.” > Discover more about our Health Promotions degree on page 68. HEALTH SCIENCES “...the program develops the ability to deal with complex, real-world issues through out-of-the-box thinking and collaborative problem solving.”