This 22-lesson unit explores how the body keeps itself stable, what disease is, how it spreads, and how the body fights back. You will investigate homeostasis, pathogens, the immune system, vaccination, antibiotics, and the science behind public health decisions that affect millions of lives.
Students distinguish between infectious and non-infectious diseases, identify how disease spreads, and describe how the body responds to pathogens and how science is used to prevent and control disease.
Working Scientifically skills are integrated throughout: analysing data, communicating scientific arguments, planning investigations, and making evidence-based decisions.
Defining health, disease, and disorder; infectious vs non-infectious
2Stable Internal ConditionsHomeostasis; the internal environment; why stability keeps us healthy
3System Interactions and FeedbackNegative feedback; nervous vs endocrine control of the body
4Types of PathogensBacteria, viruses, fungi, protists, parasitic worms; how pathogens cause harm
5How Disease SpreadsTransmission routes: direct, indirect, airborne, vector-borne, waterborne
6First Line of DefencePhysical and chemical barriers; skin, mucous membranes, stomach acid
Cumulative assessment for Lessons 1-6
Consolidating infection, transmission, and the early lines of defence
8Second Line of DefenceInflammation, phagocytes, fever, complement proteins
9The Immune Response: Review and ConnectLines of defence, adaptive immunity, B cells, T cells, immune memory
10Vaccination and ImmunityActive vs passive immunity; how vaccines train the immune system
11Australia's Immunisation StoryNational Immunisation Program; historical outbreaks; immunisation data
Cumulative assessment for Lessons 7-11
Herd immunity threshold; R0; protecting the vulnerable
13Antibiotics and AntiviralsHow antibiotics and antivirals work; proper use; antimicrobial resistance
14Designing a Disease InvestigationInvestigable questions; variables; fair tests; validity
15Non-Infectious DiseaseLifestyle diseases (CVD, diabetes, obesity); risk factors; prevention
16Investigating Outbreaks: EpidemiologyOutbreak tracing; contact tracing; incidence and case data
Cumulative assessment for Lessons 12-16
Mutations; benign vs malignant tumours; metastasis; screening
18Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander HealthTraditional plant medicine; historical health impacts; Closing the Gap
19Global Disease and PandemicsPandemic vs epidemic; COVID-19; influenza; malaria; global response
20Investigating DiseaseDesigning fair tests; case-control studies; data analysis; ethics
21Public Health and PreventionSanitation, quarantine, screening, health promotion; Australian systems
22Unit Synthesis and Depth Study PrepConnecting concepts; preparing investigable questions; planning studies
Cumulative assessment for Lessons 17-22
🏆 Unit QuizFull unit assessment covering all 22 lessons