1 Iss.1 Suppl. Health science students often struggle with the complexity and diversity of the Australian health care system. They tend to view the system from their own frame of reference and not through the frame of others. The Health Care Game is accessed by students via the Internet and comprises four hypothetical families from different cultural, socio-economic and demographic backgrounds.
Family members encounter a series of health events during the course of the game.
Each event generates problems for the family member. Students are required to obtain information which will allow the family to navigate the health system, identify the services required, access and obtain the cost of these services. Options developed by students for the family need to consider the family's background including available financial resources. Internet resources support students' information seeking activities and several sites are linked to the game. Key features of the game include collaboration in small groups in competition with other groups, and online discussion and feedback facilities.