VCE+Health

**VCE Health and Human Development **
The VCE Health and Human Development study approaches the concept of ‘development’ as a continuum, that begins with individual human development in Units 1 and 2 and progresses towards human development at a societal level in Unit 4. In Units 1 and 2 the study of human development is about individual change, that is a continuous lifelong process that begins at conception and continues until death. Individual human developmental changes are cumulative; development that occurs in the future is dependent upon development occurring in the past. Unit 4 takes a global perspective on health and human development and uses definitions of human development that are consistent with approaches taken by both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations (UN). In Unit 4 human development is about expanding people’s choices and enhancing capabilities (the range of things people can be and do) and their freedoms; enabling people to live full, productive and creative lives; having access to knowledge, health and a decent standard of living; and participating in the life of their community and decisions affecting their lives (adapted from the United Nations Development Programme, 1990).

The study of Health and Human Development is based on the premise that health and human development needs to be promoted at an individual level, and within group and community settings at national and international levels, to maximise global development potential. This underpins the structure of the four units of Health and Human Development. The study also promotes the understanding that nutrition plays a major role in influencing both health status and individual human development.