Unit Outline
HSP101
Introduction to Emergency Management
Semester 1, 2024
Darryl Stellmach
School of Social Sciences
College of Arts, Law and Education
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B

Unit Coordinator
Darryl Stellmach
Email: Darryl.Stellmach@utas.edu.au
 

What is the Unit About?
Unit Description
Emergency management is when our communities, the public sector (government agencies), the private sector (businesses) and the not-for-profit sector (charities) work together to strengthen society’s capacity to withstand, plan for, respond to and recover from disasters. This unit will provide you with an introductory knowledge on the broader concepts of emergency management. In this unit, you will explore local, national, and international case studies of emergency management in numerous contexts that are applicable and transferable to any discipline. This an introductory unit (level 1) to emergency management. Consequently, the assessment tasks allow you to explore a topic in the context of emergency management that is relevant to your interests and has real world applicability regardless of your specific area of study. Therefore, if you have a passion for enhancing society’s disaster resilience to natural hazards (e.g. bushfires, floods, cyclones, tsunamis, etc.) and man-made disasters (e.g. humanitarian crises, acts of terrorism, environmental incidents, etc.) then this unit is for you.
Intended Learning Outcomes
As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.
On completion of this unit, you will be able to:
1.
Describe the basic principles that underpin contemporary emergency management practice in Australia and internationally
2.
Identify how emergency management is applied in practice using authentic case studies.
Alterations as a result of student feedback
This unit has been amended as a result of student feedback. Materials and quiz questions have been updated in line with current events.
 
 

Teaching arrangements
ATTENDANCE MODE
TEACHING TYPE
LEARNING ACTIVITY
CONTACT HOURS
FREQUENCY
Attendance / engagement expectations
If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.
 
This unit is online and asynchonous, meaning you complete it at your own pace over the course of the semester. You are asked to introduce yourself on the online discussion forms, to welcome others, and to be collegial in your interactions.   
 
 

How will I be Assessed?
 
For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.
Assessment schedule
ASSESSMENT TASK #
ASSESSMENT TASK NAME
DATE DUE
WEIGHT
LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:
Assignment exploring a natural hazard in the context of emergency management
Week 9
40 %
LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 2:
Online multiple-choice quiz
Week 11
20 %
LO1
Assessment Task 3:
Assignment exploring a man-made hazard in the context of emergency management.
Week 13
40 %
LO1, LO2
 
Assessment details
    
Assessment Task 1: Assignment exploring a natural hazard in the context of emergency management
Task Description:
Written case study exploring a natural hazard that resulted in a disaster in the context of emergency management. Students will identify the following in their written assignment:

1. Describe the type of natural hazard you have chosen.
2. Describe how the disaster impacted an affected population.

Students will critically reflect in writing about the emergency management approach taken in this case study.

Please access the Assessment Resources module in the ‘Table of Contents’ that provides some additional written information and a video about this assessment task.

Task Length:
1500 words, excluding reference list
Due Date:
Week 9 (03/May/2024)
Weight:
40 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Describe the basic principles that underpin contemporary emergency management practice in Australia and internationally
LO1
2
Identify how emergency management is applied in practice using authentic case studies.
LO2
 
Assessment Task 2: Online multiple-choice quiz
Task Description:
Students are to answer 30 multiple-choice questions relating to material from Weeks 1-10. This is an open book quiz, meaning you can refer to any material. The task is designed to help you assess your own progress in the unit, and your understanding of key concepts. You have a strict time limit of 30 minutes to complete the quiz. If you fail the first attempt, you will have a SECOND attempt. You will NOT receive a second attempt if you pass the FIRST attempt. Questions are set up as one mark each. Once you open the quiz you must complete it. The quiz will be available on MyLo via the quizzes tab at the top of the screen.

Task Length:
30 multiple choice questions in 60 minutes. Once you have completed the test, you will not be able to change your answers or resubmit the test
Due Date:
Week 11 (17/May/2024)
Weight:
20 %
 
 

CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Describe the basic principles that underpin contemporary emergency management practice in Australia and internationally
LO1
 
Assessment Task 3: Assignment exploring a man-made hazard in the context of emergency management.
Task Description:
This assignment is similar to Assessment Task 1, but this time you will identify a case study and explore a man-made hazard that resulted in a disaster in the context of emergency management. Students will identify the following in their written assignment:

1. Describe the type of man-made hazard you have chosen.
2. Describe how the disaster impacted an affected population.

Students will critically reflect in writing about the emergency management approach taken in this case study.

Please access the Assessment Resources module in the ‘Table of Contents’ that provides some additional written information and a video about this assessment task.

Task Length:
1500 words, excluding reference list.
Due Date:
Week 13 (31/May/2024)
Weight:
40 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Describe the basic principles that underpin contemporary emergency management practice in Australia and internationally
LO1
2
Identify how emergency management is applied in practice using authentic case studies.
LO2
 
 
 

How your final result is determined
To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.
 
Submission of assignments
Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.
 
Requests for extensions
If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.
 
A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.
 
The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.
Late penalties
Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.
 
Review of results and appeals
You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.
 
 
 

Required Resources
Required reading materials
All reading materials available on MyLO unit site.
 
Recommended reading materials
 
 
Other required resources