Advancing critical care and disaster management for a changing world
Responding to climate change and terror events present complex challenges for emergency departments and hospitals.
The frequency and severity of these events are increasing around the globe.
Watch how Michelle Thornhill, Emergency Physician, is using her postgraduate education to advance critical care and disaster management response practice in hospitals to help safeguard the public.
If you’re a nurse, you may be interested in specialising in critical care or being equipped for a constantly changing emergency department environment.
Our courses
Designed to equip clinicians, first responders, health service managers, relevant agency staff and policy makers with an overview of the principles of disaster management, the skills required to prepare their health service to respond and recover from disasters and terror events, leadership skills for crisis situations and more advanced management of complex disasters such as chemical or biological events.
Designed to equip you with essential skills to prepare your health service, community, or organisation for natural disasters and terror events. 1 year part-time. Mostly online with in-person intensives.
Designed to equip you with essential skills to prepare your health service, community, or organisation for natural disasters and terror events. 6 months part-time. Can be completed fully online, or mostly online with in-person intensives.
With a focus on the fundamentals of disaster response, the course will equip clinicians, first responders, health service managers, relevant agency staff and policy makers with essential skills to effectively prepare for, and manage, a range of disaster events. 6 months part time.
Nursing courses
Professional pathways for registered nurses exist within the Master of Advanced Nursing Practice, where Disaster and Terror Medicine subjects can be taken as electives.
Specialise in Critical Care and Emergency Nursing as part of the Master program, to prepare for clinical leadership roles in nursing and healthcare. 1 year full-time / 2 years part-time. On campus (Parkville).
Receive expert guidance in your own hospital and develop the competencies you need to move into critical care nursing. 1 year part-time. Mixed attendance mode.
Gain skills and evidence-based knowledge to provide specialist care in high-pressure constantly changing emergency department environment. 1 year part-time. Mixed attendance mode.
Gain the clinical competence to practise paediatric intensive care nursing as benchmarked against Australian Practice Standards for Specialist Critical Care Nurses. 1 year part-time.
Why study critical care and disaster management?
- #1 university in Australia and #20 in the world for Medical and Health (*Times Higher Education 2025 World University Rankings)”
- Learn from industry experts from The Royal Melbourne, Austin Health, Ambulance Victoria, International Institute for Counter-Terrorism and more.
- Disaster and Terror Medicine courses developed by the Department of Critical Care – the hub for world-leading critical care research, learning, and teaching and engagement across the 20+ University-affiliated hospitals and beyond.
- Enjoy the flexibility of online study as well as the rich benefits of face-to-face teaching in a clinical setting.
Looking for personalised advice?
Find out more about our graduate degrees and get support with your application. Speak to our expert staff online, via phone or at an upcoming event. You can also register to learn more about your course options and opportunities via email.
Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate, Specialist Certificate in Disaster and Terror Medicine
“The need for a unique course such as this is unfortunately self-evident. It is not a question of ‘if’ but ‘when’ an event will occur. As clinicians, administrators and officials who are charged with ensuring the safety of our community, understanding the principles of disaster and terror management, will mitigate the impact when these events happen.” Professor Braitberg AM.