PUQ451 Disaster Risk Management in Health and Community Services
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | PUQ451 |
|---|---|
| Equivalent(s): | PUZ451, PUN450 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $1,164 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $3,216 |
| International unit fee | $4,668 |
Unit Outline: Session 1 2025, QUT Online, Online
| Unit code: | PUQ451 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Equivalent: | PUN450 |
| Equivalent: | PUZ451 |
| Assumed Knowledge: | Nil |
| Coordinators: | Sam Toloo Sheikhzadeh Yazd | sam.toloo@qut.edu.au |
Overview
Health and community services are affected by emergencies and disasters. It is critical that managers of these services are able to assess the risk and plan for business continuity. In this unit you will explore the types, nature and impact of disasters and emergencies on communities in local, national and international contexts. You will also apply approaches to disaster risk management and building resilience in health and community services.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Critically analyse contemporary issues in disaster and emergency risk management.
- Analyse data from a range of publicly available databases, including those related to climate change, disasters, emergencies and demographics.
- Assess risk to health, communities and associated services from climate change, disasters and emergencies.
- Create and communicate a business continuity plan for healthcare and community services during emergencies and disasters that is culturally safe and inclusive.
Content
This unit will cover the following:
- Impacts of emergencies and disasters on health and community services
- Identifying and analysing publicly available data on demographics, disasters, emergencies and climate change
- Assessing, managing and mitigating risk in different contexts
- Building organisational and community resilience for sustainability
- Business continuity planning for diverse communities and contexts
Learning Approaches
In this unit, you will learn by engaging in an active learning environment, undertaking regular online activities, guided through the learning process by expert teaching staff who provide regular feedback. On average, you will need to dedicate 12-15 hours each week for your learning that includes readings, discussions with peers and assignments.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
You will receive feedback on your learning in a variety of ways, including:
- Informal formative feedback will be provided online quizzes, self-check exercises, individual or whole of class feedback in online discussions or via comments in online communities.
- Formal written or recorded feedback will be received on both assessment tasks via Turnitin, in addition to the grade on the Criterion Reference Assessment sheet.
Assessment
Overview
There are three assessments in this unit.
1. Critical Analysis of Study Material - This will consolidate the concepts about contemporary issues in disaster and emergency risk management and data analysis.
2. Risk Assessment - This task builds on data analysis and risk assessment skills to undertake an real-world based risk assessment.
3. Business Continuity Plan - This brings together the concepts and strategies presented in the unit materials to plan for business/service continuity through emergencies and disasters. Culturally safe and inclusive practices will be included in the planning and presentation.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Critical analysis of study material
You will make a series of contributions to the online discussion forum. To inform your contributions, you will critically read study materials and reflect on current or recent disasters or emergency events, You will also use use a Gen AI tool such as Microsoft Copilot to investigate the issue for discussion.
In this assignment you will use a Gen AI tool such as Microsoft Copilot. You will use your critical analysis skills to evaluate the relevance and accuracy of the Gen AI output. You will use your understanding of the topics and your critical thinking skills to Improve the Gen AI tool output.
Assessment: Risk Assessment
You will be given a scenario. In the scenario you will take on the role of a health or community service manager to conduct a risk assessment for an organisation or department. You will need to consider the risks and vulnerabilities to business continuity in the case of disasters and emergencies. Your risk assessment will be informed by data, literature, theoretical principles and relevant frameworks, including the Sustainability Development Goals, the Sendai Framework and the Sphere Standards.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Business Continuity Plan
Following on from the scenario explored in Assessment 2, you will take on the role of a health or community services manager to create and communicate in a presentation a business continuity plan for your organisation or department. The plan will build on the risk assessment, to plan for ways to ensure your services continue in the case of disasters or emergencies. You will need to consider diverse groups in your planning and develop an inclusive approach. Your plan will be accompanied by a rationale informed by data, literature, theories and frameworks.
In week 7 you will participate in a Tutorial where you will get a chance to showcase your draft presentation and get feedback.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Resource Materials
Prescribed text(s)
FitzGerald, G., Tarrant, M., Aitken, P. and Fredriksen, M. (2016). Disaster Health Management: A Primer for Students and Practitioners (1PstP ed.). London & NY: Routledge.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with general participation in this unit. Workplace Health and Safety protocols associated with computer use will apply.
You are expected to communicate in ways that are professional and respectful of others in all interactions. Please refer to QUT guidelines on communication.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.PQ30 Graduate Certificate in Emergency and Disaster Management
- Apply emergency and disaster management theory, frameworks and procedures to inform and develop professional practice in complex situations.
Relates to: ULO1, Critical analysis of study material - Synthesise complex information to inform decision making in response to a broad range of emergency and disaster management issues.
Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Critical analysis of study material, Risk Assessment, Business Continuity Plan - Apply communication skills effectively to convey key messages and complex information to diverse stakeholders to achieve common goals.
Relates to: ULO4, Business Continuity Plan - Plan ways to lead and coordinate transdisciplinary responses to emergency and disaster management issues.
Relates to: ULO4, Business Continuity Plan
Unit Outline: Session 3 2025, QUT Online, Online
| Unit code: | PUQ451 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Equivalent: | PUN450 |
| Equivalent: | PUZ451 |
| Assumed Knowledge: | Nil |
| Coordinators: | Jo Durham | joanne.durham@qut.edu.au Sam Toloo Sheikhzadeh Yazd | sam.toloo@qut.edu.au |
Overview
Health and community services are affected by emergencies and disasters. It is critical that managers of these services are able to assess the risk and plan for business continuity. In this unit you will explore the types, nature and impact of disasters and emergencies on communities in local, national and international contexts. You will also apply approaches to disaster risk management and building resilience in health and community services.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Critically analyse contemporary issues in disaster and emergency risk management.
- Analyse data from a range of publicly available databases, including those related to climate change, disasters, emergencies and demographics.
- Assess risk to health, communities and associated services from climate change, disasters and emergencies.
- Create and communicate a business continuity plan for healthcare and community services during emergencies and disasters that is culturally safe and inclusive.
Content
This unit will cover the following:
- Impacts of emergencies and disasters on health and community services
- Identifying and analysing publicly available data on demographics, disasters, emergencies and climate change
- Assessing, managing and mitigating risk in different contexts
- Building organisational and community resilience for sustainability
- Business continuity planning for diverse communities and contexts
Learning Approaches
In this unit, you will learn by engaging in an active learning environment, undertaking regular online activities, guided through the learning process by expert teaching staff who provide regular feedback. On average, you will need to dedicate 12-15 hours each week for your learning that includes readings, discussions with peers and assignments.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
You will receive feedback on your learning in a variety of ways, including:
- Informal formative feedback will be provided online quizzes, self-check exercises, individual or whole of class feedback in online discussions or via comments in online communities.
- Formal written or recorded feedback will be received on both assessment tasks via Turnitin, in addition to the grade on the Criterion Reference Assessment sheet.
Assessment
Overview
There are three assessments in this unit.
1. Critical Analysis of Study Material - This will consolidate the concepts about contemporary issues in disaster and emergency risk management and data analysis.
2. Risk Assessment - This task builds on data analysis and risk assessment skills to undertake an real-world based risk assessment.
3. Business Continuity Plan - This brings together the concepts and strategies presented in the unit materials to plan for business/service continuity through emergencies and disasters. Culturally safe and inclusive practices will be included in the planning and presentation.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Critical analysis of study material
You will make a series of contributions to the online discussion forum. To inform your contributions, you will critically read study materials and reflect on current or recent disasters or emergency events, You will also use use a Gen AI tool such as Microsoft Copilot to investigate the issue for discussion.
In this assignment you will use a Gen AI tool such as Microsoft Copilot. You will use your critical analysis skills to evaluate the relevance and accuracy of the Gen AI output. You will use your understanding of the topics and your critical thinking skills to Improve the Gen AI tool output.
Assessment: Risk Assessment
You will be given a scenario. In the scenario you will take on the role of a health or community service manager to conduct a risk assessment for an organisation or department. You will need to consider the risks and vulnerabilities to business continuity in the case of disasters and emergencies. Your risk assessment will be informed by data, literature, theoretical principles and relevant frameworks, including the Sustainability Development Goals, the Sendai Framework and the Sphere Standards.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Business Continuity Plan
Following on from the scenario explored in Assessment 2, you will take on the role of a health or community services manager to create and communicate in a presentation a business continuity plan for your organisation or department. The plan will build on the risk assessment, to plan for ways to ensure your services continue in the case of disasters or emergencies. You will need to consider diverse groups in your planning and develop an inclusive approach. Your plan will be accompanied by a rationale informed by data, literature, theories and frameworks.
In week 7 you will participate in a Tutorial where you will get a chance to showcase your draft presentation and get feedback.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Resource Materials
Prescribed text(s)
FitzGerald, G., Tarrant, M., Aitken, P. and Fredriksen, M. (2016). Disaster Health Management: A Primer for Students and Practitioners (1PstP ed.). London & NY: Routledge.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with general participation in this unit. Workplace Health and Safety protocols associated with computer use will apply.
You are expected to communicate in ways that are professional and respectful of others in all interactions. Please refer to QUT guidelines on communication.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.PQ30 Graduate Certificate in Emergency and Disaster Management
- Apply emergency and disaster management theory, frameworks and procedures to inform and develop professional practice in complex situations.
Relates to: ULO1, Critical analysis of study material - Synthesise complex information to inform decision making in response to a broad range of emergency and disaster management issues.
Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Critical analysis of study material, Risk Assessment, Business Continuity Plan - Apply communication skills effectively to convey key messages and complex information to diverse stakeholders to achieve common goals.
Relates to: ULO4, Business Continuity Plan - Plan ways to lead and coordinate transdisciplinary responses to emergency and disaster management issues.
Relates to: ULO4, Business Continuity Plan