This micro-credential is designed for health professionals and those in government or management roles seeking the knowledge and confidence to evaluate organisational disaster management plans and more effectively prepare for disaster events.

This includes critical care clinicians, critical care allied health practitioners, first responders (e.g. paramedics), government agency employees, health service administrators, and managers of large organisations.

To enrol in this course, you require at least three years of relevant work experience (in health management, medicine, paramedicine, nursing, allied health, policy development or senior management), as well as the written and analytical skills appropriate for postgraduate study.

This micro-credential is led by expert practitioners in disaster management. Content has been developed in collaboration with industry experts from organisations including Ambulance Victoria and Australian Red Cross Emergency Services.

Whether you're a health professional or from another sector, the course is designed to expand your understanding of disaster management principles in a practical and industry-aligned way. Assessment tasks are designed to relate to your own professional context and you'll gain practical skills that can be immediately applied.

By the end of this course, you'll be more equipped to evaluate disaster management preparedness and organisational responses. You'll be able to:

• Recognise and apply disaster management principles of prevention, preparedness, response, recovery considering the different disaster health systems
• Analyse the principles that are applied to prevent, manage, contain and diffuse the impact of disasters and apply these to different organisational settings.

This course runs for between two and four weeks, including  delivery and time for you to complete your assessment tasks.

Your total time commitment is approximately 40 hours, which includes:

• 10 hours guided study via the readings and online modules
• 23 hours self-directed learning
• 6 hours for assessment tasks
• 1 hour Q&A session

Assessment:

• Multiple choice and short-answer quiz (20%)
• Written analysis of a disaster response (80%)

Once you've successfully completed this course, you will be awarded your Disaster Management Essentials Melbourne MicroCert. This digital certificate will warrant the achievement of knowledge, skills and capabilities outlined in the learning outcomes. It may also include artefacts (such as videos and written material) related to both experiential and work-integrated learning, including translatable assessment that is practical to your professional life. You can also share your Melbourne MicroCert digitally and via social media by adding it to your personal platforms, such as LinkedIn. See example certificate.

This micro-credential includes guided and self-directed learning, to provide both flexibility and support.

Self-directed learning includes self-paced online modules, featuring case studies and videos with expert practitioners in disaster management. Guided learning includes a live Q&A webinar that gives you the chance to ask the experts detailed questions.

You'll also receive valuable feedback and guidance from your course facilitators throughout the course, and learn alongside an engaged and dedicated cohort of professionals.

This micro-credential will expire 10 years after the date of issue as particular knowledge or skills may need to be refreshed.