Unit Outline

This unit examines the application of general management principles to the particular context of emergency management where normal challenges are further complicated by system failures, inadequate information, complex multi-agency and whole of community approaches and a challenging political and social environment. The unit will examine the management principles through the cycle of emergency management involving the prevention and mitigation phase, preparedness phase, response phase, and recovery phase. It will also explore specific management issues that are central to effective emergency management practice including the impact of socio-technical systems design and human factors. This unit is an intermediate (level 2) emergency management unit focused on emergency management in disasters. This unit will present a range of examples upon which to reflect, in order to critically analyse the cycle of emergency management.

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 the emergency management cycle.
2.	Identify how the emergency management cycle is applied in practice using authentic case studies.

Alterations as a result of student feedback

This unit has been updated in accordance with student feedback. Video lectures have been revised. Case studies incorporate current events.

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:	Preparedness exercise proposal	Week 9	40 %	LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 2:	Online multiple-choice quiz.	Week 12	20 %	LO1
Assessment Task 3:	Preparedness exercise proposal.	Week 13	40 %	LO1, LO2

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Preparedness exercise proposal

Task Description:

This assessment task will specifically focus on exercise management in the preparedness phase of the emergency management cycle.

Drawing on the AIDR Handbook 3 - Managing Exercises (that is available on the Week 5 MyLo page as a link in the ‘Key Point’) and other literature, students will develop a hypothetical emergency management exercise of their choice.

As a minimum the assignment should include:

• An overview of the proposed exercise including the scenario and type of exercise (DISCEX, Field, Functional)

• The aims and objectives of the exercise

• Who would be involved

• Location of the exercise

• Evaluation of the exercise

Rationale for your exercise proposal based on current literature in exercise management.

Students will be provided with a list of possible topics, but they are encouraged to do internet research to find their own example to make the focus of their assignment. Students will be expected to reference the AIDR Handbook 3 - Managing Exercises and some scholarly articles.

Task Length:

1500 words, excluding reference list

Due Date:

Week 9 (03/May/2024)

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrate knowledge about the basic principles that underpin the preparedness phase of the emergency management cycle and specifically in the context of exercise management.	LO1
2	Critically analyse the exercise management activities in the preparedness phases of the emergency management cycle in the context of their chosen case study.	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 60 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.

Due Date:

Week 12 (17/May/2024)

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrate understanding of the key concepts of the cycle emergency management.	LO1

Assessment Task 3: Preparedness exercise proposal.

Task Description:

Drawing on unit readings and other literature, students will critically explore and discuss the emergency management cycle in the context of an actual disaster in Australia or internationally.

Students will be provided with a list of possible topics, but they are encouraged to do internet research to find their own example to make the focus of their assignment.

Students will be expected to analyse a disaster through the four phases of the emergency management cycle identifying best practices and areas for improvement. The assignment can focus upon a single or multiple elements of the disaster. For example, in the case of Deep Water Horizon disaster in 2010, you could explore the emergency management cycle from an environmental perspective, the response organisation’s perspective, from the perspective of the communities that were impacted, from the perspective of BP, or a combination of these.

As all disasters differ, you may find that you explore certain phases of the emergency management cycle in more details than others depending on the information available. However, you are REQUIRED to explore all four phases of the emergency management cycle your assignment.

Students will be expected to reference scholarly articles, and their responses may also include newspaper articles and policy documents where necessary/relevant.

Task Length:

1500 words, excluding reference list

Due Date:

Week 13 (31/May/2024)

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrate and apply knowledge about the different phases of the emergency management cycle	LO1
2	Critically analyse the activities in the various phases in the emergency management cycle in the context of their chosen case study	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.