Assessment Task 3: Ministerial Briefing Paper

You work within the Australian Government Department of Health. The Minister for Health has called for a set of briefing papers to outline key health concerns and inform choices on policy, funding, or service approaches.

Select one of the topics below to prepare a briefing paper for the Minister and advisors:

Topic 1: Thunderstorm Asthma and Public Health Preparedness

The Minister seeks details on the thunderstorm asthma event in Victoria that led to fatalities. Focus on how the public health system can better prepare to avoid or manage similar events. Outline steps to improve readiness across Australia.

Topic 2: Dengue Fever Expansion and Response Strategies

Dengue fever, once limited to northern regions, now threatens southern areas due to climate shifts. Review Australia’s current measures against this disease, compare them to global standards, and recommend additional prevention and response actions.

Topic 3: Vitamin Deficiencies in Australia and Intervention Options

Provide the latest data on vitamin deficiencies, such as vitamin D or A, in the population. Identify affected groups and causes, including diet changes or migration. Discuss impacts, ongoing efforts like food fortification, and further public health steps to address the issue.

Guidelines and Requirements

Refer to the framework for Ministerial Briefing Papers available on the CloudDeakin site under Assessment Tasks. Review this document prior to starting.

The briefing paper must range from 3000 to 3500 words, including an annotated list of sources (up to 500 words). Use clear headings, evidence-based analysis, and actionable recommendations.

• Structure the paper with an executive summary, background, analysis, recommendations, and references.
• Support claims with credible sources from peer-reviewed journals or government reports.
• Ensure the language is professional, concise, and suitable for policy advisors.

Submission Details

Submit via the online portal by the due date. Late submissions incur penalties per university policy.

Marking Criteria

1. Understanding of the topic and relevance to public health (20%)
2. Quality of research and evidence integration (25%)
3. Analysis and recommendations (30%)
4. Structure, clarity, and adherence to word limit (15%)
5. Referencing and annotated sources (10%)

Thunderstorm asthma events involve a sudden surge in asthma cases triggered by pollen and weather conditions, as seen in the 2016 Victoria outbreak. Public health systems can enhance readiness through early warning alerts and community education on risk factors. Improved coordination between meteorology and health services could prevent future incidents (Thien et al. 2018, https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1719856). Governments might invest in pollen monitoring networks to provide real-time data for at-risk populations. These measures align with broader climate adaptation strategies in public health.

References

• Thien, F. et al. (2018) ‘The Melbourne epidemic thunderstorm asthma event 2016: an investigation of environmental triggers, effect on health services, and patient risk factors’, The Lancet Planetary Health, 2(6), pp. e255–e263. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(18)30120-7.
• Gyawali, P. et al. (2020) ‘Burden of dengue in Australia: a systematic review’, Tropical Medicine & International Health, 25(10), pp. 1193–1205. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/tmi.13467.
• Black, L.J. et al. (2019) ‘Vitamin D insufficiency in Australia: prevalence and associations with chronic diseases’, Nutrients, 11(5), p. 1105. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11051105.
• World Health Organization (2022) ‘Dengue and severe dengue’, WHO Fact Sheets. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dengue-and-severe-dengue.
• Nowson, C.A. et al. (2018) ‘Vitamin D and health in adults in Australia and New Zealand: a position statement’, Medical Journal of Australia, 208(11), pp. 499–503. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5694/mja17.01148.