SmarterEd

Aussie Maths & Science Teachers: Save your time with SmarterEd

HMS, HAG EQ-Bank 15 MC

Australia's Health 2024 data shows that Australia had the 15th highest health spending as a proportion of GDP among OECD countries. Which statement BEST analyses this ranking in relation to Australia's health outcomes?

  1. Australia achieves relatively good health outcomes despite moderate health spending levels
  2. Australia spends the least amount on health among all OECD countries
  3. Higher health spending always guarantees better health outcomes across OECD countries
  4. Australia's health spending is below the OECD median for all member countries
Show Answers Only

\(A\)

Show Worked Solution
  • A is correct: Fourth highest life expectancy with 15th highest spending shows efficiency.

Other Options:

  • B is incorrect: 15th highest indicates substantial spending, not lowest.
  • C is incorrect: Spending doesn’t always correlate directly with outcomes.
  • D is incorrect: Australia’s 10.5% GDP exceeds OECD median of 9.5%.

HMS, HAG EQ-Bank 9 MC

A construction worker develops excessive alcohol consumption as a coping mechanism due to long working hours and high workplace pressure, combined with a workplace culture where drinking after work is considered normal bonding behaviour. This scenario demonstrates which combination of sociological causes?

  1. Social relationships and family environment only
  2. Social interaction and culture of everyday life
  3. Culture of everyday life and family environment only
  4. Social relationships and workplace policies only
Show Answers Only

\(B\)

Show Worked Solution
  • B is correct: Work stress shows social interaction; normalised drinking shows cultural factors.

Other Options:

  • A is incorrect: No family factors mentioned in scenario.
  • C is incorrect: Family environment not involved in workplace scenario.
  • D is incorrect: Workplace culture, not policies, and social norms involved.

HMS, HAG EQ-Bank 6 MC

Based on Australia's Health 2024 mortality data, which statement BEST explains the pattern of leading causes of death between males and females in 2022?

  1. Males and females share identical top 5 causes of death in the same ranking order
  2. The same 5 conditions cause the most deaths but males have higher absolute numbers for coronary heart disease
  3. Infectious diseases rank higher for females than males in the top 5 causes
  4. Cancer-related deaths affect males significantly more than females across all types
Show Answers Only

\(B\)

Show Worked Solution
  • B is correct: Same 5 causes but males have 11,303 coronary deaths vs 10,976 females.

Other Options:

  • A is incorrect: Same causes but different ranking order between genders.
  • C is incorrect: COVID-19 ranks similarly for both genders.
  • D is incorrect: Lung cancer affects both genders in top 5.

Functions, 2ADV F1 EQ-Bank 1 MC

The graph of a quadratic function  \(f(x)=a x^2+b x+c\)  is drawn below.
 

Which of the following are true?

  1. \(a<0, c=0\)  and  \(b^2-4 a c=0\)
  2. \(a>0, c=0\)  and  \(b^2-4 a c=0\)
  3. \(a>0, c>0\)  and  \(b^2-4 a c>0\)
  4. \(a<0, c>0\)  and  \(b^2-4 a c=0\)
Show Answers Only

\(D\)

Show Worked Solution

\(\text{Quadratic touches } x \text{-axis once only} \ \ \Rightarrow b^2-4 a c=0\ \ \text{(eliminate C)}\)

\(\text{Quadratic is inverted} \Rightarrow a<0 \ \ \text{(eliminate B)}\)

\(\text{If} \ \ c=0, f(x)=a x^2+b x+0=x(a x+b) \Rightarrow \text{cuts twice (Eliminate A)}\)

\(\Rightarrow D\)

Calculus, 2ADV C4 EQ-Bank 2

  1. The graph of \(f(x)\) is drawn below
     

  1. Evaluate \(\displaystyle \int_0^6 f(x)\, d x\)   (2 marks)

  2. Evaluate \(\displaystyle \int_0^6[f(x)-3]\, d x\)    (2 marks)

  3. Evaluate \(\displaystyle \int_4^6 f^{\prime}(x)\, d x\)   (1 mark)

Show Answers Only

a.   \(8 \dfrac{1}{2}\)

b.   \(-9 \dfrac{1}{2}\)

c.   \(-3\)

Show Worked Solution

a.
     

\(\displaystyle \int_0^6 f(x)\) \(=\text{net area above the}\ x \text{-axis }\)
  \(=\text{Area 1}+ \text{Area 3}-\text{Area 2}\)
  \(=\left(6+1 \dfrac{1}{2}\right)+3-2\)
  \(=8 \dfrac{1}{2}\)

 

b.    \(f(x)-3 \ \ \text{shifts graph (above) 3 units lower:}\)
 

\(\displaystyle\int_0^6[f(x)-3] \ \ \text{will be negative (areas below \(x\)-axis)}\)
  \(=-\left(1 \dfrac{1}{2}+5+3\right)\)
  \(=-9 \dfrac{1}{2}\)

 

c.     \(\displaystyle \int_4^6 f^{\prime}(x) d x\) \(=[f(x)]_4^6\)
    \(=f(6)-f(4)\)
    \(=0-3\)
    \(=-3\)

HMS, HIC 2012 HSC 33b

Evaluate the characteristics of health promotion strategies that may contribute to their success.   (12 marks)

Show Answers Only

Evaluation Statement

  • Health promotion strategies demonstrate varying levels of effectiveness depending on their design characteristics and implementation approach.
  • Assessment reveals that community engagement, evidence-based targeting and sustainable funding are most critical for achieving successful health outcomes.

Community Engagement and Cultural Relevance

  • Community involvement shows excellent effectiveness in ensuring health promotion strategies meet population needs and gain widespread acceptance.
  • Programs developed with target communities demonstrate superior participation rates and sustained behaviour change compared to top-down approaches.
  • Aboriginal health programs incorporating Elder knowledge and cultural practices achieve significantly better outcomes than culturally inappropriate interventions.
      
  • Target group participation in program design creates strong ownership and relevance that enhances message acceptance.
  • For example, youth-led anti-smoking campaigns resonate more effectively with teenagers than adult-designed programs.
  • Cultural competence proves essential for reaching diverse populations effectively.
  • Multilingual resources and culturally appropriate imagery increase program accessibility and effectiveness across different demographic groups.

Evidence-Based Targeting and Intersectoral Collaboration

  • Scientific evidence demonstrates high value in guiding strategy development and resource allocation toward proven interventions.
  • Programs targeting specific risk factors with measurable objectives achieve superior results compared to broad, unfocused approaches.
  • Heart health initiatives focusing on dietary modification and physical activity show clear effectiveness through reduced cardiovascular disease rates in targeted populations.
     
  • Intersectoral collaboration produces substantial benefits by addressing multiple health determinants simultaneously.
  • Partnerships between health services, schools, community organisations and government agencies create comprehensive support systems that reinforce health messages across different environments.
  • Australia’s Slip Slop Slap campaign exemplifies this approach, combining media, education and policy interventions to achieve remarkable success in reducing skin cancer rates.

Final Evaluation

  • Assessment demonstrates that highly successful health promotion strategies consistently incorporate community engagement, cultural relevance, evidence-based targeting and intersectoral collaboration.
  • These characteristics create optimal conditions for sustainable health behaviour change and maximum population impact across diverse Australian communities.
Show Worked Solution

Evaluation Statement

  • Health promotion strategies demonstrate varying levels of effectiveness depending on their design characteristics and implementation approach.
  • Assessment reveals that community engagement, evidence-based targeting and sustainable funding are most critical for achieving successful health outcomes.

Community Engagement and Cultural Relevance

  • Community involvement shows excellent effectiveness in ensuring health promotion strategies meet population needs and gain widespread acceptance.
  • Programs developed with target communities demonstrate superior participation rates and sustained behaviour change compared to top-down approaches.
  • Aboriginal health programs incorporating Elder knowledge and cultural practices achieve significantly better outcomes than culturally inappropriate interventions.
      
  • Target group participation in program design creates strong ownership and relevance that enhances message acceptance.
  • For example, youth-led anti-smoking campaigns resonate more effectively with teenagers than adult-designed programs.
  • Cultural competence proves essential for reaching diverse populations effectively.
  • Multilingual resources and culturally appropriate imagery increase program accessibility and effectiveness across different demographic groups.

Evidence-Based Targeting and Intersectoral Collaboration

  • Scientific evidence demonstrates high value in guiding strategy development and resource allocation toward proven interventions.
  • Programs targeting specific risk factors with measurable objectives achieve superior results compared to broad, unfocused approaches.
  • Heart health initiatives focusing on dietary modification and physical activity show clear effectiveness through reduced cardiovascular disease rates in targeted populations.
     
  • Intersectoral collaboration produces substantial benefits by addressing multiple health determinants simultaneously.
  • Partnerships between health services, schools, community organisations and government agencies create comprehensive support systems that reinforce health messages across different environments.
  • Australia’s Slip Slop Slap campaign exemplifies this approach, combining media, education and policy interventions to achieve remarkable success in reducing skin cancer rates.

Final Evaluation

  • Assessment demonstrates that highly successful health promotion strategies consistently incorporate community engagement, cultural relevance, evidence-based targeting and intersectoral collaboration.
  • These characteristics create optimal conditions for sustainable health behaviour change and maximum population impact across diverse Australian communities.

♦♦♦♦ Mean mark 28%.

HMS, HAG 2012 HSC 33a

What issues should be considered when determining the allocation of funding to address health inequities of specific population groups?   (8 marks)

Show Answers Only
  • Population health data guides funding priorities by identifying groups with the greatest health disparities and highest disease burden.
  • Epidemiological evidence reveals mortality and morbidity patterns that inform resource allocation decisions.
  • For example, higher cardiovascular disease rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples necessitate increased funding for culturally appropriate prevention programs.
      
  • Geographic accessibility influences funding distribution as remote and rural populations require different service delivery models.
  • Distance from healthcare facilities creates additional costs for mobile services, telehealth infrastructure and specialist visits.
  • This results in higher per-capita funding requirements for geographically isolated communities compared to metropolitan areas.
      
  • Cost-effectiveness analysis determines optimal resource allocation by comparing intervention outcomes with financial investment.
  • Prevention programs demonstrate better long-term value than treatment-focused approaches because they reduce future healthcare costs.
  • For instance, immunisation programs prevent expensive disease management while smoking cessation initiatives reduce cardiovascular treatment expenditure.
      
  • Political and social considerations affect funding decisions through community advocacy, media attention and electoral priorities.
  • Visible health issues attract greater public support and government commitment resulting in disproportionate funding allocation.
  • However, this can lead to neglect of less publicised health problems affecting smaller population groups.
      
  • Administrative capacity impacts funding effectiveness as some organisations possess better infrastructure and expertise to implement health programs successfully than others.
Show Worked Solution
  • Population health data guides funding priorities by identifying groups with the greatest health disparities and highest disease burden.
  • Epidemiological evidence reveals mortality and morbidity patterns that inform resource allocation decisions.
  • For example, higher cardiovascular disease rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples necessitate increased funding for culturally appropriate prevention programs.
      
  • Geographic accessibility influences funding distribution as remote and rural populations require different service delivery models.
  • Distance from healthcare facilities creates additional costs for mobile services, telehealth infrastructure and specialist visits.
  • This results in higher per-capita funding requirements for geographically isolated communities compared to metropolitan areas.
      
  • Cost-effectiveness analysis determines optimal resource allocation by comparing intervention outcomes with financial investment.
  • Prevention programs demonstrate better long-term value than treatment-focused approaches because they reduce future healthcare costs.
  • For instance, immunisation programs prevent expensive disease management while smoking cessation initiatives reduce cardiovascular treatment expenditure.
      
  • Political and social considerations affect funding decisions through community advocacy, media attention and electoral priorities.
  • Visible health issues attract greater public support and government commitment resulting in disproportionate funding allocation.
  • However, this can lead to neglect of less publicised health problems affecting smaller population groups.
      
  • Administrative capacity impacts funding effectiveness as some organisations possess better infrastructure and expertise to implement health programs successfully than others.

♦♦ Mean mark 44%.

HMS, TIP 2012 HSC 32b

Evaluate the risks and ethical issues related to the use of drugs to improve performance.   (12 marks)

Show Answers Only

Evaluation Statement

  • Performance-enhancing drug use presents significant risks and serious ethical concerns that outweigh potential performance benefits.
  • Assessment reveals substantial health dangers and major ethical violations that undermine sport integrity.

Health and Safety Risks

  • Drug use demonstrates severe health consequences affecting multiple body systems and long-term wellbeing.
  • Anabolic steroids cause liver damage, cardiovascular disease and hormonal disruptions that persist beyond athletic careers.
  • EPO increases blood viscosity, creating high risk of stroke and heart attack, particularly during intense competition.
  • Stimulants produce cardiac arrhythmias and hyperthermia that can result in sudden death during performance.
      
  • Long-term health effects prove extremely concerning as many consequences emerge years after use ceases.
  • Steroid use in adolescents causes premature growth plate closure, permanently stunting height development.
  • Female athletes experience masculinisation effects including voice deepening and increased body hair that remain irreversible.
  • Mental health impacts include depression, aggression and dependency issues that affect life quality beyond sport participation.

Ethical and Fair Play Issues

  • Drug use creates fundamental ethical problems that violate sport integrity and fair competition principles.
  • Enhanced performance through artificial means provides unfair advantages over clean athletes who train naturally.
  • This undermines fair competition in sport and devalues genuine athletic achievement earned through training and talent.
      
  • Role model responsibilities present serious ethical concerns as athletes influence youth behaviour and sporting culture.
  • Professional athletes using drugs send dangerous messages to young participants who may emulate these practices.
  • This perpetuates harmful behaviours throughout sporting communities and normalises cheating as acceptable practice.

Final Evaluation

  • Evidence demonstrates that performance-enhancing drugs present unacceptable risks and severe ethical violations that cannot be justified by temporary performance gains.
  • The overwhelming negative consequences for individual health and sport integrity establish drug use as fundamentally incompatible with ethical athletic participation.
Show Worked Solution

Evaluation Statement

  • Performance-enhancing drug use presents significant risks and serious ethical concerns that outweigh potential performance benefits.
  • Assessment reveals substantial health dangers and major ethical violations that undermine sport integrity.

Health and Safety Risks

  • Drug use demonstrates severe health consequences affecting multiple body systems and long-term wellbeing.
  • Anabolic steroids cause liver damage, cardiovascular disease and hormonal disruptions that persist beyond athletic careers.
  • EPO increases blood viscosity, creating high risk of stroke and heart attack, particularly during intense competition.
  • Stimulants produce cardiac arrhythmias and hyperthermia that can result in sudden death during performance.
      
  • Long-term health effects prove extremely concerning as many consequences emerge years after use ceases.
  • Steroid use in adolescents causes premature growth plate closure, permanently stunting height development.
  • Female athletes experience masculinisation effects including voice deepening and increased body hair that remain irreversible.
  • Mental health impacts include depression, aggression and dependency issues that affect life quality beyond sport participation.

Ethical and Fair Play Issues

  • Drug use creates fundamental ethical problems that violate sport integrity and fair competition principles.
  • Enhanced performance through artificial means provides unfair advantages over clean athletes who train naturally.
  • This undermines fair competition in sport and devalues genuine athletic achievement earned through training and talent.
      
  • Role model responsibilities present serious ethical concerns as athletes influence youth behaviour and sporting culture.
  • Professional athletes using drugs send dangerous messages to young participants who may emulate these practices.
  • This perpetuates harmful behaviours throughout sporting communities and normalises cheating as acceptable practice.

Final Evaluation

  • Evidence demonstrates that performance-enhancing drugs present unacceptable risks and severe ethical violations that cannot be justified by temporary performance gains.
  • The overwhelming negative consequences for individual health and sport integrity establish drug use as fundamentally incompatible with ethical athletic participation.

HMS, TIP 2012 HSC 32a

Explain the relationship between planning and the avoidance of overtraining.   (8 marks)

Show Answers Only
  • Systematic training planning prevents overtraining by establishing appropriate work-to-rest ratios throughout training cycles. Periodised programs divide the training year into specific phases that allow for recovery periods between intense training blocks. When planning is absent, athletes risk accumulating excessive fatigue leading to performance decline and injury.
  • Training load progression requires careful monitoring to avoid sudden increases in volume or intensity. Progressive overload principles ensure gradual adaptation while planned recovery periods allow physiological systems to adapt and strengthen. For example, a swimmer’s training plan increases weekly distance by only 10% to prevent overuse injuries and chronic fatigue syndrome.
  • Periodisation models incorporate strategic recovery phases that prevent accumulated stress from becoming overtraining syndrome. Macrocycles include preparation, competition and transition periods with varying intensities designed to optimise performance timing. Mesocycles alternate high-intensity training blocks with recovery weeks. This structure ensures athletes peak for competitions while avoiding prolonged high-stress training periods.
  • Individual athlete monitoring enables coaches to adjust training plans based on physiological and psychological indicators throughout the season. Heart rate variability, sleep quality and perceived exertion data inform daily training modifications and recovery protocols. When planning incorporates these feedback mechanisms, it becomes possible to reduce training loads before overtraining symptoms develop. This also facilitates the maintenance of optimal performance capacity throughout the competitive season and prevents long-term performance plateaus and health complications.
Show Worked Solution
  • Systematic training planning prevents overtraining by establishing appropriate work-to-rest ratios throughout training cycles. Periodised programs divide the training year into specific phases that allow for recovery periods between intense training blocks. When planning is absent, athletes risk accumulating excessive fatigue leading to performance decline and injury.
  • Training load progression requires careful monitoring to avoid sudden increases in volume or intensity. Progressive overload principles ensure gradual adaptation while planned recovery periods allow physiological systems to adapt and strengthen. For example, a swimmer’s training plan increases weekly distance by only 10% to prevent overuse injuries and chronic fatigue syndrome.
  • Periodisation models incorporate strategic recovery phases that prevent accumulated stress from becoming overtraining syndrome. Macrocycles include preparation, competition and transition periods with varying intensities designed to optimise performance timing. Mesocycles alternate high-intensity training blocks with recovery weeks. This structure ensures athletes peak for competitions while avoiding prolonged high-stress training periods.
  • Individual athlete monitoring enables coaches to adjust training plans based on physiological and psychological indicators throughout the season. Heart rate variability, sleep quality and perceived exertion data inform daily training modifications and recovery protocols. When planning incorporates these feedback mechanisms, it becomes possible to reduce training loads before overtraining symptoms develop. This also facilitates the maintenance of optimal performance capacity throughout the competitive season and prevents long-term performance plateaus and health complications.

♦♦ Mean mark 47%.

HMS, HIC 2012 HSC 29b

Assess the skills that enable young people to attain better health.   (12 marks)

Show Answers Only

Assessment Statement

  • Individual health skills are highly effective in enabling young people to attain better health outcomes.
  • Assessment demonstrates significant value in developing self-efficacy, health literacy and resilience as primary factors for health improvement.

Self-efficacy and Resilience

  • Self-efficacy demonstrates strong effectiveness in empowering young people to make positive health decisions and maintain long-term behavioural changes.
  • Young people with high self-belief successfully manage stress, resist peer pressure and maintain healthy behaviours despite external challenges.
  • Evidence shows adolescents with developed self-efficacy achieve higher physical activity levels and better nutritional choices compared to those lacking confidence in their abilities.
      
  • Resilience produces substantial results in helping young people recover from health challenges and setbacks while building emotional strength.
  • Resilient teenagers effectively cope with mental health issues, family problems and academic stress without resorting to harmful behaviours such as substance abuse or self-harm.
  • Research indicates resilient youth demonstrate lower rates of depression and substance abuse across various socioeconomic backgrounds.

Health Literacy and Help-seeking

  • Health literacy shows considerable impact on young people’s ability to access, understand and interpret complex health information from multiple sources.
  • Students with strong health literacy skills make informed decisions about sexual health, nutrition and mental wellbeing while critically evaluating health information.
  • They effectively navigate healthcare systems and understand preventive health measures including vaccination and screening programs.
      
  • Help-seeking behaviours demonstrate high practical value when young people face health challenges requiring professional intervention or support.
  • Those comfortable seeking support from trusted adults, school counsellors or health professionals receive early intervention for emerging problems.
  • This prevents minor issues from developing into serious health conditions requiring intensive treatment and long-term management.

Overall Assessment

  • Assessment reveals excellent overall effectiveness of individual health skills in promoting better health outcomes for young Australians.
  • The combined development of multiple skills creates comprehensive protection against health risks while enabling proactive health management throughout adolescence and into adulthood.
Show Worked Solution

Assessment Statement

  • Individual health skills are highly effective in enabling young people to attain better health outcomes.
  • Assessment demonstrates significant value in developing self-efficacy, health literacy and resilience as primary factors for health improvement.

Self-efficacy and Resilience

  • Self-efficacy demonstrates strong effectiveness in empowering young people to make positive health decisions and maintain long-term behavioural changes.
  • Young people with high self-belief successfully manage stress, resist peer pressure and maintain healthy behaviours despite external challenges.
  • Evidence shows adolescents with developed self-efficacy achieve higher physical activity levels and better nutritional choices compared to those lacking confidence in their abilities.
      
  • Resilience produces substantial results in helping young people recover from health challenges and setbacks while building emotional strength.
  • Resilient teenagers effectively cope with mental health issues, family problems and academic stress without resorting to harmful behaviours such as substance abuse or self-harm.
  • Research indicates resilient youth demonstrate lower rates of depression and substance abuse across various socioeconomic backgrounds.

Health Literacy and Help-seeking

  • Health literacy shows considerable impact on young people’s ability to access, understand and interpret complex health information from multiple sources.
  • Students with strong health literacy skills make informed decisions about sexual health, nutrition and mental wellbeing while critically evaluating health information.
  • They effectively navigate healthcare systems and understand preventive health measures including vaccination and screening programs.
      
  • Help-seeking behaviours demonstrate high practical value when young people face health challenges requiring professional intervention or support.
  • Those comfortable seeking support from trusted adults, school counsellors or health professionals receive early intervention for emerging problems.
  • This prevents minor issues from developing into serious health conditions requiring intensive treatment and long-term management.

Overall Assessment

  • Assessment reveals excellent overall effectiveness of individual health skills in promoting better health outcomes for young Australians.
  • The combined development of multiple skills creates comprehensive protection against health risks while enabling proactive health management throughout adolescence and into adulthood.

♦♦♦♦ Mean mark 34%.

HMS, HIC 2012 HSC 29a

Explain the determining factors that affect the health of young people in Australia.   (8 marks)

Show Answers Only
  • Socioeconomic factors significantly impact young people’s health through education, employment and income levels. When families experience financial disadvantage, this leads to reduced access to nutritious food, healthcare services and recreational facilities. For example, adolescents from low-income households are more likely to consume processed foods due to cost constraints, resulting in higher obesity rates and nutritional deficiencies. Educational disadvantage creates limited health literacy, preventing young people from making informed health decisions.
  • Environmental determinants influence health through both built and natural surroundings. Poor housing conditions create respiratory problems while lack of safe recreational spaces limits physical activity opportunities. Urban pollution causes increased asthma rates among young people, particularly those living near busy roads or industrial areas. Inadequate transport infrastructure results in social isolation and reduced healthcare access.
  • Sociocultural factors shape health behaviours through peer influence, family values and cultural norms. Social media exposure leads to body image concerns and mental health issues among teenagers. Family attitudes towards alcohol and substance use directly affect adolescent experimentation patterns. Cultural beliefs about help-seeking behaviour can prevent young people from accessing mental health support services.
  • Individual health behaviours determine immediate and long-term health outcomes. Risk-taking behaviours such as excessive alcohol consumption, smoking and unprotected sexual activity result in acute injuries, addiction and sexually transmitted infections among young Australians.
Show Worked Solution
  • Socioeconomic factors significantly impact young people’s health through education, employment and income levels. When families experience financial disadvantage, this leads to reduced access to nutritious food, healthcare services and recreational facilities. For example, adolescents from low-income households are more likely to consume processed foods due to cost constraints, resulting in higher obesity rates and nutritional deficiencies. Educational disadvantage creates limited health literacy, preventing young people from making informed health decisions.
  • Environmental determinants influence health through both built and natural surroundings. Poor housing conditions create respiratory problems while lack of safe recreational spaces limits physical activity opportunities. Urban pollution causes increased asthma rates among young people, particularly those living near busy roads or industrial areas. Inadequate transport infrastructure results in social isolation and reduced healthcare access.
  • Sociocultural factors shape health behaviours through peer influence, family values and cultural norms. Social media exposure leads to body image concerns and mental health issues among teenagers. Family attitudes towards alcohol and substance use directly affect adolescent experimentation patterns. Cultural beliefs about help-seeking behaviour can prevent young people from accessing mental health support services.
  • Individual health behaviours determine immediate and long-term health outcomes. Risk-taking behaviours such as excessive alcohol consumption, smoking and unprotected sexual activity result in acute injuries, addiction and sexually transmitted infections among young Australians.

♦♦ Mean mark 50%.

HMS, HAG 2012 HSC 24

Explain the roles of individuals, communities and governments in addressing the health inequities experienced by ONE group other than Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.   (8 marks)

Show Answers Only

Socioeconomically disadvantaged people experience significant health inequities requiring coordinated responses.

  • Individual roles involve pursuing education and employment opportunities, which leads to improved income and health outcomes. Disadvantaged individuals can access community health services, resulting in better preventive care. This occurs when people develop health literacy skills and seek appropriate medical attention early.
  • Community organisations provide essential support services that bridge healthcare gaps. For example, community health centres offer bulk-billing services in low-income areas, ensuring affordable healthcare access. Food banks and community kitchens address nutritional needs, while employment training programs create pathways to economic stability.
  • Government interventions target systemic inequities through policy and funding. Medicare provides universal healthcare coverage, removing financial barriers to medical treatment. Centrelink payments ensure basic income support, enabling disadvantaged families to meet essential needs. Public housing programs address accommodation security, which directly impacts health outcomes.
  • Collaborative approaches prove most effective when all three levels work together. This integration results in comprehensive support addressing multiple determinants of health simultaneously.
Show Worked Solution

Socioeconomically disadvantaged people experience significant health inequities requiring coordinated responses.

  • Individual roles involve pursuing education and employment opportunities, which leads to improved income and health outcomes. Disadvantaged individuals can access community health services, resulting in better preventive care. This occurs when people develop health literacy skills and seek appropriate medical attention early.
  • Community organisations provide essential support services that bridge healthcare gaps. For example, community health centres offer bulk-billing services in low-income areas, ensuring affordable healthcare access. Food banks and community kitchens address nutritional needs, while employment training programs create pathways to economic stability.
  • Government interventions target systemic inequities through policy and funding. Medicare provides universal healthcare coverage, removing financial barriers to medical treatment. Centrelink payments ensure basic income support, enabling disadvantaged families to meet essential needs. Public housing programs address accommodation security, which directly impacts health outcomes.
  • Collaborative approaches prove most effective when all three levels work together. This integration results in comprehensive support addressing multiple determinants of health simultaneously.

♦♦ Mean mark 46%.

HMS, HAG 2012 HSC 10 MC

Which of the following is a government strategy that promotes the social justice principle of diversity?

  1. Involving community groups in the planning of their local area health services
  2. Increasing the amount of funding to address the health needs of ATSI peoples
  3. Road safety education programs that target behaviours of adolescents
  4. Legislation to ban smoking in the workplace and public spaces
Show Answers Only

\(A\)

Show Worked Solution
  • A is correct: Community involvement promotes participation and recognises diverse needs.

Other Options:

  • B is incorrect: This promotes equity rather than diversity.
  • C is incorrect: Age-targeted programs don’t address diversity principles.
  • D is incorrect: Universal smoking bans promote health but not diversity.

♦♦♦♦ Mean mark 38%.

HMS, HIC 2012 HSC 6 MC

A doctor prescribes nicotine patches as a strategy to help patients stop smoking.

Which action area of the Ottawa Charter is the doctor implementing?

  1. Building public policy
  2. Developing personal skills
  3. Re-orienting health services
  4. Creating a supportive environment
Show Answers Only

\(C\)

Show Worked Solution
  • C is correct: Doctor providing smoking cessation treatment represents re-orienting health services.

Other Options:

  • A is incorrect: Building policy involves legislation and population-level strategies.
  • B is incorrect: Developing skills focuses on individual knowledge and capabilities.
  • D is incorrect: Creating environments involves changing physical or social settings.

♦♦ Mean mark 44%.

HMS, HIC 2013 HSC 33b

How can the social justice framework be applied to address the causal factors of health inequities?   (12 marks)

Show Answers Only
  • The social justice framework provides systematic approaches to address health inequity causes. It ensures fair distribution of resources and opportunities across all population groups through structured policy interventions.
  • Participation enables disadvantaged communities to engage in health decision-making processes that affect their wellbeing and community outcomes. Community consultation programs allow Indigenous communities to design culturally appropriate health services. These services address specific needs rather than imposing mainstream approaches that ignore cultural values. Health committees include diverse population representatives who can identify local health priorities and barriers. Such involvement ensures that interventions reflect actual community needs rather than government assumptions. This results in more effective and acceptable health programs that communities actively support.
  • Equity requires resource allocation based on need rather than equal distribution. This ensures disadvantaged groups receive additional support to achieve similar health outcomes as privileged populations. Targeted funding for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations provides culturally safe healthcare. This addresses historical trauma and systemic discrimination effects. Additional funding for rural health services compensates for geographic disadvantages. These include mobile clinics, specialist visits and telehealth services. The approach recognises that equal treatment does not produce equal outcomes.
  • Access focuses on removing structural barriers that prevent people from obtaining necessary health services. Medicare provides universal healthcare coverage that eliminates financial barriers to essential medical treatment. Interpreter services remove language barriers for multicultural communities, enabling effective healthcare communication. These measures ensure that structural obstacles do not determine health outcomes.
  • Rights establish legal entitlements to health services and protection from discrimination. These cannot be denied based on personal characteristics or group membership. Anti-discrimination legislation protects people with disability from healthcare exclusion, ensuring equal treatment access.
Show Worked Solution
  • The social justice framework provides systematic approaches to address health inequity causes. It ensures fair distribution of resources and opportunities across all population groups through structured policy interventions.
  • Participation enables disadvantaged communities to engage in health decision-making processes that affect their wellbeing and community outcomes. Community consultation programs allow Indigenous communities to design culturally appropriate health services. These services address specific needs rather than imposing mainstream approaches that ignore cultural values. Health committees include diverse population representatives who can identify local health priorities and barriers. Such involvement ensures that interventions reflect actual community needs rather than government assumptions. This results in more effective and acceptable health programs that communities actively support.
  • Equity requires resource allocation based on need rather than equal distribution. This ensures disadvantaged groups receive additional support to achieve similar health outcomes as privileged populations. Targeted funding for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations provides culturally safe healthcare. This addresses historical trauma and systemic discrimination effects. Additional funding for rural health services compensates for geographic disadvantages. These include mobile clinics, specialist visits and telehealth services. The approach recognises that equal treatment does not produce equal outcomes.
  • Access focuses on removing structural barriers that prevent people from obtaining necessary health services. Medicare provides universal healthcare coverage that eliminates financial barriers to essential medical treatment. Interpreter services remove language barriers for multicultural communities, enabling effective healthcare communication. These measures ensure that structural obstacles do not determine health outcomes.
  • Rights establish legal entitlements to health services and protection from discrimination. These cannot be denied based on personal characteristics or group membership. Anti-discrimination legislation protects people with disability from healthcare exclusion, ensuring equal treatment access.

♦♦♦♦ Mean mark 36%.

HMS, HAG 2013 HSC 33a

Explain TWO factors that contribute to health inequities in different population groups.   (8 marks)

Show Answers Only
  • Health inequities arise from complex interactions between social, economic and environmental factors that systematically disadvantage certain population groups through unequal access to health-promoting resources.
  • Socioeconomic disadvantage creates health inequities by limiting access to essential health-promoting resources and opportunities. Low income levels restrict access to nutritious foods, safe housing and quality healthcare services that are necessary for optimal health outcomes. Educational limitations reduce health literacy and decision-making capacity, leading to poor health choices and delayed healthcare seeking. Employment instability generates chronic stress and prevents consistent healthcare access through insurance coverage. This results in higher rates of chronic diseases, mental health issues and premature mortality among disadvantaged populations compared to affluent groups.
  • Geographic isolation contributes to health inequities through reduced access to healthcare services and health-promoting infrastructure. Rural and remote communities experience significant barriers including limited healthcare facilities, specialist shortages and extensive travel requirements for medical care. Distance from services delays emergency treatment and prevents regular preventive healthcare access. Poor infrastructure limits access to clean water, sanitation systems and recreational facilities that support healthy lifestyles. These geographic barriers result in higher injury rates, unmanaged chronic conditions and reduced life expectancy compared to metropolitan populations.
  • Both factors interact to compound disadvantage, as socioeconomically disadvantaged groups are more likely to live in geographically isolated areas where healthcare access remains most limited.
Show Worked Solution
  • Health inequities arise from complex interactions between social, economic and environmental factors that systematically disadvantage certain population groups through unequal access to health-promoting resources.
  • Socioeconomic disadvantage creates health inequities by limiting access to essential health-promoting resources and opportunities. Low income levels restrict access to nutritious foods, safe housing and quality healthcare services that are necessary for optimal health outcomes. Educational limitations reduce health literacy and decision-making capacity, leading to poor health choices and delayed healthcare seeking. Employment instability generates chronic stress and prevents consistent healthcare access through insurance coverage. This results in higher rates of chronic diseases, mental health issues and premature mortality among disadvantaged populations compared to affluent groups.
  • Geographic isolation contributes to health inequities through reduced access to healthcare services and health-promoting infrastructure. Rural and remote communities experience significant barriers including limited healthcare facilities, specialist shortages and extensive travel requirements for medical care. Distance from services delays emergency treatment and prevents regular preventive healthcare access. Poor infrastructure limits access to clean water, sanitation systems and recreational facilities that support healthy lifestyles. These geographic barriers result in higher injury rates, unmanaged chronic conditions and reduced life expectancy compared to metropolitan populations.
  • Both factors interact to compound disadvantage, as socioeconomically disadvantaged groups are more likely to live in geographically isolated areas where healthcare access remains most limited.

♦♦ Mean mark 54%.

HMS, TIP 2013 HSC 32b

Justify each of the elements that need to be considered when designing a training session.   (12 marks)

Show Answers Only

Position Statement

  • Each training session element is essential for optimal athlete development because they systematically address safety, skill acquisition, physical adaptation and performance evaluation requirements.

Health and Safety Considerations

  • Health and safety considerations provide the fundamental foundation for all training activities by protecting athlete welfare and preventing injury occurrence.
  • Pre-session injury screening identifies existing limitations that require modification or exclusion from certain exercises.
  • Environmental assessments ensure appropriate conditions for safe training, including surface quality, weather conditions and equipment functionality.
  • Risk management protocols establish emergency procedures and first aid accessibility for immediate response.
  • Evidence demonstrates that systematic safety planning reduces training injuries by 40-60%, protecting athletes from setbacks that could compromise seasonal preparation and competitive readiness.
  • Without proper safety frameworks, training sessions become liability risks that potentially cause long-term athlete harm and program disruption.

Warm-up and Cool-down Protocols

  • Warm-up and cool-down protocols prepare the body physiologically and psychologically whilst facilitating optimal recovery processes between sessions.
  • Progressive warm-up activities increase core temperature, heart rate and joint mobility that enable safe transition to high-intensity training loads.
  • Neural activation exercises prepare the nervous system for complex movement patterns and skill execution demands.
  • Cool-down protocols facilitate lactate clearance, reduce muscle stiffness and promote parasympathetic recovery responses.
  • Research confirms that structured warm-ups reduce injury rates by 25-30% whilst effective cool-downs accelerate recovery between training sessions.

Skill Development Integration

  • Skill instruction and practice enable technique refinement and tactical understanding that directly transfer to competitive performance scenarios.
  • Progressive skill development ensures athletes master fundamental movements before advancing to sport-specific applications. 
  • This builds confidence and competence systematically through structured learning progressions.

Reinforcement

  • The evidence overwhelmingly supports comprehensive training session design because each element addresses specific physiological and psychological needs that combine to create optimal learning and adaptation environments for sustained athletic development and competitive success.
Show Worked Solution

Position Statement

  • Each training session element is essential for optimal athlete development because they systematically address safety, skill acquisition, physical adaptation and performance evaluation requirements.

Health and Safety Considerations

  • Health and safety considerations provide the fundamental foundation for all training activities by protecting athlete welfare and preventing injury occurrence.
  • Pre-session injury screening identifies existing limitations that require modification or exclusion from certain exercises.
  • Environmental assessments ensure appropriate conditions for safe training, including surface quality, weather conditions and equipment functionality.
  • Risk management protocols establish emergency procedures and first aid accessibility for immediate response.
  • Evidence demonstrates that systematic safety planning reduces training injuries by 40-60%, protecting athletes from setbacks that could compromise seasonal preparation and competitive readiness.
  • Without proper safety frameworks, training sessions become liability risks that potentially cause long-term athlete harm and program disruption.

Warm-up and Cool-down Protocols

  • Warm-up and cool-down protocols prepare the body physiologically and psychologically whilst facilitating optimal recovery processes between sessions.
  • Progressive warm-up activities increase core temperature, heart rate and joint mobility that enable safe transition to high-intensity training loads.
  • Neural activation exercises prepare the nervous system for complex movement patterns and skill execution demands.
  • Cool-down protocols facilitate lactate clearance, reduce muscle stiffness and promote parasympathetic recovery responses.
  • Research confirms that structured warm-ups reduce injury rates by 25-30% whilst effective cool-downs accelerate recovery between training sessions.

Skill Development Integration

  • Skill instruction and practice enable technique refinement and tactical understanding that directly transfer to competitive performance scenarios.
  • Progressive skill development ensures athletes master fundamental movements before advancing to sport-specific applications. 
  • This builds confidence and competence systematically through structured learning progressions.

Reinforcement

  • The evidence overwhelmingly supports comprehensive training session design because each element addresses specific physiological and psychological needs that combine to create optimal learning and adaptation environments for sustained athletic development and competitive success.

♦♦ Mean mark 51%.

HMS, TIP 2013 HSC 31a

How are skill and physical tests used to indicate an athlete's readiness to return to play after injury?   (8 marks)

Show Answers Only
  • Skill and physical tests provide objective measures that ensure athletes have regained necessary capacities before resuming competitive participation safely.
  • Physical testing assesses whether injured body parts have recovered sufficient strength, flexibility and endurance. Strength testing compares the injured limb to the uninjured side, requiring 90-95% strength return before clearance. A footballer with hamstring injury must demonstrate equal strength between both legs through isokinetic testing. Range of motion assessments confirm full joint mobility has returned, preventing re-injury from compensatory movement patterns. Cardiovascular fitness tests verify the athlete can meet sport-specific demands without excessive fatigue that increases injury risk.
  • Skill testing evaluates whether technical abilities and decision-making capacities have returned to pre-injury levels. Sport-specific drills test coordination and timing that may be affected by injury or time away from training. A basketball player must demonstrate accurate shooting, dribbling and defensive movements at competition intensity. Reaction time tests ensure the athlete can respond appropriately to game situations, particularly important for contact sports where delayed reactions increase vulnerability.
  • Progressive testing protocols guide safe return by gradually increasing intensity and complexity. Athletes progress through controlled training environments before facing unpredictable competition scenarios. Functional movement screens identify compensatory patterns that could lead to secondary injuries.
  • Objective criteria remove subjective bias and ensure consistent standards across different practitioners and sports, protecting athlete welfare whilst maintaining competitive integrity.
Show Worked Solution
  • Skill and physical tests provide objective measures that ensure athletes have regained necessary capacities before resuming competitive participation safely.
  • Physical testing assesses whether injured body parts have recovered sufficient strength, flexibility and endurance. Strength testing compares the injured limb to the uninjured side, requiring 90-95% strength return before clearance. A footballer with hamstring injury must demonstrate equal strength between both legs through isokinetic testing. Range of motion assessments confirm full joint mobility has returned, preventing re-injury from compensatory movement patterns. Cardiovascular fitness tests verify the athlete can meet sport-specific demands without excessive fatigue that increases injury risk.
  • Skill testing evaluates whether technical abilities and decision-making capacities have returned to pre-injury levels. Sport-specific drills test coordination and timing that may be affected by injury or time away from training. A basketball player must demonstrate accurate shooting, dribbling and defensive movements at competition intensity. Reaction time tests ensure the athlete can respond appropriately to game situations, particularly important for contact sports where delayed reactions increase vulnerability.
  • Progressive testing protocols guide safe return by gradually increasing intensity and complexity. Athletes progress through controlled training environments before facing unpredictable competition scenarios. Functional movement screens identify compensatory patterns that could lead to secondary injuries.
  • Objective criteria remove subjective bias and ensure consistent standards across different practitioners and sports, protecting athlete welfare whilst maintaining competitive integrity.

♦♦ Mean mark 49%.

HMS, HIC 2013 HSC 29b

How are young people's priorities and values influenced by aspects of their development?   (12 marks)

Show Answers Only
  • Young people’s health priorities and values change dramatically during adolescence as a result of multiple developmental influences that shape their understanding and decision-making processes.
  • Physical development affects health priorities through changing body awareness and self-image concerns. Puberty creates heightened focus on appearance and peer acceptance, leading to increased emphasis on physical attractiveness over overall health. Growth spurts require increased nutritional needs, yet social pressures often result in poor dietary choices and disordered eating patterns. Sexual maturation introduces new health considerations including reproductive health education and risk-taking behaviours that previous generations faced differently.
  • Cognitive development enables more complex health reasoning but also creates overthinking and anxiety about health decisions. Abstract thinking capacity allows understanding of long-term health consequences, yet brain development patterns mean impulse control remains limited until mid-twenties. This results in contradictory behaviours where young people understand health risks but still engage in dangerous activities like substance use, reckless driving, or unprotected sexual behaviour.
  • Social development significantly influences health values through peer relationships and independence seeking behaviours. Peer acceptance becomes the primary concern, often overriding parental health teachings and family traditions. Social media exposure amplifies peer pressure and creates unrealistic health standards and body image expectations. The desire for independence leads to rejection of family health practices whilst developing personal health identity and autonomy.
  • Emotional development impacts health priorities through identity formation and self-worth struggles during adolescence. Mental health awareness increases significantly, yet emotional volatility makes consistent healthy choices difficult to maintain. Stress management becomes crucial as academic pressures, social expectations, and future uncertainties intensify.
  • Cultural and technological influences reshape health values compared to previous generations dramatically. Digital connectivity provides instant health information access but also exposes young people to misinformation and conflicting advice.
Show Worked Solution
  • Young people’s health priorities and values change dramatically during adolescence as a result of multiple developmental influences that shape their understanding and decision-making processes.
  • Physical development affects health priorities through changing body awareness and self-image concerns. Puberty creates heightened focus on appearance and peer acceptance, leading to increased emphasis on physical attractiveness over overall health. Growth spurts require increased nutritional needs, yet social pressures often result in poor dietary choices and disordered eating patterns. Sexual maturation introduces new health considerations including reproductive health education and risk-taking behaviours that previous generations faced differently.
  • Cognitive development enables more complex health reasoning but also creates overthinking and anxiety about health decisions. Abstract thinking capacity allows understanding of long-term health consequences, yet brain development patterns mean impulse control remains limited until mid-twenties. This results in contradictory behaviours where young people understand health risks but still engage in dangerous activities like substance use, reckless driving, or unprotected sexual behaviour.
  • Social development significantly influences health values through peer relationships and independence seeking behaviours. Peer acceptance becomes the primary concern, often overriding parental health teachings and family traditions. Social media exposure amplifies peer pressure and creates unrealistic health standards and body image expectations. The desire for independence leads to rejection of family health practices whilst developing personal health identity and autonomy.
  • Emotional development impacts health priorities through identity formation and self-worth struggles during adolescence. Mental health awareness increases significantly, yet emotional volatility makes consistent healthy choices difficult to maintain. Stress management becomes crucial as academic pressures, social expectations, and future uncertainties intensify.
  • Cultural and technological influences reshape health values compared to previous generations dramatically. Digital connectivity provides instant health information access but also exposes young people to misinformation and conflicting advice.

♦♦ Mean mark 49%.

HMS, HIC 2013 HSC 29a

Explain the risk and protective factors associated with ONE health issue affecting young people.   (8 marks)

Show Answers Only
  • Mental health issues among young people result from complex interactions between multiple risk and protective factors that influence psychological wellbeing.
  • Risk factors are circumstances that increase the likelihood of developing mental health problems. Social media exposure creates unrealistic comparisons and cyberbullying experiences that trigger anxiety and depression. Academic pressure produces chronic stress leading to overwhelm and reduced self-esteem. Family conflict generates unstable home environments that contribute to emotional distress. Substance use compounds existing vulnerabilities by affecting brain development and decision-making capabilities. Social isolation removes essential support networks, resulting in increased loneliness and reduced coping mechanisms.
  • Protective factors strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability to mental health issues. Strong family relationships provide emotional security and unconditional support that buffers against external stressors. Peer connections offer belonging and understanding that helps young people navigate challenges. Physical activity releases endorphins that improve mood and reduce stress hormones. Effective coping strategies like mindfulness enable emotional regulation and stress management. School counselling services provide professional support and early intervention that prevents escalation of mental health concerns.
  • The interplay between risk and protective factors determines individual outcomes, with protective factors capable of moderating the impact of risk factors when present in sufficient strength and number.
Show Worked Solution
  • Mental health issues among young people result from complex interactions between multiple risk and protective factors that influence psychological wellbeing.
  • Risk factors are circumstances that increase the likelihood of developing mental health problems. Social media exposure creates unrealistic comparisons and cyberbullying experiences that trigger anxiety and depression. Academic pressure produces chronic stress leading to overwhelm and reduced self-esteem. Family conflict generates unstable home environments that contribute to emotional distress. Substance use compounds existing vulnerabilities by affecting brain development and decision-making capabilities. Social isolation removes essential support networks, resulting in increased loneliness and reduced coping mechanisms.
  • Protective factors strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability to mental health issues. Strong family relationships provide emotional security and unconditional support that buffers against external stressors. Peer connections offer belonging and understanding that helps young people navigate challenges. Physical activity releases endorphins that improve mood and reduce stress hormones. Effective coping strategies like mindfulness enable emotional regulation and stress management. School counselling services provide professional support and early intervention that prevents escalation of mental health concerns.
  • The interplay between risk and protective factors determines individual outcomes, with protective factors capable of moderating the impact of risk factors when present in sufficient strength and number.

♦♦ Mean mark 48%.

HMS, TIP 2013 HSC 28

How can psychological strategies enhance motivation and manage anxiety in athletes? Include examples in your answer.   (8 marks)

Show Answers Only
  • Psychological strategies create systematic approaches to optimise mental states, enabling athletes to maintain focus and control emotional responses during competition.
  • Goal setting enhances motivation by providing clear, measurable targets that direct training efforts. A swimmer setting specific time goals for each race develops sustained commitment to training programs. Short-term goals build confidence through achievable milestones, whilst long-term goals maintain motivation over extended periods. Process goals focus attention on technique improvement rather than outcomes, reducing performance pressure and sustaining long-term development.
  • Visualisation manages anxiety by creating mental familiarity with competitive situations. A tennis player visualising successful serves before competition reduces performance anxiety through rehearsed mental imagery. This strategy enables athletes to anticipate challenges and prepare appropriate responses, minimising unexpected stressors during performance. Regular mental rehearsal builds confidence by allowing athletes to experience success before actual competition.
  • Relaxation techniques control physiological arousal levels that interfere with optimal performance. Progressive muscle relaxation helps golfers reduce tension before crucial putts, facilitating precise motor control. Controlled breathing maintains calm focus during high-pressure moments, preventing anxiety from overwhelming concentration. Deep breathing exercises activate the parasympathetic nervous system, producing physiological calmness.
  • Concentration skills enhance performance by directing attention toward relevant cues whilst filtering distractions. A basketball player focusing on shooting technique rather than crowd noise improves accuracy through selective attention. Mental cues and trigger words maintain focus during extended competitions, ensuring consistent performance execution throughout demanding events.
Show Worked Solution
  • Psychological strategies create systematic approaches to optimise mental states, enabling athletes to maintain focus and control emotional responses during competition.
  • Goal setting enhances motivation by providing clear, measurable targets that direct training efforts. A swimmer setting specific time goals for each race develops sustained commitment to training programs. Short-term goals build confidence through achievable milestones, whilst long-term goals maintain motivation over extended periods. Process goals focus attention on technique improvement rather than outcomes, reducing performance pressure and sustaining long-term development.
  • Visualisation manages anxiety by creating mental familiarity with competitive situations. A tennis player visualising successful serves before competition reduces performance anxiety through rehearsed mental imagery. This strategy enables athletes to anticipate challenges and prepare appropriate responses, minimising unexpected stressors during performance. Regular mental rehearsal builds confidence by allowing athletes to experience success before actual competition.
  • Relaxation techniques control physiological arousal levels that interfere with optimal performance. Progressive muscle relaxation helps golfers reduce tension before crucial putts, facilitating precise motor control. Controlled breathing maintains calm focus during high-pressure moments, preventing anxiety from overwhelming concentration. Deep breathing exercises activate the parasympathetic nervous system, producing physiological calmness.
  • Concentration skills enhance performance by directing attention toward relevant cues whilst filtering distractions. A basketball player focusing on shooting technique rather than crowd noise improves accuracy through selective attention. Mental cues and trigger words maintain focus during extended competitions, ensuring consistent performance execution throughout demanding events.

♦♦♦ Mean mark 42%.

HMS, TIP 2013 HSC 27

What are the advantages and disadvantages of protein supplementation and creatine supplementation for improved athletic performance?   (5 marks)

Show Answers Only

Protein Supplementation:

  • Advantages: Protein supplements support muscle repair and growth following intense training sessions. They provide convenient, easily digestible amino acids for athletes with high protein requirements who struggle to meet needs through whole foods alone.
  • Disadvantages: Excessive protein intake can strain kidney function and cause digestive issues. Cost can be prohibitive, and whole food sources often provide superior nutritional profiles with additional vitamins and minerals.

Creatine Supplementation:

  • Advantages: Creatine enhances ATP-PCr energy system function, improving power output during repeated high-intensity efforts. Research demonstrates significant strength and muscle mass gains, particularly beneficial for explosive sports like sprinting and weightlifting.
  • Disadvantages: Initial water retention may cause temporary weight gain unsuitable for endurance athletes. Some individuals experience digestive discomfort, and long-term effects remain unclear despite generally accepted safety profiles.
Show Worked Solution

Protein Supplementation:

  • Advantages: Protein supplements support muscle repair and growth following intense training sessions. They provide convenient, easily digestible amino acids for athletes with high protein requirements who struggle to meet needs through whole foods alone.
  • Disadvantages: Excessive protein intake can strain kidney function and cause digestive issues. Cost can be prohibitive, and whole food sources often provide superior nutritional profiles with additional vitamins and minerals.

Creatine Supplementation:

  • Advantages: Creatine enhances ATP-PCr energy system function, improving power output during repeated high-intensity efforts. Research demonstrates significant strength and muscle mass gains, particularly beneficial for explosive sports like sprinting and weightlifting.
  • Disadvantages: Initial water retention may cause temporary weight gain unsuitable for endurance athletes. Some individuals experience digestive discomfort, and long-term effects remain unclear despite generally accepted safety profiles.

♦♦ Mean mark 50%.

Trigonometry, 2ADV T1 EQ-Bank 1

A discus throwing event is held at a field in the shape of a sector of a circle, centre \(O\), as shown in the diagram below.

Two officials are positioned at points \(P\) and \(Q\), which are 80 metres apart. The length of arc \(PQ\) is 120 metres.

The radius of the sector is \(r\) metres and the angle subtended at the centre of the arc is \(2\theta\) radians.
 

  1. Show that  \(\sin \theta=\dfrac{2 \theta}{3}\).   (2 marks)

  2. If  \(\theta=\dfrac{\pi}{3}\), find the exact area of the field.   (2 marks)

Show Answers Only

a.   \(\text{See Worked Solution.}\)

b.   \(A=\dfrac{10\ 800}{\pi}\ \text{u}^2\)

Show Worked Solution

a.   \(\text{Consider arc} \ PQ:\)

\(\dfrac{2 \theta}{2 \pi} \times 2 \pi r\) \(=120\)
\(r\) \(=\dfrac{60}{\theta}\)

\(\sin \theta=\dfrac{40}{\frac{60}{\theta}}=40 \times \dfrac{\theta}{60}=\dfrac{2 \theta}{3}\)
 

b.     \(A\) \(=\dfrac{\frac{2 \pi}{3}}{2 \pi} \times \pi r^2\)
    \(=\dfrac{\pi}{3} \times\left(\dfrac{60}{\frac{\pi}{3}}\right)^2\)
    \(=\dfrac{\pi}{3} \times 3600 \times \dfrac{9}{\pi^2}\)
    \(=\dfrac{10\ 800}{\pi}\ \text{u}^2\)

HMS, BM 2013 HSC 18 MC

What is a common feature of both the alactacid (ATP-PCr) and lactic acid energy systems?

  1. Lactic acid is produced.
  2. ATP is resynthesised anaerobically.
  3. Both systems take the same period of time to recover.
  4. The accumulation of lactic acid in the working muscles causes fatigue.
Show Answers Only

\(B\)

Show Worked Solution

NOTE: This question has been updated to include the HMS system naming of the alactacid system with ATP-PCr.

  • B is correct: Both alactacid (ATP-PCr) and lactic acid systems operate without oxygen.

Other Options:

  • A is incorrect: Only lactic acid system produces lactic acid.
  • C is incorrect: Systems have different recovery time periods significantly.
  • D is incorrect: Only lactic acid system causes fatigue through accumulation.

♦♦ Mean mark 52%.

HMS, TIP 2013 HSC 15 MC

Features of a resistance training program are listed.

\begin{array}{|l|l|}
\hline \textit{Sets}\quad & 3-6 \\
\hline \textit{Reps} & 5-6 \\
\hline \textit{Load} & 35\%-50\% \ \text{of 1 Repetition Maximum (RM) } \\
\hline \textit{Rest} & 3-4 \text{ minutes (between sets) } \\
\hline \textit{Speed} & \text {Fast} \\
\hline
\end{array}

What is this training program specifically designed to improve?

  1. Endurance
  2. Hypertrophy
  3. Power
  4. Strength
Show Answers Only

\(C\)

Show Worked Solution
  • C is correct: Moderate load with fast speed develops explosive power output.

Other Options:

  • A is incorrect: Endurance requires higher reps, lower load, shorter rest.
  • B is incorrect: Hypertrophy needs moderate reps, higher load, shorter rest.
  • D is incorrect: Strength requires higher load percentage, slower controlled movements.

♦♦ Mean mark 50%.

HMS, BM 2013 HSC 14 MC

During which stage of skill acquisition is anticipation initially learned?

  1. Associative
  2. Autonomous
  3. Cognitive
  4. Developmental
Show Answers Only

\(A\)

Show Worked Solution
  • A is correct: Associative stage develops anticipation skills through practice refinement.

Other Options:

  • B is incorrect: Autonomous stage has automatic anticipation, not initial learning.
  • C is incorrect: Cognitive stage focuses on basic movement understanding.
  • D is incorrect: Developmental is not recognised skill acquisition stage.

♦♦ Mean mark 43%.

HMS, HAG 2013 HSC 9 MC

To which of the following does the concept of ‘healthy ageing’ refer?

  1. Treating elderly people for commonly reported conditions
  2. The behaviours and activities that contribute to quality of life for elderly people
  3. Providing appropriate facilities and services to accommodate aged and elderly people
  4. Reducing the effects of poor health choices made in early adulthood that create risks to health status in later life
Show Answers Only

\(B\)

Show Worked Solution
  • B is correct: Healthy ageing focuses on maintaining quality of life activities.

Other Options:

  • A is incorrect: Treatment focuses on illness, not healthy ageing concept.
  • C is incorrect: Facilities are support systems, not healthy ageing definition.
  • D is incorrect: Past choices are risk factors, not healthy ageing focus.

♦♦♦♦ Mean mark 36%.

HMS, HAG 2013 HSC 7 MC

In which cardiovascular condition is plaque most likely to form on the inner lining of the arteries?

  1. Angina
  2. Heart attack
  3. Atherosclerosis
  4. Peripheral vascular disease
Show Answers Only

\(C\)

Show Worked Solution
  • C is correct: Atherosclerosis is characterised by arterial plaque buildup process.

Other Options:

  • A is incorrect: Angina is chest pain symptom, not plaque condition.
  • B is incorrect: Heart attack results from blocked arteries, not plaque formation.
  • D is incorrect: Peripheral vascular disease affects limb circulation specifically.

♦♦ Mean mark 48%.

HMS, TIP 2014 HSC 32b

Justify how each of the periodisation phases is used when planning a training year.   (12 marks)

Show Answers Only

Position Statement

  • Each periodisation phase is essential for optimal athletic performance because they systematically develop, maintain and recover physiological capacities whilst preventing overtraining and ensuring peak competition readiness.

Pre-Season Foundation Building

  • Pre-season phase provides critical foundation for annual performance success by developing base fitness levels and fundamental skills required for competition demands.
  • Evidence demonstrates that athletes who complete comprehensive pre-season training show 25-30% greater performance improvements compared to those with inadequate preparation.
  • A rugby team’s pre-season focuses on aerobic conditioning, strength development and skill refinement over 12-16 weeks, incorporating progressive overload principles.
  • This systematic approach proves essential because it builds cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength and technical competency that supports intense competition periods.
  • Without adequate pre-season preparation, athletes face increased injury risk and poor early-season performance.
  • Research confirms that 80% of season-ending injuries occur in athletes with insufficient pre-season conditioning, demonstrating the phase’s protective value.

In-Season Performance Maintenance

  • In-season training maintains fitness levels whilst managing competition demands and fatigue accumulation through reduced training volumes and sport-specific focus.
  • Studies indicate that athletes lose 10-15% of fitness gains within 3-4 weeks without maintenance training.
  • A basketball player maintains strength twice weekly whilst emphasising tactical development and recovery between games, incorporating tapering before major competitions.
  • This approach ensures peak performance sustainability throughout the competitive period whilst preventing overtraining syndrome.
  • The phase balances training stress with competition stress, enabling consistent high-level performance when it matters most.
  • Strategic peaking during finals ensures athletes reach optimal condition at season’s end.

Off-Season Recovery Integration

  • Off-season phase facilitates complete physical and mental recovery whilst maintaining basic fitness through active rest and cross-training activities.
  • Athletes engage in alternative sports and reduced training loads, preventing burnout whilst preparing for the next training cycle.

Reinforcement

  • The evidence overwhelmingly supports systematic periodisation because each phase addresses specific physiological and psychological needs.
  • Research data confirms that periodised athletes achieve 15-25% greater performance gains than non-periodised training, justifying the structured approach’s implementation.
Show Worked Solution

Position Statement

  • Each periodisation phase is essential for optimal athletic performance because they systematically develop, maintain and recover physiological capacities whilst preventing overtraining and ensuring peak competition readiness.

Pre-Season Foundation Building

  • Pre-season phase provides critical foundation for annual performance success by developing base fitness levels and fundamental skills required for competition demands.
  • Evidence demonstrates that athletes who complete comprehensive pre-season training show 25-30% greater performance improvements compared to those with inadequate preparation.
  • A rugby team’s pre-season focuses on aerobic conditioning, strength development and skill refinement over 12-16 weeks, incorporating progressive overload principles.
  • This systematic approach proves essential because it builds cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength and technical competency that supports intense competition periods.
  • Without adequate pre-season preparation, athletes face increased injury risk and poor early-season performance.
  • Research confirms that 80% of season-ending injuries occur in athletes with insufficient pre-season conditioning, demonstrating the phase’s protective value.

In-Season Performance Maintenance

  • In-season training maintains fitness levels whilst managing competition demands and fatigue accumulation through reduced training volumes and sport-specific focus.
  • Studies indicate that athletes lose 10-15% of fitness gains within 3-4 weeks without maintenance training.
  • A basketball player maintains strength twice weekly whilst emphasising tactical development and recovery between games, incorporating tapering before major competitions.
  • This approach ensures peak performance sustainability throughout the competitive period whilst preventing overtraining syndrome.
  • The phase balances training stress with competition stress, enabling consistent high-level performance when it matters most.
  • Strategic peaking during finals ensures athletes reach optimal condition at season’s end.

Off-Season Recovery Integration

  • Off-season phase facilitates complete physical and mental recovery whilst maintaining basic fitness through active rest and cross-training activities.
  • Athletes engage in alternative sports and reduced training loads, preventing burnout whilst preparing for the next training cycle.

Reinforcement

  • The evidence overwhelmingly supports systematic periodisation because each phase addresses specific physiological and psychological needs.
  • Research data confirms that periodised athletes achieve 15-25% greater performance gains than non-periodised training, justifying the structured approach’s implementation.

♦♦ Mean mark 54%.

HMS, TIP 2014 HSC 31b

Justify the rehabilitation procedures used to manage specific sporting injuries.   (12 marks)

Show Answers Only

Position Statement

  • Rehabilitation procedures are highly effective for managing sporting injuries because they systematically restore function and prevent re-injury through evidence-based protocols.

Progressive Mobilisation

  • Progressive mobilisation demonstrates exceptional value in early injury management by preventing muscle stiffness and scar tissue formation.
  • This process ensures controlled movement returns gradually, maintaining joint range whilst protecting healing tissues.
  • For example, a footballer with an ankle sprain begins with gentle passive movements within 48-72 hours, progressing to active movements as pain decreases.
  • Research shows early mobilisation reduces recovery time by up to 30% compared to complete immobilisation.
  • This approach proves highly effective because it maintains blood flow and prevents complications like muscle atrophy whilst maintaining proprioceptive function.

Graduated Exercise Programs

  • Graduated exercise produces measurable results by systematically rebuilding strength, flexibility and endurance through structured progression.
  • This method works by introducing increasingly challenging exercises that stimulate tissue adaptation without overwhelming healing structures.
  • A tennis player recovering from shoulder impingement follows a specific sequence: stretching to restore flexibility, strengthening exercises using resistance bands, then sport-specific movements like serving practice.
  • Evidence confirms this systematic approach reduces re-injury rates by 40-60%.
  • The effectiveness is demonstrated through controlled loading that rebuilds tissue tolerance whilst maintaining total body fitness throughout recovery.

Heat and Cold Therapy

  • Heat and cold therapy provides significant support for rehabilitation success by managing inflammation and promoting tissue healing.
  • Cold therapy immediately post-injury reduces swelling and pain, whilst heat therapy later in recovery increases blood flow and flexibility.
  • For instance, a rugby player with a hamstring strain uses ice for 48 hours, then heat packs before stretching.
  • This combination proves essential because it optimises healing conditions at each recovery stage.

Reinforcement

  • When all factors are considered, rehabilitation procedures provide superior outcomes because they address multiple recovery aspects simultaneously.
  • The evidence overwhelmingly supports their inclusion in injury management protocols, with faster return-to-sport times and reduced complication rates justifying their systematic implementation.
Show Worked Solution

Position Statement

  • Rehabilitation procedures are highly effective for managing sporting injuries because they systematically restore function and prevent re-injury through evidence-based protocols.

Progressive Mobilisation

  • Progressive mobilisation demonstrates exceptional value in early injury management by preventing muscle stiffness and scar tissue formation.
  • This process ensures controlled movement returns gradually, maintaining joint range whilst protecting healing tissues.
  • For example, a footballer with an ankle sprain begins with gentle passive movements within 48-72 hours, progressing to active movements as pain decreases.
  • Research shows early mobilisation reduces recovery time by up to 30% compared to complete immobilisation.
  • This approach proves highly effective because it maintains blood flow and prevents complications like muscle atrophy whilst maintaining proprioceptive function.

Graduated Exercise Programs

  • Graduated exercise produces measurable results by systematically rebuilding strength, flexibility and endurance through structured progression.
  • This method works by introducing increasingly challenging exercises that stimulate tissue adaptation without overwhelming healing structures.
  • A tennis player recovering from shoulder impingement follows a specific sequence: stretching to restore flexibility, strengthening exercises using resistance bands, then sport-specific movements like serving practice.
  • Evidence confirms this systematic approach reduces re-injury rates by 40-60%.
  • The effectiveness is demonstrated through controlled loading that rebuilds tissue tolerance whilst maintaining total body fitness throughout recovery.

Heat and Cold Therapy

  • Heat and cold therapy provides significant support for rehabilitation success by managing inflammation and promoting tissue healing.
  • Cold therapy immediately post-injury reduces swelling and pain, whilst heat therapy later in recovery increases blood flow and flexibility.
  • For instance, a rugby player with a hamstring strain uses ice for 48 hours, then heat packs before stretching.
  • This combination proves essential because it optimises healing conditions at each recovery stage.

Reinforcement

  • When all factors are considered, rehabilitation procedures provide superior outcomes because they address multiple recovery aspects simultaneously.
  • The evidence overwhelmingly supports their inclusion in injury management protocols, with faster return-to-sport times and reduced complication rates justifying their systematic implementation.

♦♦ Mean mark 46%.

HMS, HIC 2014 HSC 29b

To what extent have social actions and public policies affected the health of young people in Australia?   (12 marks)

Show Answers Only

Judgment Statement:

  • Social actions and public policies have affected young people’s health to a significant extent through comprehensive strategies addressing major health issues and creating supportive environments across multiple health areas.

Strongest Evidence:

  • Immunisation programs demonstrate highly effective policy impact with over 95% childhood vaccination coverage achieved nationally, virtually eliminating preventable diseases.
  • School-based health education and anti-smoking campaigns have substantially reduced youth smoking rates by approximately 10% over two decades through legislative and educational approaches.
  • Mental health initiatives including headspace services provide accessible, youth-friendly support addressing the leading health concern for this demographic.
  • Road safety policies including graduated licensing and awareness campaigns have dramatically reduced youth transport fatalities.
  • These coordinated efforts show measurable population-level improvements across multiple health indicators.

Secondary Evidence:

  • Targeted healthcare services like youth health centres improve access and engagement with preventive care for vulnerable populations.
  • Harm minimisation approaches to alcohol and drug education provide realistic safety information.
  • However, emerging challenges like cyberbullying, social media impacts and youth obesity present new health risks requiring innovative policy responses.
  • Some traditional policies show limited effectiveness in addressing contemporary issues like mental health stigma and lifestyle-related conditions among today’s young people.

Reaffirmation:

  • Evidence demonstrates that well-designed social actions and public policies have achieved substantial positive impacts on young people’s health outcomes.
  • The combination of prevention strategies, targeted services and supportive legislative frameworks has effectively addressed many traditional health concerns while continuously adapting to contemporary challenges.
Show Worked Solution

Judgment Statement:

  • Social actions and public policies have affected young people’s health to a significant extent through comprehensive strategies addressing major health issues and creating supportive environments across multiple health areas.

Strongest Evidence:

  • Immunisation programs demonstrate highly effective policy impact with over 95% childhood vaccination coverage achieved nationally, virtually eliminating preventable diseases.
  • School-based health education and anti-smoking campaigns have substantially reduced youth smoking rates by approximately 10% over two decades through legislative and educational approaches.
  • Mental health initiatives including headspace services provide accessible, youth-friendly support addressing the leading health concern for this demographic.
  • Road safety policies including graduated licensing and awareness campaigns have dramatically reduced youth transport fatalities.
  • These coordinated efforts show measurable population-level improvements across multiple health indicators.

Secondary Evidence:

  • Targeted healthcare services like youth health centres improve access and engagement with preventive care for vulnerable populations.
  • Harm minimisation approaches to alcohol and drug education provide realistic safety information.
  • However, emerging challenges like cyberbullying, social media impacts and youth obesity present new health risks requiring innovative policy responses.
  • Some traditional policies show limited effectiveness in addressing contemporary issues like mental health stigma and lifestyle-related conditions among today’s young people.

Reaffirmation:

  • Evidence demonstrates that well-designed social actions and public policies have achieved substantial positive impacts on young people’s health outcomes.
  • The combination of prevention strategies, targeted services and supportive legislative frameworks has effectively addressed many traditional health concerns while continuously adapting to contemporary challenges.

♦♦♦ Mean mark 41%.

HMS, HIC 2014 HSC 29a

How does the health status of young people compare with that of other age groups in the Australian population?   (8 marks)

Show Answers Only
  • Young people generally have the best health status of all age groups because they experience lower rates of chronic diseases and higher self-reported wellbeing. This occurs when comparing mortality and morbidity data across different age cohorts in Australian health reports.
  • Self-assessed health ratings demonstrate that young people report excellent or very good health more frequently than older populations. These positive perceptions result from fewer chronic conditions and greater physical capabilities. However, mental health issues create concerning trends specifically affecting this demographic.
  • Mortality patterns show injury and poisoning as leading causes of death for young people. This contrasts with older age groups where chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease and cancer predominate. The shift occurs because longer exposure to risk factors accumulates health problems over time.
  • Chronic disease prevalence increases significantly with age as lifestyle behaviours and environmental exposures compound over decades. For example, cardiovascular disease rarely affects young people but becomes the leading cause of death in those aged 45-64 years.
  • Mental health presents a notable exception where young people experience higher rates than some older groups. This trend reflects increased anxiety and depression particularly affecting females aged 16-24. Social media and academic pressures contribute to these concerning patterns.
  • Preventable conditions like dental disease and sexually transmitted infections disproportionately affect young people. These issues occur because risk-taking behaviours and limited health service engagement characterise this age group’s health-seeking patterns.
Show Worked Solution
  • Young people generally have the best health status of all age groups because they experience lower rates of chronic diseases and higher self-reported wellbeing. This occurs when comparing mortality and morbidity data across different age cohorts in Australian health reports.
  • Self-assessed health ratings demonstrate that young people report excellent or very good health more frequently than older populations. These positive perceptions result from fewer chronic conditions and greater physical capabilities. However, mental health issues create concerning trends specifically affecting this demographic.
  • Mortality patterns show injury and poisoning as leading causes of death for young people. This contrasts with older age groups where chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease and cancer predominate. The shift occurs because longer exposure to risk factors accumulates health problems over time.
  • Chronic disease prevalence increases significantly with age as lifestyle behaviours and environmental exposures compound over decades. For example, cardiovascular disease rarely affects young people but becomes the leading cause of death in those aged 45-64 years.
  • Mental health presents a notable exception where young people experience higher rates than some older groups. This trend reflects increased anxiety and depression particularly affecting females aged 16-24. Social media and academic pressures contribute to these concerning patterns.
  • Preventable conditions like dental disease and sexually transmitted infections disproportionately affect young people. These issues occur because risk-taking behaviours and limited health service engagement characterise this age group’s health-seeking patterns.

HMS, BM 2014 HSC 27

Compare the two anaerobic energy systems.   (5 marks)

Show Answers Only

ATP-PCr system and Glycolytic (Lactic Acid) system

Similarities:

  • Both systems operate without oxygen during anaerobic metabolism processes.
  • Both provide energy for high-intensity, short-duration explosive activities.
  • Both systems work together during power-based movements like sprinting.
  • Both use stored energy sources available within muscle tissue.
  • Both produce ATP for immediate muscular contraction requirements.

Differences:

  • ATP-PCr uses stored phosphocreatine whilst glycolytic system uses muscle glycogen and glucose.
  • ATP-PCr operates for 10-15 seconds maximum, glycolytic system functions 15 seconds to 2 minutes.
  • ATP-PCr produces ATP most rapidly but glycolytic system has greater total capacity.
  • ATP-PCr fatigues when phosphocreatine stores deplete, glycolytic fatigues from lactate accumulation.
  • ATP-PCr recovers completely in 2-3 minutes, glycolytic requires longer recovery periods.
  • ATP-PCr produces no fatiguing by-products, glycolytic creates lactate causing muscle burn.

Summary:

  • ATP-PCr provides immediate explosive power whilst glycolytic sustains high-intensity efforts for longer periods.
Show Worked Solution

ATP-PCr system and Glycolytic (Lactic Acid) system

Similarities:

  • Both systems operate without oxygen during anaerobic metabolism processes.
  • Both provide energy for high-intensity, short-duration explosive activities.
  • Both systems work together during power-based movements like sprinting.
  • Both use stored energy sources available within muscle tissue.
  • Both produce ATP for immediate muscular contraction requirements.

Differences:

  • ATP-PCr uses stored phosphocreatine whilst glycolytic system uses muscle glycogen and glucose.
  • ATP-PCr operates for 10-15 seconds maximum, glycolytic system functions 15 seconds to 2 minutes.
  • ATP-PCr produces ATP most rapidly but glycolytic system has greater total capacity.
  • ATP-PCr fatigues when phosphocreatine stores deplete, glycolytic fatigues from lactate accumulation.
  • ATP-PCr recovers completely in 2-3 minutes, glycolytic requires longer recovery periods.
  • ATP-PCr produces no fatiguing by-products, glycolytic creates lactate causing muscle burn.

Summary:

  • ATP-PCr provides immediate explosive power whilst glycolytic sustains high-intensity efforts for longer periods.

♦♦ Mean mark 54%.

HMS, HIC 2014 HSC 24

Explain why individuals, communities and governments should work in partnership on health promotion initiatives. Provide examples.   (8 marks)

Show Answers Only
  • Partnerships are essential because they combine different expertise and resources that no single group possesses. Combined efforts create more comprehensive and effective health promotion strategies than isolated approaches.
  • Individual participation ensures that health promotion initiatives address real community needs and concerns. Strong connections mean programs are more likely to be accepted and sustained by target populations. For example, community members identifying local barriers to physical activity leads to more relevant solutions.
  • Community involvement provides local knowledge and cultural understanding that improves program effectiveness. Local input results in initiatives that respect community values and existing social networks. The Healthy Cities Illawarra program demonstrates how community participation creates locally relevant health promotion strategies.
  • Government partnership brings policy support, funding and regulatory power needed for large-scale change. Official backing enables comprehensive approaches that address structural determinants of health. For instance, anti-smoking campaigns combine government legislation with community education programs.
  • Resource sharing occurs when different partners contribute their unique strengths and capabilities. Collaborative arrangements create cost-effective solutions that maximise impact while minimising individual organisational burden. The outcome is sustainable programs that continue beyond initial funding periods.
  • Shared responsibility ensures that health promotion becomes embedded across multiple sectors rather than isolated initiatives. Multi-sector approaches generate broader community ownership and long-term commitment to health improvement goals.
Show Worked Solution
  • Partnerships are essential because they combine different expertise and resources that no single group possesses. Combined efforts create more comprehensive and effective health promotion strategies than isolated approaches.
  • Individual participation ensures that health promotion initiatives address real community needs and concerns. Strong connections mean programs are more likely to be accepted and sustained by target populations. For example, community members identifying local barriers to physical activity leads to more relevant solutions.
  • Community involvement provides local knowledge and cultural understanding that improves program effectiveness. Local input results in initiatives that respect community values and existing social networks. The Healthy Cities Illawarra program demonstrates how community participation creates locally relevant health promotion strategies.
  • Government partnership brings policy support, funding and regulatory power needed for large-scale change. Official backing enables comprehensive approaches that address structural determinants of health. For instance, anti-smoking campaigns combine government legislation with community education programs.
  • Resource sharing occurs when different partners contribute their unique strengths and capabilities. Collaborative arrangements create cost-effective solutions that maximise impact while minimising individual organisational burden. The outcome is sustainable programs that continue beyond initial funding periods.
  • Shared responsibility ensures that health promotion becomes embedded across multiple sectors rather than isolated initiatives. Multi-sector approaches generate broader community ownership and long-term commitment to health improvement goals.

♦♦ Mean mark 50%.

HMS, TIP 2014 HSC 17 MC

Which of the following recovery techniques is an effective neural strategy?

  1. Cooling of muscles to allow repair
  2. Focusing the mind to overcome pain
  3. Relaxing muscles that have been fatigued or damaged
  4. Adopting a nutrition plan to replace lost fluids and nutrients
Show Answers Only

\(C\)

Show Worked Solution
  • C is correct: Muscle relaxation is a neural strategy affecting nervous system control.

Other Options:

  • A is incorrect: Cooling is physiological not neural recovery strategy.
  • B is incorrect: Mental focus is psychological not neural strategy.
  • D is incorrect: Nutrition replacement is physiological not neural strategy.

♦♦ Mean mark 44%.

HMS, BM 2014 HSC 14 MC

Which group of physical skills is best acquired using massed practice?

  1. Skills learnt in an open environment
  2. Skills that require extensive external feedback
  3. Skills that require a high degree of coordination
  4. Skills that have a distinctive beginning and end
Show Answers Only

\(D\)

Show Worked Solution
  • D is correct: Discrete skills with clear start/finish benefit from massed practice.

Other Options:

  • A is incorrect: Open skills need distributed practice for environmental adaptation.
  • B is incorrect: Skills needing feedback require distributed practice for processing.
  • C is incorrect: Complex coordination skills need distributed practice for learning.

♦♦♦ Mean mark 39%.

HMS, BM 2014 HSC 13 MC

In basketball, players can be awarded a ‘free throw’ whereby they are allowed to attempt a shot without any defenders.

Which set of motor skills is used in a basketball free throw?

  1. Closed and fine
  2. Closed and gross
  3. Open and fine
  4. Open and gross
Show Answers Only

\(B\)

Show Worked Solution
  • B is correct: Free throw is closed skill in controlled environment using gross motor skills.

Other Options:

  • A is incorrect: Basketball shooting uses gross not fine motor skills.
  • C is incorrect: Free throw is closed skill not open skill.
  • D is incorrect: Free throw environment is predictable making it closed skill.

♦♦ Mean mark 46%.

HMS, HIC 2014 HSC 8 MC

What major considerations do governments and health authorities take into account when prioritising health issues?

  1. The burden of illness in the community and the potential for reducing this burden
  2. The cost of illness to the community and the socioeconomic capacity of the affected community
  3. The mortality rate and the ability to deal with mortality in a community
  4. The morbidity rate and the number of health services already available for a community
Show Answers Only

\(A\)

Show Worked Solution
  • A is correct: Disease burden and prevention potential are key priority considerations.

Other Options:

  • B is incorrect: Cost alone doesn’t determine health priorities without burden assessment.
  • C is incorrect: Mortality alone is too narrow for comprehensive priority setting.
  • D is incorrect: Morbidity and services don’t capture full priority setting criteria.

♦♦ Mean mark 48%.

HMS, TIP 2015 HSC 16 MC

Why is cryotherapy an effective post-exercise recovery procedure?

  1. It dilates blood flow and reduces muscle soreness.
  2. It dilates blood flow and increases dispersal of waste.
  3. It constricts blood flow and decreases dispersal of waste.
  4. It constricts blood flow and reduces an inflammatory response.
Show Answers Only

\(D\)

Show Worked Solution
  • D is correct: Cryotherapy constricts blood vessels and reduces inflammatory response.

Other Options:

  • A is incorrect: Cryotherapy constricts not dilates blood flow.
  • B is incorrect: Cold causes vasoconstriction not vasodilation.
  • C is incorrect: While it constricts flow it helps not hinders recovery.

♦♦ Mean mark 46%.

HMS, HIC 2015 HSC 15 MC

The graph shows the mortality rate (1992-2010) for a preventable chronic disease in Australia.
 

Which of the following is most likely to be the preventable chronic disease represented in the graph?

  1. Obesity
  2. Lung cancer
  3. Type 2 diabetes
  4. Colorectal cancer
Show Answers Only

\(B\)

Show Worked Solution
  • B is correct: Lung cancer shows declining mortality with higher male rates.

Note: Historical data remains educationally relevant for teaching epidemiological interpretation skills and understanding public health trends.

Other Options:

  • A is incorrect: Obesity mortality rates are generally increasing not declining.
  • C is incorrect: Type 2 diabetes mortality shows different gender patterns.
  • D is incorrect: Colorectal cancer has less pronounced gender differences.

♦♦ Mean mark 54%.

HMS, TIP 2015 HSC 14 MC

Which of the following would be a suitable weight training plan for enhancing the performance of an endurance athlete?

  1. Low repetition numbers with long recovery periods between sets
  2. Low repetition numbers with short recovery periods between sets
  3. High repetition numbers with slow speed and long recovery periods between sets
  4. High repetition numbers with fast speed and short recovery periods between sets
Show Answers Only

\(D\)

Show Worked Solution
  • D is correct: High reps with fast speed and short recovery mimics endurance demands.

Other Options:

  • A is incorrect: Low reps and long recovery develops power not endurance.
  • B is incorrect: Low reps develops strength not muscular endurance.
  • C is incorrect: Slow speed and long recovery doesn’t match endurance specificity.

♦♦ Mean mark 47%.

HMS, HIC 2015 HSC 9 MC

In which action area of the Ottawa Charter does the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) belong?

  1. Developing personal skills
  2. Reorienting health services
  3. Building healthy public policy
  4. Strengthening community action
Show Answers Only

\(C\)

Show Worked Solution
  • C is correct: PBS is government policy that makes medications affordable.

Other Options:

  • A is incorrect: PBS doesn’t develop individual skills.
  • B is incorrect: PBS doesn’t change how services are delivered.
  • D is incorrect: PBS is government policy not community action.

♦♦ Mean mark 49%.

HMS, TIP 2015 HSC 8 MC

Why is an adequate intake of vitamins important in an athlete's diet?

  1. They are energy rich nutrients.
  2. They act as catalysts to assist energy metabolism.
  3. They increase the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood.
  4. They restore bone density when used with load bearing exercise.
Show Answers Only

\(B\)

Show Worked Solution
  • B is correct: Vitamins act as catalysts to assist energy metabolism.

Other Options:

  • A is incorrect: Vitamins provide no energy themselves.
  • C is incorrect: Iron increases oxygen carrying capacity not vitamins generally.
  • D is incorrect: Calcium and vitamin D help bones but not vitamins alone.
♦ Mean mark 54%.

HMS, HAG 2015 HSC 7 MC

Meditation techniques are used by some patients while undergoing chemotherapy for cancer.

What type of approach to treatment is this?

  1. Diversionary
  2. Pain management
  3. Alternative health care
  4. Complementary health care
Show Answers Only

\(D\)

Show Worked Solution
  • D is correct: Meditation alongside chemotherapy represents complementary healthcare approach.

Other Options:

  • A is incorrect: Diversionary is not a recognised healthcare treatment category.
  • B is incorrect: Too narrow, meditation has broader benefits than pain.
  • C is incorrect: Alternative replaces conventional treatment, this supplements it.

♦♦♦♦ Mean mark 34%.

HMS, HAG 2015 HSC 4 MC

Which of the following best defines the process of metastasis?

  1. Scanning to locate a tumour
  2. Cells dividing and multiplying
  3. Malignant cells invading body tissue or organs
  4. Differentiating between different types of cancers
Show Answers Only

\(C\)

Show Worked Solution
  • C is correct: Metastasis is malignant cells spreading to other body parts.

Other Options:

  • A is incorrect: This describes diagnostic imaging procedures, not metastasis.
  • B is incorrect: This describes general cell division, not cancer spread.
  • D is incorrect: This describes cancer classification, not the spreading process.

♦♦ Mean mark 51%.

HMS, HIC 2015 HSC 33b

Explain the characteristics of an effective and sustainable health promotion strategy.   (12 marks)

Show Answers Only
  • An effective and sustainable health promotion strategy requires specific characteristics that ensure long-term success and positive health outcomes for target populations. The reason for this is that health promotion must address multiple factors to create lasting change in communities and achieve meaningful improvements.
  • Firstly, working with target groups in program design and implementation is essential because communities understand their own health needs better than outsiders and can identify relevant priorities. This occurs when health professionals collaborate directly with community members to identify priority health issues and develop appropriate solutions together. For instance, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations involve local communities in planning health services which results in culturally appropriate care that people trust and use regularly.
  • Consequently, cultural relevance and appropriateness ensures health promotion strategies respect community values and beliefs while acknowledging diverse backgrounds. This leads to greater community acceptance and participation because people feel their culture is valued rather than ignored or criticised by health programs.
  • Therefore, focusing on skills, education and prevention enables communities to develop health literacy and make informed decisions about their wellbeing independently. As a result, programs that teach practical skills like nutrition education or smoking cessation techniques create sustainable behaviour change because they address individual knowledge gaps and build personal capacity.
  • Furthermore, supporting whole populations while directing extra resources to high-risk groups achieves equity in health outcomes across diverse communities. This demonstrates how universal programs combined with targeted interventions address both general health improvement and specific community needs simultaneously without creating division.
  • Finally, intersectorial collaboration between health sectors, governments, industry, local authorities, media and voluntary organisations ensures comprehensive approaches that avoid duplication of resources and expertise. This occurs because all sectors within the community share responsibility for health promotion, which creates coordinated efforts that maximise program effectiveness across multiple areas of influence.
Show Worked Solution
  • An effective and sustainable health promotion strategy requires specific characteristics that ensure long-term success and positive health outcomes for target populations. The reason for this is that health promotion must address multiple factors to create lasting change in communities and achieve meaningful improvements.
  • Firstly, working with target groups in program design and implementation is essential because communities understand their own health needs better than outsiders and can identify relevant priorities. This occurs when health professionals collaborate directly with community members to identify priority health issues and develop appropriate solutions together. For instance, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations involve local communities in planning health services which results in culturally appropriate care that people trust and use regularly.
  • Consequently, cultural relevance and appropriateness ensures health promotion strategies respect community values and beliefs while acknowledging diverse backgrounds. This leads to greater community acceptance and participation because people feel their culture is valued rather than ignored or criticised by health programs.
  • Therefore, focusing on skills, education and prevention enables communities to develop health literacy and make informed decisions about their wellbeing independently. As a result, programs that teach practical skills like nutrition education or smoking cessation techniques create sustainable behaviour change because they address individual knowledge gaps and build personal capacity.
  • Furthermore, supporting whole populations while directing extra resources to high-risk groups achieves equity in health outcomes across diverse communities. This demonstrates how universal programs combined with targeted interventions address both general health improvement and specific community needs simultaneously without creating division.
  • Finally, intersectorial collaboration between health sectors, governments, industry, local authorities, media and voluntary organisations ensures comprehensive approaches that avoid duplication of resources and expertise. This occurs because all sectors within the community share responsibility for health promotion, which creates coordinated efforts that maximise program effectiveness across multiple areas of influence.

♦♦♦♦ Mean mark 32%.

HMS, HAG 2015 HSC 33a

How can generalisations about Australians who experience health inequalities be challenged?   (8 marks)

Show Answers Only
  • Generalisations about Australians experiencing health inequities can be challenged by using reliable health information and questioning what people assume about disadvantaged groups. The reason for this is that harmful stereotypes often oversimplify complex health determinants affecting disadvantaged groups.
  • This occurs when people question broad statements by examining reliable health data from sources like Australia’s Health reports. For instance, challenging assumptions about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health requires understanding how colonisation impacts contribute to current health disparities rather than blaming individual lifestyle choices.
  • Consequently, promoting health literacy enables individuals to critically analyse media representations about disadvantaged groups. This leads to better understanding of how social determinants like education, employment and housing influence health outcomes more than personal behaviours.
  • The underlying reason is that involving affected communities in defining their own health challenges prevents others from making assumptions about them. Therefore, direct contact with affected populations helps break down misconceptions because personal experiences contradict stereotypical assumptions.
  • As a result, research methods that include disadvantaged groups in the process ensure they participate in health research rather than being passive subjects.
  • This demonstrates how combining evidence-based information with community involvement creates more accurate understandings of health inequity causes.
Show Worked Solution
  • Generalisations about Australians experiencing health inequities can be challenged by using reliable health information and questioning what people assume about disadvantaged groups. The reason for this is that harmful stereotypes often oversimplify complex health determinants affecting disadvantaged groups.
  • This occurs when people question broad statements by examining reliable health data from sources like Australia’s Health reports. For instance, challenging assumptions about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health requires understanding how colonisation impacts contribute to current health disparities rather than blaming individual lifestyle choices.
  • Consequently, promoting health literacy enables individuals to critically analyse media representations about disadvantaged groups. This leads to better understanding of how social determinants like education, employment and housing influence health outcomes more than personal behaviours.
  • The underlying reason is that involving affected communities in defining their own health challenges prevents others from making assumptions about them. Therefore, direct contact with affected populations helps break down misconceptions because personal experiences contradict stereotypical assumptions.
  • As a result, research methods that include disadvantaged groups in the process ensure they participate in health research rather than being passive subjects.
  • This demonstrates how combining evidence-based information with community involvement creates more accurate understandings of health inequity causes.

♦♦♦♦ Mean mark 36%.

HMS, TIP 2015 HSC 32a

How does planning for performance differ for elite and amateur athletes?   (8 marks)

Show Answers Only
  • Planning for performance differs significantly between elite and amateur athletes due to varying time commitments, resource availability, and competitive demands. The underlying reason is that elite athletes operate as full-time professionals while amateur athletes balance training with work and family responsibilities.
  • Elite athletes require comprehensive yearly periodisation with multiple competition peaks because they compete internationally across extended seasons throughout the year. This leads to detailed planning incorporating pre-season conditioning, in-season maintenance and structured off-season recovery phases with specific mesocycles and microcycles. For instance, elite swimmers plan four-year cycles targeting major championships like Olympics or World Championships with precise tapering protocols.
  • Conversely, amateur athletes typically focus on single annual competition goals such as local championships or fun runs with simplified periodisation. This occurs because limited training time necessitates basic seasonal phases rather than complex mesocycles and detailed weekly microcycle planning.
  • Consequently, elite planning involves multidisciplinary teams including coaches, nutritionists, physiologists and sports psychologists which results in individualised programs addressing technical, physical and psychological development needs. However, amateur athletes often rely on generic training plans and self-coaching approaches due to financial constraints and accessibility limitations.
  • Therefore, elite athletes need much more detailed planning because they have higher performance goals and more resources available. This shows how planning complexity matches what each type of athlete is trying to achieve and what support they can access.
Show Worked Solution
  • Planning for performance differs significantly between elite and amateur athletes due to varying time commitments, resource availability, and competitive demands. The underlying reason is that elite athletes operate as full-time professionals while amateur athletes balance training with work and family responsibilities.
  • Elite athletes require comprehensive yearly periodisation with multiple competition peaks because they compete internationally across extended seasons throughout the year. This leads to detailed planning incorporating pre-season conditioning, in-season maintenance and structured off-season recovery phases with specific mesocycles and microcycles. For instance, elite swimmers plan four-year cycles targeting major championships like Olympics or World Championships with precise tapering protocols.
  • Conversely, amateur athletes typically focus on single annual competition goals such as local championships or fun runs with simplified periodisation. This occurs because limited training time necessitates basic seasonal phases rather than complex mesocycles and detailed weekly microcycle planning.
  • Consequently, elite planning involves multidisciplinary teams including coaches, nutritionists, physiologists and sports psychologists which results in individualised programs addressing technical, physical and psychological development needs. However, amateur athletes often rely on generic training plans and self-coaching approaches due to financial constraints and accessibility limitations.
  • Therefore, elite athletes need much more detailed planning because they have higher performance goals and more resources available. This shows how planning complexity matches what each type of athlete is trying to achieve and what support they can access.

♦♦ Mean mark 48%.

HMS, HIC 2015 HSC 29b

To what extent can young people enjoy better health by developing their resilience, coping and health literacy skills?   (12 marks)

Show Answers Only

Judgment Statement

  • Young people can achieve significantly better health by developing resilience, coping and health literacy skills.
  • Effectiveness will however, depend on individual circumstances and support systems.

Resilience and Coping Benefits

  • Evidence supporting this includes resilience enabling young people to bounce back from setbacks and maintain positive mental health during challenging developmental periods.
  • One major reason why these skills prove effective is their ability to significantly reduce anxiety and depression rates among adolescents facing academic pressure or complex family difficulties.
  • For instance, young people with strong coping strategies use problem-solving techniques and seek appropriate support rather than turning to harmful behaviours like substance use or self-harm.
      
  • Resilience training programs in schools demonstrate measurable improvements in student wellbeing and academic performance across diverse populations.
  • The main factors supporting this include enhanced emotional regulation, improved social connections and increased help-seeking behaviours when problems arise.
  • This demonstrates that coping skills provide practical tools for managing stress before it negatively impacts physical and mental health.

Health Literacy Impact

  • Health literacy significantly enhances young people’s ability to make informed decisions about their wellbeing because it enables critical evaluation of health information from multiple sources including healthcare providers.
  • However, it is important to consider that digital age challenges include distinguishing reliable health websites from misleading social media content and peer influences.
      
  • An alternative perspective is that health literacy alone proves insufficient without supportive family and community environments that encourage healthy choices.
  • Despite this, young people with strong health literacy skills demonstrate better nutrition choices, increased physical activity participation and more responsible sexual health decisions throughout adolescence.

Reaffirmation

  • The evidence indicates that developing these skills creates substantial health improvements for young people.
  • While individual and environmental factors influence effectiveness, the combination of resilience, coping strategies and health literacy provides essential foundations for lifelong health and wellbeing.
Show Worked Solution

Judgment Statement

  • Young people can achieve significantly better health by developing resilience, coping and health literacy skills.
  • Effectiveness will however, depend on individual circumstances and support systems.

Resilience and Coping Benefits

  • Evidence supporting this includes resilience enabling young people to bounce back from setbacks and maintain positive mental health during challenging developmental periods.
  • One major reason why these skills prove effective is their ability to significantly reduce anxiety and depression rates among adolescents facing academic pressure or complex family difficulties.
  • For instance, young people with strong coping strategies use problem-solving techniques and seek appropriate support rather than turning to harmful behaviours like substance use or self-harm.
      
  • Resilience training programs in schools demonstrate measurable improvements in student wellbeing and academic performance across diverse populations.
  • The main factors supporting this include enhanced emotional regulation, improved social connections and increased help-seeking behaviours when problems arise.
  • This demonstrates that coping skills provide practical tools for managing stress before it negatively impacts physical and mental health.

Health Literacy Impact

  • Health literacy significantly enhances young people’s ability to make informed decisions about their wellbeing because it enables critical evaluation of health information from multiple sources including healthcare providers.
  • However, it is important to consider that digital age challenges include distinguishing reliable health websites from misleading social media content and peer influences.
      
  • An alternative perspective is that health literacy alone proves insufficient without supportive family and community environments that encourage healthy choices.
  • Despite this, young people with strong health literacy skills demonstrate better nutrition choices, increased physical activity participation and more responsible sexual health decisions throughout adolescence.

Reaffirmation

  • The evidence indicates that developing these skills creates substantial health improvements for young people.
  • While individual and environmental factors influence effectiveness, the combination of resilience, coping strategies and health literacy provides essential foundations for lifelong health and wellbeing.

♦♦♦♦ Mean mark 39%.

HMS, HIC 2015 HSC 29a

How do perceptions of self-identity and self-worth affect the health of young people?   (8 marks)

Show Answers Only

Overview Statement

  • Self-identity and self-worth perceptions fundamentally influence young people’s health choices and wellbeing outcomes through their direct impact on mental health stability and health-protective behaviours.

Self-Identity and Health Behaviours

  • Young people’s self-identity formation determines their health-related decision-making patterns because identity shapes personal values and lifestyle choices.
  • This occurs when adolescents who identify as athletes prioritise physical fitness and nutrition to maintain their self-image.
  • Conversely, those experiencing identity confusion may engage in risky behaviours like substance use to fit perceived social expectations or rebel against authority figures.
  • The underlying reason is that self-identity provides the framework through which young people interpret health information and make behavioural choices.

Self-Worth and Mental Health

  • Low self-worth directly contributes to increased rates of anxiety, depression and self-harm among young people because negative self-perception creates ongoing feelings of inadequacy and hopelessness.
  • This results in social withdrawal, poor academic performance and reduced help-seeking behaviours when health problems arise.
  • However, positive self-worth enables resilience against peer pressure and supports healthy coping strategies during stressful periods.

Health Impact Integration

  • Therefore, both self-identity and self-worth work together to shape young people’s health outcomes because they influence daily decisions about exercise, nutrition and risk-taking behaviours.
  • This shows how psychological wellbeing connects directly to physical health through the choices young people make about their lifestyle and relationships.
Show Worked Solution

Overview Statement

  • Self-identity and self-worth perceptions fundamentally influence young people’s health choices and wellbeing outcomes through their direct impact on mental health stability and health-protective behaviours.

Self-Identity and Health Behaviours

  • Young people’s self-identity formation determines their health-related decision-making patterns because identity shapes personal values and lifestyle choices.
  • This occurs when adolescents who identify as athletes prioritise physical fitness and nutrition to maintain their self-image.
  • Conversely, those experiencing identity confusion may engage in risky behaviours like substance use to fit perceived social expectations or rebel against authority figures.
  • The underlying reason is that self-identity provides the framework through which young people interpret health information and make behavioural choices.

Self-Worth and Mental Health

  • Low self-worth directly contributes to increased rates of anxiety, depression and self-harm among young people because negative self-perception creates ongoing feelings of inadequacy and hopelessness.
  • This results in social withdrawal, poor academic performance and reduced help-seeking behaviours when health problems arise.
  • However, positive self-worth enables resilience against peer pressure and supports healthy coping strategies during stressful periods.

Health Impact Integration

  • Therefore, both self-identity and self-worth work together to shape young people’s health outcomes because they influence daily decisions about exercise, nutrition and risk-taking behaviours.
  • This shows how psychological wellbeing connects directly to physical health through the choices young people make about their lifestyle and relationships.

♦♦ Mean mark 51%.

HMS, HIC 2015 HSC 22

Explain how health services in Australia have been reoriented to address ONE health promotion initiative.   (4 marks)

Show Answers Only
  • The reorientation of health services involves shifting from purely curative approaches to preventative care models. This occurs because health services have changed focus from purely treatment centred models to those with a disease prevention focus through early intervention strategies. The National Tobacco Campaign demonstrates this reorientation effectively.
  • As a result, general practitioners now provide smoking cessation counselling and prescribe nicotine replacement therapies rather than only treating smoking-related diseases. Consequently, health professionals receive training in behaviour change techniques to support patients wanting to quit smoking.
  • The underlying reason is new service delivery models where doctors actively screen for smoking status during routine consultations. Thus, the major change is that patients receive lifestyle prescriptions and referrals to Quitline services before developing tobacco-related conditions.
  • Therefore, the healthcare system now emphasises prevention through early identification and intervention, which means that resources focus on stopping health problems before they require expensive treatments to cure.
Show Worked Solution
  • The reorientation of health services involves shifting from purely curative approaches to preventative care models. This occurs because health services have changed focus from purely treatment centred models to those with a disease prevention focus through early intervention strategies. The National Tobacco Campaign demonstrates this reorientation effectively.
  • As a result, general practitioners now provide smoking cessation counselling and prescribe nicotine replacement therapies rather than only treating smoking-related diseases. Consequently, health professionals receive training in behaviour change techniques to support patients wanting to quit smoking.
  • The underlying reason is new service delivery models where doctors actively screen for smoking status during routine consultations. Thus, the major change is that patients receive lifestyle prescriptions and referrals to Quitline services before developing tobacco-related conditions.
  • Therefore, the healthcare system now emphasises prevention through early identification and intervention, which means that resources focus on stopping health problems before they require expensive treatments to cure.

♦♦♦ Mean mark 44%.

HMS, HAG 2016 HSC 31b

To what extent do different factors contribute to the health inequities experienced by a population group in Australia?   (12 marks)

Show Answers Only

Assessment Statement

  • Different factors contribute to a significant extent in creating health inequities experienced by people with disability in Australia.
  • Socioeconomic, environmental and social determinants interact systematically to create compounding disadvantages that limit health outcomes substantially.

Socioeconomic Factors – Major Contribution

  • Employment discrimination creates substantial health inequities for people with disability through reduced income and limited healthcare access.
  • Unemployment rates exceed 50% among people with intellectual disability compared to 5% in the general population.
  • This economic disadvantage leads to reliance on public healthcare systems with extended waiting periods and reduced specialist access.
  • Evidence supporting major impact includes people with disability experiencing twice the rate of unmet healthcare needs due to financial barriers.
  • Private health insurance remains unaffordable, limiting access to allied health services like physiotherapy and psychology that could prevent secondary health complications.

Environmental Factors – Substantial Contribution

  • Physical accessibility barriers significantly restrict healthcare service utilisation among people with mobility impairments and sensory disabilities.
  • Medical facilities often lack appropriate ramps, accessible toilets, and communication aids required for safe healthcare delivery.
  • Transport limitations compound access problems with inadequate accessible public transport preventing routine medical appointments and emergency service access.
  • Geographic isolation particularly affects rural people with disability who face combinations of physical barriers and service shortages creating severe health disadvantages.

Social Factors – Moderate Contribution

  • Healthcare provider attitudes create discrimination and poor-quality care experiences that discourage continued healthcare engagement.
  • Limited disability awareness training results in miscommunication, inappropriate treatment approaches and inadequate accommodation of individual needs.
  • These social barriers lead to delayed diagnosis, inappropriate medication management, and reduced preventative care participation among people with disability.

Final Assessment

  • Evidence demonstrates significant combined impact where multiple factors interact to create systematic exclusion from optimal healthcare.
  • Socioeconomic factors prove most influential through direct financial barriers, while environmental and social factors amplify existing disadvantages substantially.

Show Worked Solution

Assessment Statement

  • Different factors contribute to a significant extent in creating health inequities experienced by people with disability in Australia.
  • Socioeconomic, environmental and social determinants interact systematically to create compounding disadvantages that limit health outcomes substantially.

Socioeconomic Factors – Major Contribution

  • Employment discrimination creates substantial health inequities for people with disability through reduced income and limited healthcare access.
  • Unemployment rates exceed 50% among people with intellectual disability compared to 5% in the general population.
  • This economic disadvantage leads to reliance on public healthcare systems with extended waiting periods and reduced specialist access.
  • Evidence supporting major impact includes people with disability experiencing twice the rate of unmet healthcare needs due to financial barriers.
  • Private health insurance remains unaffordable, limiting access to allied health services like physiotherapy and psychology that could prevent secondary health complications.

Environmental Factors – Substantial Contribution

  • Physical accessibility barriers significantly restrict healthcare service utilisation among people with mobility impairments and sensory disabilities.
  • Medical facilities often lack appropriate ramps, accessible toilets, and communication aids required for safe healthcare delivery.
  • Transport limitations compound access problems with inadequate accessible public transport preventing routine medical appointments and emergency service access.
  • Geographic isolation particularly affects rural people with disability who face combinations of physical barriers and service shortages creating severe health disadvantages.

Social Factors – Moderate Contribution

  • Healthcare provider attitudes create discrimination and poor-quality care experiences that discourage continued healthcare engagement.
  • Limited disability awareness training results in miscommunication, inappropriate treatment approaches and inadequate accommodation of individual needs.
  • These social barriers lead to delayed diagnosis, inappropriate medication management, and reduced preventative care participation among people with disability.

Final Assessment

  • Evidence demonstrates significant combined impact where multiple factors interact to create systematic exclusion from optimal healthcare.
  • Socioeconomic factors prove most influential through direct financial barriers, while environmental and social factors amplify existing disadvantages substantially.

♦♦ Mean mark 47%.

HMS, HAG 2016 HSC 31a

In relation to a group affected by health inequities, explain the role of the media in influencing social attitudes and public policy.   (8 marks)

Show Answers Only

Rural and Remote Australians

  • Media representation directly shapes public perceptions about rural communities through stereotypical portrayals that influence funding priorities.
  • This occurs because mainstream media often depicts rural areas as backward or resistant to change rather than highlighting systemic disadvantages.
  • When negative stereotypes dominate coverage of rural health issues, urban audiences develop unsympathetic attitudes toward resource allocation needs.
  • For instance, when television programs portray rural people as self-reliant and independent, public support decreases for government health service funding in remote areas.
      
  • Limited media access creates barriers to health promotion message delivery that compounds existing rural health disadvantages.
  • This happens because rural communities often experience poor internet connectivity and reduced television reception affecting health campaign exposure.
  • Geographic isolation leads to missed opportunities for accessing digital health promotion initiatives and online health resources.
  • Evidence of this includes rural youth missing social media mental health campaigns due to poor digital infrastructure, resulting in delayed help-seeking behaviours during crisis periods.
      
  • Positive media advocacy generates significant policy improvements when rural health stories receive compassionate and accurate representation.
  • This works by humanising rural health challenges and creating emotional connections with urban audiences and politicians.
  • Community-driven media initiatives trigger increased government attention and funding announcements for rural health infrastructure development.
  • A clear example is rural communities using local newspapers and radio stations to document healthcare worker shortages, prompting state government recruitment incentive programs and improved medical training placements.

Show Worked Solution

Rural and Remote Australians

  • Media representation directly shapes public perceptions about rural communities through stereotypical portrayals that influence funding priorities.
  • This occurs because mainstream media often depicts rural areas as backward or resistant to change rather than highlighting systemic disadvantages.
  • When negative stereotypes dominate coverage of rural health issues, urban audiences develop unsympathetic attitudes toward resource allocation needs.
  • For instance, when television programs portray rural people as self-reliant and independent, public support decreases for government health service funding in remote areas.
      
  • Limited media access creates barriers to health promotion message delivery that compounds existing rural health disadvantages.
  • This happens because rural communities often experience poor internet connectivity and reduced television reception affecting health campaign exposure.
  • Geographic isolation leads to missed opportunities for accessing digital health promotion initiatives and online health resources.
  • Evidence of this includes rural youth missing social media mental health campaigns due to poor digital infrastructure, resulting in delayed help-seeking behaviours during crisis periods.
      
  • Positive media advocacy generates significant policy improvements when rural health stories receive compassionate and accurate representation.
  • This works by humanising rural health challenges and creating emotional connections with urban audiences and politicians.
  • Community-driven media initiatives trigger increased government attention and funding announcements for rural health infrastructure development.
  • A clear example is rural communities using local newspapers and radio stations to document healthcare worker shortages, prompting state government recruitment incentive programs and improved medical training placements.

♦♦ Mean mark 50%.

HMS, TIP 2016 HSC 30b

A training session is being designed for an activity of your choice.

Justify each element that should be considered for the session.   (12 marks)

Show Answers Only

Position Statement

  • Essential training session elements are crucial for maximising performance outcomes and enhancing competitive capabilities.
  • Health screening, warm-up protocols, skill instruction and evaluation components provide systematic frameworks for achieving optimal performance improvements.

Health and Safety Screening

  • Pre-session health screening proves essential for optimising performance capacity by ensuring athletes can train at maximum intensity without physical limitations.
  • Evidence supporting performance benefits includes athletes achieving notably higher training loads when injury-free compared to those with minor restrictions.
  • Identifying fatigue levels enables coaches to adjust session intensity for optimal adaptation responses.
  • For swimming training sessions, screening shoulder mobility ensures full stroke efficiency and power generation throughout the session.
  • This screening maximises training quality by preventing performance decrements from undetected physical limitations.

Warm-up and Preparation

  • Comprehensive warm-up procedures demonstrate critical performance enhancement benefits through improved neuromuscular activation and increased power output capacity.
  • Progressive intensity increases enhance muscle contraction speed whilst optimising oxygen delivery to working muscles.
  • Research confirms that structured warm-ups increase sprint performance by approximately 10% compared to inadequate preparation routines.
  • Dynamic stretching and sport-specific movements prove essential for achieving peak force production and movement efficiency during main training activities.

Skill Instruction and Practice

  • Systematic skill instruction provides fundamental performance improvements through enhanced movement efficiency and reduced energy expenditure during competition.
  • Clear demonstration and corrective feedback enable athletes to achieve optimal technique patterns that maximise force application and speed development.
  • Skill progressions from simple to complex movements ensure progressive performance gains whilst building movement confidence under competitive pressure.

Session Evaluation and Feedback

  • Post-training evaluation proves vital for maximising long-term performance development through identification of training adaptations and performance improvements.
  • Performance data collection enables coaches to quantify session effectiveness and adjust future training for continued performance gains.

Reinforcement

  • Evidence overwhelmingly supports incorporating all elements systematically to create performance-focused training experiences.
  • Such experiences deliver measurable competitive improvements whilst maintaining training consistency.

Show Worked Solution

Position Statement

  • Essential training session elements are crucial for maximising performance outcomes and enhancing competitive capabilities.
  • Health screening, warm-up protocols, skill instruction and evaluation components provide systematic frameworks for achieving optimal performance improvements.

Health and Safety Screening

  • Pre-session health screening proves essential for optimising performance capacity by ensuring athletes can train at maximum intensity without physical limitations.
  • Evidence supporting performance benefits includes athletes achieving notably higher training loads when injury-free compared to those with minor restrictions.
  • Identifying fatigue levels enables coaches to adjust session intensity for optimal adaptation responses.
  • For swimming training sessions, screening shoulder mobility ensures full stroke efficiency and power generation throughout the session.
  • This screening maximises training quality by preventing performance decrements from undetected physical limitations.

Warm-up and Preparation

  • Comprehensive warm-up procedures demonstrate critical performance enhancement benefits through improved neuromuscular activation and increased power output capacity.
  • Progressive intensity increases enhance muscle contraction speed whilst optimising oxygen delivery to working muscles.
  • Research confirms that structured warm-ups increase sprint performance by approximately 10% compared to inadequate preparation routines.
  • Dynamic stretching and sport-specific movements prove essential for achieving peak force production and movement efficiency during main training activities.

Skill Instruction and Practice

  • Systematic skill instruction provides fundamental performance improvements through enhanced movement efficiency and reduced energy expenditure during competition.
  • Clear demonstration and corrective feedback enable athletes to achieve optimal technique patterns that maximise force application and speed development.
  • Skill progressions from simple to complex movements ensure progressive performance gains whilst building movement confidence under competitive pressure.

Session Evaluation and Feedback

  • Post-training evaluation proves vital for maximising long-term performance development through identification of training adaptations and performance improvements.
  • Performance data collection enables coaches to quantify session effectiveness and adjust future training for continued performance gains.

Reinforcement

  • Evidence overwhelmingly supports incorporating all elements systematically to create performance-focused training experiences.
  • Such experiences deliver measurable competitive improvements whilst maintaining training consistency.

HMS, HIC 2016 HSC 27b

Evaluate government strategies or actions that target major health issues affecting young people.   (12 marks)

Show Answers Only

Evaluation Statement

  • Government strategies targeting youth health issues prove moderately effective in addressing mental health and substance abuse concerns.
  • Effectiveness varies significantly based on accessibility, implementation consistency and community engagement levels across different regions.

Mental Health Strategy Effectiveness

  • Youth mental health funding achieves substantial health improvements through Headspace centres providing accessible counselling and psychiatric services for young people aged 12-25 years. These government-funded facilities offer free support with reduced waiting times compared to traditional mental health services.
  • Evidence supporting health impact includes measurable reductions in youth suicide rates and decreased mental health-related emergency department presentations in areas with Headspace coverage. The program demonstrates strong health outcomes through almost three-quarters of clients showing improved mental wellbeing scores and reduced psychological distress following treatment interventions.
  • However, significant health disparities persist in rural and remote areas where youth suicide rates remain elevated due to inadequate service coverage. Geographic inequities create substantial mental health outcome differences between metropolitan and regional young people.
  • School-based programs like KidsMatter show inconsistent health impacts with variable depression and anxiety reduction rates across different educational systems.

Substance Abuse Prevention Effectiveness

  • Drug education programs produce limited health impact with traditional approaches failing to achieve substantial reductions in youth substance use rates. Government initiatives show minimal influence on binge drinking behaviours and cannabis experimentation among target age groups.
  • Conversely, harm reduction strategies demonstrate better health outcomes through reduced drug-related hospitalisations and decreased overdose incidents among program participants.
  • Road safety campaigns prove highly effective for health improvement through graduated licensing systems reducing youth road fatalities by 40% since implementation. These legislative measures significantly decrease serious injury rates and trauma-related disabilities among young drivers through evidence-based policy interventions.

Final Evaluation

  • Overall assessment reveals moderate effectiveness with strongest outcomes in legislative approaches.
  • Weakest results occur in education-based interventions requiring sustained community engagement and consistent implementation.

Show Worked Solution

Evaluation Statement

  • Government strategies targeting youth health issues prove moderately effective in addressing mental health and substance abuse concerns.
  • Effectiveness varies significantly based on accessibility, implementation consistency and community engagement levels across different regions.

Mental Health Strategy Effectiveness

  • Youth mental health funding achieves substantial health improvements through Headspace centres providing accessible counselling and psychiatric services for young people aged 12-25 years. These government-funded facilities offer free support with reduced waiting times compared to traditional mental health services.
  • Evidence supporting health impact includes measurable reductions in youth suicide rates and decreased mental health-related emergency department presentations in areas with Headspace coverage. The program demonstrates strong health outcomes through almost three-quarters of clients showing improved mental wellbeing scores and reduced psychological distress following treatment interventions.
  • However, significant health disparities persist in rural and remote areas where youth suicide rates remain elevated due to inadequate service coverage. Geographic inequities create substantial mental health outcome differences between metropolitan and regional young people.
  • School-based programs like KidsMatter show inconsistent health impacts with variable depression and anxiety reduction rates across different educational systems.

Substance Abuse Prevention Effectiveness

  • Drug education programs produce limited health impact with traditional approaches failing to achieve substantial reductions in youth substance use rates. Government initiatives show minimal influence on binge drinking behaviours and cannabis experimentation among target age groups.
  • Conversely, harm reduction strategies demonstrate better health outcomes through reduced drug-related hospitalisations and decreased overdose incidents among program participants.
  • Road safety campaigns prove highly effective for health improvement through graduated licensing systems reducing youth road fatalities by 40% since implementation. These legislative measures significantly decrease serious injury rates and trauma-related disabilities among young drivers through evidence-based policy interventions.

Final Evaluation

  • Overall assessment reveals moderate effectiveness with strongest outcomes in legislative approaches.
  • Weakest results occur in education-based interventions requiring sustained community engagement and consistent implementation.

♦♦ Mean mark 49%.

HMS, HIC 2016 HSC 27a

Explain how individual and sociocultural factors can adversely affect the health of young people.   (8 marks)

Show Answers Only

Individual factors

  • Individual factors directly influence young people’s health through personal characteristics and behavioural choices that increase risk-taking behaviours.
  • This occurs because adolescent brain development affects decision-making capacity and impulse control during critical developmental periods.
  • For instance, when young males exhibit higher sensation-seeking tendencies, they engage in dangerous driving behaviours leading to increased motor vehicle accidents.
  • This demonstrates why individual risk-taking attitudes contribute significantly to injury-related hospitalisations among teenagers.

Genetic predisposition

  • Genetic predisposition creates vulnerability to mental health conditions that emerge during adolescence and early adulthood.
  • This happens because family history of depression and anxiety disorders increases likelihood of developing similar conditions.
  • Evidence of this includes young people with family mental health history experiencing onset of depressive symptoms during stressful periods.
  • The result is higher rates of self-harm and suicide attempts among genetically predisposed adolescents.

Sociocultural factors

  • Sociocultural factors generate peer pressure influences that promote unhealthy behaviours and substance experimentation among young people.
  • Social media platforms trigger unrealistic body image expectations and cyberbullying experiences that damage self-esteem.
  • A clear example is teenage girls developing eating disorders after exposure to idealised social media content.
  • Additionally, peer groups normalise binge drinking behaviours during social gatherings, leading to alcohol-related emergency department presentations and risky sexual behaviours among adolescents.
Show Worked Solution

Individual factors

  • Individual factors directly influence young people’s health through personal characteristics and behavioural choices that increase risk-taking behaviours.
  • This occurs because adolescent brain development affects decision-making capacity and impulse control during critical developmental periods.
  • For instance, when young males exhibit higher sensation-seeking tendencies, they engage in dangerous driving behaviours leading to increased motor vehicle accidents.
  • This demonstrates why individual risk-taking attitudes contribute significantly to injury-related hospitalisations among teenagers.

Genetic predisposition

  • Genetic predisposition creates vulnerability to mental health conditions that emerge during adolescence and early adulthood.
  • This happens because family history of depression and anxiety disorders increases likelihood of developing similar conditions.
  • Evidence of this includes young people with family mental health history experiencing onset of depressive symptoms during stressful periods.
  • The result is higher rates of self-harm and suicide attempts among genetically predisposed adolescents.

Sociocultural factors

  • Sociocultural factors generate peer pressure influences that promote unhealthy behaviours and substance experimentation among young people.
  • Social media platforms trigger unrealistic body image expectations and cyberbullying experiences that damage self-esteem.
  • A clear example is teenage girls developing eating disorders after exposure to idealised social media content.
  • Additionally, peer groups normalise binge drinking behaviours during social gatherings, leading to alcohol-related emergency department presentations and risky sexual behaviours among adolescents.

♦ Mean mark 55%.

HMS, HAG 2016 HSC 21

Using examples, describe the difference between alternative health therapies and complementary health therapies.   (5 marks)

Show Answers Only

Complementary health therapies

  • Such approaches are used alongside conventional medical treatments to enhance overall patient care. They work together with mainstream medicine to support healing and wellbeing.
  • Complementary therapies supplement standard medical care rather than replacing it entirely.
  • For example, a cancer patient might receive chemotherapy from their oncologist whilst also using acupuncture to manage treatment side effects. Massage therapy can complement physiotherapy treatment for muscle injuries. Meditation might be used alongside antidepressant medication for mental health conditions.

Alternative health therapies

  • These therapies are used instead of conventional medical treatments as the primary healthcare approach. They replace mainstream medical interventions completely rather than supporting them.
  • Patients choose alternative approaches as their sole treatment method for health conditions.
  • For example, someone might choose herbal remedies instead of prescribed antibiotics for infections. A person might select homeopathic treatments rather than conventional surgery for medical conditions. Naturopathic approaches might replace pharmaceutical medications entirely.

Key difference

  • The key difference is in how these therapies interact with conventional medicine.
  • Complementary approaches enhance traditional treatment whilst alternative approaches replace conventional care completely.

Show Worked Solution

Complementary health therapies

  • Such approaches are used alongside conventional medical treatments to enhance overall patient care. They work together with mainstream medicine to support healing and wellbeing.
  • Complementary therapies supplement standard medical care rather than replacing it entirely.
  • For example, a cancer patient might receive chemotherapy from their oncologist whilst also using acupuncture to manage treatment side effects. Massage therapy can complement physiotherapy treatment for muscle injuries. Meditation might be used alongside antidepressant medication for mental health conditions.

Alternative health therapies

  • These therapies are used instead of conventional medical treatments as the primary healthcare approach. They replace mainstream medical interventions completely rather than supporting them.
  • Patients choose alternative approaches as their sole treatment method for health conditions.
  • For example, someone might choose herbal remedies instead of prescribed antibiotics for infections. A person might select homeopathic treatments rather than conventional surgery for medical conditions. Naturopathic approaches might replace pharmaceutical medications entirely.

Key difference

  • The key difference is in how these therapies interact with conventional medicine.
  • Complementary approaches enhance traditional treatment whilst alternative approaches replace conventional care completely.

♦♦ Mean mark 48%.

HMS, TIP 2016 HSC 20 MC

Which of the following adaptations is increased by long-term aerobic training?

  1. Fat metabolism
  2. ATP resynthesis
  3. Protein metabolism
  4. Fast-twitch fibre recruitment
Show Answers Only

\(A\)

Show Worked Solution
  • A is correct: Aerobic training enhances the body’s ability to metabolise fats for energy.

Other Options:

  • B is incorrect: ATP resynthesis improves but fat metabolism is more specific.
  • C is incorrect: Protein metabolism isn’t a primary adaptation to aerobic training.
  • D is incorrect: Aerobic training develops slow-twitch fibres, not fast-twitch recruitment.

♦♦♦ Mean mark 40%.

HMS, BM 2016 HSC 18 MC

A learner is practising a complicated serial skill by breaking down the skill into segments. After developing each part, the learner reassembles the skill to get feedback from the coach during skill execution.

Which row in the table shows the practice methods and types of feedback that are described?
 

  Practice methods Types of feedback
A.  Part and whole Concurrent and external
B. Distributed Concurrent and external
C. Part and whole Knowledge of performance and delayed
D. Distributed Knowledge of performance and delayed

 

Show Answers Only

\(A\)

Show Worked Solution
  • A is correct: Breaking down then reassembling is part-whole practice with concurrent external feedback.

Other Options:

  • B is incorrect: Distributed refers to rest periods, not skill breakdown.
  • C is incorrect: Feedback during execution is concurrent, not delayed.
  • D is incorrect: Both practice method and feedback timing are incorrect.

♦♦ Mean mark 53%.

HMS, TIP 2016 HSC 14 MC

Athletes dehydrate while competing in sporting events.

Which strategy would best address dehydration?

  1. Drinking 250 mL of water for every 30 minutes of competition
  2. Drinking 300 mL to 500 mL of water prior to commencing the event
  3. Drinking 600 mL of an energy sports drink at the completion of the event
  4. Drinking  100 mL of water for every 100 grams of body weight lost during the event
Show Answers Only

\(D\)

Show Worked Solution
  • D is correct: Replacing fluid based on actual weight loss ensures proper rehydration.

Other Options:

  • A is incorrect: Fixed amounts don’t account for individual sweat rates.
  • B is incorrect: Pre-event hydration doesn’t address dehydration during competition.
  • C is incorrect: Post-event only doesn’t prevent dehydration during competition.

♦♦♦ Mean mark 34%.