PUN617 Health, Safety and Environment Leadership and Management


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Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Unit code:PUN617
Credit points:12
Equivalent:PUZ617
Coordinator:Adem Sav | adem.sav@qut.edu.au
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.

Overview

To successfully manage health, safety and environmental hazards, practitioners need to be able to communicate effectively and select and implement appropriate tools and management strategies to . Recognising and developing leadership skills is also crucial for achieving their full potential in the field, This unit is therefore designed to integrate the theory and practice covered in other environmental health/occupational health and safety units, and equip students with management, leadership and communication tools and strategies that can be applied in a range of contexts.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

  1. Describe and reflect the role of policy, education, research, and evaluation in guiding occupational and environmental health direction and action.
  2. Critically analyse and apply a range of management/operational tools, planning and evaluation strategies to effectively manage health, safety and environmental hazards and issues.
  3. Recognise and build on one's own communication strengths and leadership skills (individual reflection) to maximise effectiveness in professional settings
  4. Apply effective communication techniques to engage and lead others in the workplace and self-assess effectiveness of communication skills in a safe environment.
  5. Review the contribution of research to leadership practice and critically analyse current issues facing environmental health, OHS and HSE managers

Content

A variety of health, safety and environmental management and leadership topics will be covered with an integrated emphasis on developing organisational and communication skills to work effectively and create a culture of safety in these contexts:
• Policy and organisational roles in guiding environmental and occupational health practice;
• Leadership in strategic planning and evaluation;
• Program development and evaluation;
• Operational planning and project management;
• The critical role of communication in addressing health, safety and environment challenges;
• Professional development: identifying and achieving career goals; and
• Introduction to the use of research in health, safety and environment practice.

Learning Approaches

To maximise your engagement with the learning materials in this unit, a combination of face to face (for internal students) lecture and regular Canvas Collaborate sessions will be used. Lectures and Canvas Collaborate sessions include both synchronous and asynchronous activities to enable flexibility in the location, time and mode of study, with respect to work and life commitments. This Unit is available in both online and internal modes and all taught sessions are recorded for asynchronous access.

Active participation and discussion in the taught sessions is strongly encouraged to allow for the exchange of ideas between staff and students and to expand upon the theory and knowledge undertaken within the study modules.

The unit embeds opportunities to demonstrate and improve industry relevant digital capabilities, including locating relevant literature and navigating data bases; sourcing, collating and critically analysing scholarly research related to OHS and EH; communicating with peers, colleagues, community members and senior managers through digital platforms; negotiating with internal systems to access, upload and download materials, etc.

A key component of the unit is delivered in a 2 day intensive workshop that students are encouraged to attend. This workshop is designed to challenge students to take major steps in developing confidence, practical skills and understanding of professional communication and health, safety and environmental management techniques and tools. The workshop is a valuable opportunity for students to practice and extend their oral and written communication techniques and a safe environment for students to explore, reflect and evolve their current communication style and skills to promote their capacity for culturally safe management and leadership roles.

The unit hosts guest lecturers from academia and government that promote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives and diverse perspectives regarding a range of OHS and EH topics.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Assessment will be spaced throughout the semester to provide the opportunity for feedback on learning at key points. Students will be provided with feedback on their submissions. In addition to the feedback provided in response to each of the assessment items, further feedback will occur in online/class discussions.

Assessment

Overview

Assessment items are designed to measure student attainment of the learning outcomes stated above. The assessment items are designed to encourage learning and enable students to apply concepts and principles to real world settings.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Portfolio

This assessment item requires you to select one of two options:

Option A: If you do not have significant HSE experience, you can choose to map your level of career progression against attributes and set goals for continuous improvement, identifying both your strengths and areas for further development as an emerging HSE professional. The assessment item may be used to apply for a real-world job vacancy related to the unit.

Option B: If you do have significant HSE experience, you can choose to complete a critically reflective assignment as an experienced HSE professional. This will involve evaluation and analysis of scope of practice over time with reference to milestones, issues, and challenges, context change. The assessment item may be used to apply for promotion in your professional practice.

For each assessment option, you must submit a 5-minute (maximum 7-minutes) personal video recording on the unit Canvas site. You will discuss your responses to two hypothetical questions in the video recording and training on how to record and submit a video will be provided in class.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

 

Weight: 45
Length: 2000 words plus video recording
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 8
Related Unit learning outcomes: 2, 3, 4

Assessment: End of Semester Exam

End-of-semester exam comprising Multiple Choice and Short Answer questions. The exam will cover content from week 1 to week 13, including lectures/tutorials/workshops and other readings material. (Further instructions will be provided on LMS Canvas and in class). 

Weight: 55
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Central Examination Period
Central exam duration: 3:10 - Including 10 minute perusal
Examination Period
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 5

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

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.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources



Resource Materials

Other

Relevant Australian/International standards may be viewed via the QUT Library website. Students will be required to access resources online. Therefore internet access is essential.

Risk Assessment Statement

Substantial computer-based work will be required in this unit. Students should ensure that they take regular rest breaks when engaging in prolonged computer-based work.

Course Learning Outcomes

This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.

PU65 Graduate Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety

  1. Apply advanced theoretical and technical knowledge and skills to current and emerging issues and opportunities in occupational health and safety promotion and management.
    Relates to: Portfolio, End of Semester Exam
  2. Apply critical and creative thinking, problem-solving, decision-making and technical skills and incorporate diverse perspectives to evaluate and generate sustainable solutions to complex problems in occupational health and safety.
    Relates to: Portfolio, End of Semester Exam
  3. Interpret and tailor written and oral communication styles and strategies to inform diverse audiences about complex knowledge and ideas in occupational health and safety.
    Relates to: Portfolio
  4. Work independently or within teams with integrity, ethicality, objectivity and impartiality to plan, manage and complete projects and disseminate knowledge within a culturally safe and socially inclusive environment.
    Relates to: Portfolio

PU67 Graduate Diploma in Environmental Health

  1. Apply advanced knowledge of environmental health science, public health principles and policies, recent developments in global political and economic events to the management of the health of the environment.
    Relates to: End of Semester Exam
  2. Apply independent critical and creative thinking, problem solving, reflective decision-making and technical skills to evaluate and generate solutions to complex problems in the field.
    Relates to: Portfolio
  3. Interpret and enact culturally safe communication styles and strategies to inform diverse audiences about complex knowledge and ideas.
    Relates to: Portfolio
  4. Work independently and within teams with integrity, ethically, objectivity and impartiality in the planning and management of research and other projects and in dissemination of knowledge
    Relates to: End of Semester Exam

PU80 Master of Health, Safety and Environment

  1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of an advanced body of theoretical and practical knowledge and emerging challenges within the fields of occupational and environmental health/management
    Relates to: Portfolio, End of Semester Exam
  2. Demonstrate advanced skills and abilities to describe, appraise and apply the major tools and systems of OHS and EH practice and research to identify and manage complex problems
    Relates to: Portfolio, End of Semester Exam
  3. Integrate and synthesise complex knowledge and apply critical and reflective thinking to advance the discipline’s body of research.
    Relates to: Portfolio, End of Semester Exam
  4. Work independently and in teams to interpret and communicate complex scientific, legal and psychosocial data and present it in a format that is easy to understand
    Relates to: Portfolio
  5. Enact and apply ethical, culturally safe, socially inclusive principles with self, people, and organisations in diverse contexts.
    Relates to: Portfolio

PU86 Master of Public Health

  1. Apply advanced knowledge of public health principles to complex, current public health issues in diverse local and international contexts
    Relates to: End of Semester Exam
  2. Apply advanced oral,written and technical communication and research literacy skills to professional practice in interprofessional teams
    Relates to: Portfolio
  3. Engage professionally to advance efficient and equitable gains in population health through leadership and culturally-safe, evidence-based practice.
    Relates to: Portfolio