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Humanitarian, emergency and disaster management
Postgraduate Coursework

Graduate Certificate of Leadership (Police, Fire and Emergency Services)

Not available to international students.

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This course is only available to Domestic students and your preference is currently set to International.

This course is only available to International students and your preference is currently set to Domestic.

Key details

Duration

Not available full-time
1 year/s part-time

Intake

Semester 1, Semester 2
Important Dates

Locations

Casuarina campus, Online
Not available to international students.

Credit points required

40

Course code

ULPFE1
SATAC codes

Overview

CDU's Graduate Certificate of Leadership prepares Police, Fire and Emergency Services personnel to effectively and efficiently lead in the face of small-scale routine situations to complex catastrophic events. The course explores how public leaders manage crises, the secrets of successful crisis management, and how to anticipate and mitigate risk of future crises.

Study online or on campus and design your course by selecting from a range of specialist electives to suit your role. This course can also become a pathway for further learning.

During the one year, part-time Graduate Certificate of Leadership (Police, First Emergency Services) course you will; 

  • develop your leadership skills through advanced analysis of case studies from Australia and abroad
  • learn about proactive measures to deal with emergency management and disaster risk reduction
  • explore how to use your skills and knowledge in a way that is appropriate, collaborative and productive in local and global contexts with a holistic, in-depth understanding of the leadership framework for complex crisis management
  • move beyond academic and theory-based learning to gain the practical and applied skills at local, national, regional and international levels.



Credit transfers and advanced standing

Pathways


Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education

For information about credit transfer available to students with complete or incomplete study at this or other Institutions refer to Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education

Credit transfer

For further information on credit transfer and how to apply visit ASK CDU

Credit transfers and advanced standing

Credit transfer

For further information on credit transfer and how to apply visit ASK CDU

Fees

Non-Commonwealth supported places

Full fee paying places are available in this course.

Information about fees and charges can be found at Fees and Payments.

Menzies Public Health Julie

Why study a postgraduate degree at CDU?

Study a postgraduate course at Charles Darwin University to upskill at work, fast-track your career, increase your job prospects or explore a new interest. We offer flexible study options so you don't have to put your life on hold while you learn.

  • #2 Australian uni for postgraduate employment outcomes (GUG 2024)
  • Top 100 university globally for quality education
  • Our graduates enjoy higher than average employment rates and starting salaries
Humanitarian, Emergency and Disaster Management

Why study humanitarian, emergency and disaster management at CDU?

There is growing demand for skilled humanitarian and development aid professionals in today's world. Study humanitarian, emergency and disaster management at CDU to learn how to help those affected by natural disasters, man-made conflicts, social injustice and poverty.

  • Gain hands-on experience with intensives and placements
  • Learn from academics and industry professionals
  • #2 Australian university for postgraduate employment outcomes (GUG 2024)
Menzies Public Health Julie

Why study a postgraduate degree at CDU?

Study a postgraduate course at Charles Darwin University to upskill at work, fast-track your career, increase your job prospects or explore a new interest. We offer flexible study options so you don't have to put your life on hold while you learn.

  • #2 Australian uni for postgraduate employment outcomes (GUG 2024)
  • Top 100 university globally for quality education
  • Our graduates enjoy higher than average employment rates and starting salaries
Humanitarian, Emergency and Disaster Management

Why study humanitarian, emergency and disaster management at CDU?

There is growing demand for skilled humanitarian and development aid professionals in today's world. Study humanitarian, emergency and disaster management at CDU to learn how to help those affected by natural disasters, man-made conflicts, social injustice and poverty.

  • Gain hands-on experience with intensives and placements
  • Learn from academics and industry professionals
  • #2 Australian university for postgraduate employment outcomes (GUG 2024)

What will I study?

Complete two core and two elective units of 10 credit points each, totalling 40 credit points. You will choose specialist electives from a suite of units and we recommend that you discuss your selection with the Course Coordinator, who will provide guidance on which units meet your specific needs and can advise on further study pathways.

Course structure

The Graduate Certificate of Leadership (Police, Fire and Emergency Services) is a nested course within CDU's Master of Emergency and Disaster Management and Graduate Diploma of Emergency and Disaster Management. It is also a pathway into CDU's Master of Public Policy and the Master of Business Administration.


A candidate must successfully complete units totalling 40 credit points (cp) as detailed below. All units are valued at 10 credit points unless otherwise indicated.

Unit typeCredit PointsSpecific requirements
Core Units 
(2 units)
20cp

Compulsory Core units totalling 20 credit points as detailed below.

DEM513 Leadership in Emergency and Disaster Management 
MAN516 Resilience Management and Leadership (replaces COM501 from 2022) 
 

Specialist Electives  
(1-2 units)
10- 20cp

Specialist Elective units totalling 10 - 20 credit points may be selected from the units detailed below.

Emergency and Disaster Management 
DEM511 Emergency and Disaster Management in Context 
DEM512 Interdisciplinary Aspects of Emergency and Disaster Management 
DEM514 Cultural, Social and Psychological Aspects of Emergency and Disaster Management 
DEM516 Reflective Case Study: Humanitarian, Emergency and Disaster Management (not offered 2024)

Engineering and Information Technology 
PRT551 Project Management Risk and Reliability

Environment Management, Planning and Policy 
ENV507 Fire Ecology and Management 
ENV511 Real-World Statistics and Data Reasoning 
ENV513 Environmental Planning and Policy 
ENV520 Wildlife Management (not offered 2025)
ENV521 Community Engagement for Biosecurity and Natural Resource Management

Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Policy 
HEA516 Leading for Change 
HEA525 Emotional Intelligence in Practice 
HEA532 Mental Health Care and Trauma 
HEA534 Mental Health Care and Substance Misuse (no longer offered from 2025)
HEA583 Domestic and International Logistics 
HEA584 Human System Extremes 
HEA585 Fundamentals of Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (no longer available from 2024) 
HEA586 Health Emergency Preparedness and Response to Natural Disasters (no longer available from 2024) 
HEA587 Health Emergency Preparedness and Response to Human Made Disasters (no longer available from 2024) 
HEA588 Health Emergency Preparedness and Response to Communicable Disease Outbreaks (no longer available from 2024) 
PHM523 Health Promotion 
PHM536 Health Systems, Planning and Evaluation 
PHM554 Public Health Economics and Decision Making 
PHM559 Health Policy 
PHM567 Public Health 
PHM570 Epidemiology and Control of Communicable Disease 
PHM592 Global Health

Public Management and Governance 
BUS504 Sustainable Enterprise (replaces MAN508 from 2022) 
BUS506 Global Megatrends (replaces MAN506 from 2022) 
BUS508 Business Analytics (replaces BUS501 from 2022) 
ENT501 Sustainable Entrepreneurship
MAN514 Management for the Executive (replaces MAN509 from 2022) 
STA510 Business Statistics

Research Methodologies in Northern Contexts 
IAS531 Indigenous Policy Agendas in Federal and State Politics 
IAS537 Building Relationships in Indigenous Contexts 
IAS539 Intercultural Mediation 
MPP502 Evidence-Based Policy Development in Northern and Indigenous Contexts (not offered 2024) 
MPP503 Realist Research and Evaluation 
PHM588 Qualitative Research

Secure and Safe Communities 
SWK521 Analysing Social Work Foundations 
SWK524 Communities, Social Change and Development (no longer available from 2025)
SWK525 Loss, Grief and Mental Health 
SWK526 Leadership in Social Policy 
SWK527 Critical Partnerships for Practice: Individuals, Groups and Families (no longer available from 2024) 
SWK558 Cultural Security in Child Protection Practice 
 

Electives 
(0-1 units)
0-10cp

Units totalling up to 10 credit points may be selected from postgraduate units offered by the University.

Students may select units from any of the approved specialisations (included above) as electives. 
 

 40cpTotal Credit Points

Course Rules (unless otherwise indicated in the above course structure)

 

COURSE CHANGES AND TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS - 2024

The following units are no longer available from 2024:

HEA585 Fundamentals of Health Emergency Preparedness and Response 
HEA586 Health Emergency Preparedness and Response to Natural Disasters 
HEA587 Health Emergency Preparedness and Response to Human Made Disasters 
HEA588 Health Emergency Preparedness and Response to Communicable Disease Outbreaks 

 

COURSE CHANGES AND TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS - 2023

Students enrolled prior to 2023 should note the following changes to the course structure

BUS504 has moved to a specialist elective and been replaced by MAN516 as the core unit. These units are not equivalent. Students who completed BUS504 prior to 2023 do not need to complete MAN516 as a core unit.

A range of new specialist elective options have been added to the course structure.

The following units have been removed from the course structure. Students who have completed these units prior to 2023 may count them towards the Elective requirement. 
MAN501 Cross Cultural Management (no longer offered) 
MAN515 Operations Management (no longer offered) 
HRM503 International Human Resource Management (no longer offered) 

Study plan


STUDENTS COMMENCING IN SEMESTER 1

The Recommended Study Plan provided below is suitable for a student enrolling in a part-time study load. Students entering this course with advanced standing, or wishing to vary their study plan due to work, personal, financial or other reasons should use the table as a guide to create an individual study plan.

When designing an individual study plan:

  • maintain the basic order in which units are to be attempted; and
  • check the prerequisite and assumed knowledge for each unit as some units assume you have completed foundation unit/s in the unit area at a lower level.  
     
Legend:CO = Core UnitSE = Specialist ElectiveE = General Elective

Part-Time Study Plan

Semester 1Semester 2
Year 1
Specialist ElectiveSEDEM513 Leadership in Emergency and Disaster ManagementCO
Specialist Elective or ElectiveSE/EMAN516 Resilience Management and LeadershipCO

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_____________________________________

STUDENTS COMMENCING IN SEMESTER 2

The Recommended Study Plan provided below is suitable for a student enrolling in a part-time study load. Students entering this course with advanced standing, or wishing to vary their study plan due to work, personal, financial or other reasons should use the table as a guide to create an individual study plan.

When designing an individual study plan:

  • maintain the basic order in which units are to be attempted; and
  • check the prerequisite and assumed knowledge for each unit as some units assume you have completed foundation unit/s in the unit area at a lower level.  
     
Legend:CO = Core UnitSE = Specialist ElectiveE = General Elective

Part-Time Study Plan

Semester 1Semester 2
Year 1
  DEM513 Leadership in Emergency and Disaster ManagementCO
  MAN516 Resilience Management and LeadershipCO
Year 2
Specialist ElectiveSE  
Specialist Elective or ElectiveSE/E  

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Entry requirements

Admission criteria

Successful completion of a recognised bachelor degree, graduate certificate, graduate diploma, master's degree or equivalent international qualification.

Applicants who have a diploma level qualification and at least five years relevant professional experience will also be considered. Applicants must provide further documentation detailing their employment experience (i.e. work experience certificate from an employer/s) and outlining their roles and achievements in the form of a curriculum vitae (CV). Applicants must also provide a statement of purpose which should address why you would like to be admitted into the course, career goals and aspirations and benefits the course will provide you.

Essential requirements

English language requirements

To gain entry into Charles Darwin University, all Higher Education applicants must satisfy the University's English Language Proficiency requirements for their chosen course of study. From 2025 ALL applicants will be required to supply evidence of this at the time of application. For further details on the English requirements for CDU courses, please refer to CDU English Language Proficiency Policy.

DOMESTIC STUDENTS   
English language proficiency requirements - Domestic students

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS   
English language proficiency requirements - International students   
Course specific English language proficiency requirements for International students are included below.

The minimum English language requirement for this course is met by either undertaking previous education from an English-speaking country or undertaking one of the following English language tests and obtaining the minimum requirements listed below.

CDU English for Academic Purposes 4 (ZEAP40)Successful completion of EAP004 English for Academic Purposes 4
IELTS Academic Module (including One Skill Retake)A minimum overall score of 6.5 with no band less than 6.0.
Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)A minimum overall score of 176, with no skill below 169.
Common European Framework Certificate of English ProficiencyA minimum overall grade of C1, valid for three years from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU.
Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic moduleA minimum overall score of 58 with no score lower than 50.
TOEFL Internet-based Test (iBT)A minimum overall score of 79 with a minimum writing score of 21.

* All tests are valid for two years from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU, unless otherwise specified.  
* Where applicable, international applicants must also satisfy the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) English language requirements for student visa applications.

Do you have a question regarding English requirements at CDU? Please email: international@cdu.edu.au.  
 

My dream is to be of service to others, especially to the vulnerable people in the community. I'm studying humanitarian aid to broaden my knowledge so that I will be able to be of service and encourage other people as well to serve humanity.

Lloyd

CDU student

International student Lloyd

No other university in Australia would provide you with the unique skill set and professional growth that CDU offers.

Hasan

CDU student

Hasan

My dream is to be of service to others, especially to the vulnerable people in the community. I'm studying humanitarian aid to broaden my knowledge so that I will be able to be of service and encourage other people as well to serve humanity.

Lloyd

CDU student

International student Lloyd

No other university in Australia would provide you with the unique skill set and professional growth that CDU offers.

Hasan

CDU student

Hasan

Course details

Accreditation

This course is accredited by the University in accordance with the Higher Education Standards.

Inherent Requirements

There are inherent requirements for this course. Students must read and understand the requirements for this course.

Australian qualification framework

This course is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8.

Additional information

Can offers be deferred?
Yes
Award
Graduate Certificate of Leadership (Police, Fire and Emergency Services)
Faculty/College
Faculty of Arts and Society
Sector
HE
Area of study
Humanitarian, Emergency and Disaster Management

Contact details

For further information about the course, enrolment procedures, closing dates and other administrative issues please contact Student Central on:

Email:Student.Central@cdu.edu.auPhone:1800 061 963 (free call)

You make CDU

Together we are a positive force for change in our communities and the world.

You make CDU

Our students choose to study with us because we share the same vision – to make a positive change. Whatever your motivation is, we can guide you in the right direction.

You make CDU

Together we are a positive force for change in our communities and the world.

You make CDU

Our students choose to study with us because we share the same vision – to make a positive change. Whatever your motivation is, we can guide you in the right direction.

How to apply

There are many ways to apply to CDU. The method you use depends on your course type, where you live and whether you are a new or returning student to CDU.

Remember to apply early for your best chance at securing an offer to study with us.

SATAC

SATAC is the application channel for residents of NT, ACT, SA, WA, QLD, VIC, NSW or TAS.

SATAC codes

Location
SATAC Code
Casuarina campus (FF)
1GC536
Online (FF)
1GC536
* CSP = Commonwealth supported place
FF = Full fee

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