Update your personalisation settings to view information about this course.
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
Locations
Entry requirements
View full entry requirementsCredit points required
40Course code
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 into theMaster of Business Administration (Professional Practice) and Master of Emergency and Disaster Management.
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.
Career opportunities
All students undertaking this course are from the police, fire and emergency sector (PFES) and related disciplines from the public, private and relevant sectors. They will study to advance their skills and knowledge to further their career in the sector.
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.
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
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)
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
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
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 type | Credit Points | Specific requirements |
| Core Units (2 units) | 20cp | Compulsory Core units totalling 20 credit points as detailed below. DEM513 Leadership in Emergency and Disaster Management |
| Specialist Electives (1-2 units) | 10- 20cp | Specialist Elective units totalling 10 - 20 credit points may be selected from the units detailed below. DEM500 Community-Based Disaster Risk Management |
| 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 above specialist elective units. |
| 40cp | Total Credit Points |
Course Rules (unless otherwise indicated in the above course structure)
- See the Higher Education Course Rules (Award Requirements) in the Units and Courses Policy.
COURSE CHANGES AND TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS - 2026
- MAN516 Resilience Management and Leadership has been replaced by MAN517 Executive Leadership from 2026. Students that have completed MAN516 do not complete MAN517.
- MAN514 Management for the Executive has been replaced by MAN500 Strategic Leadership from 2026. Students that have completed MAN514 do not complete MAN500
The following units are no longer available as part of this course. Students who completed these units prior to 2026 may continue to count the units towards Specialist Electives.
DEM516 Reflective Case Study: Humanitarian, Emergency and Disaster Management (not offered 2025)
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
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 Aeromedical Retrieval and 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
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
IAS531 Indigenous Policy Agendas in Federal and State Politics
IAS539 Intercultural Mediation (not offered 2025)
MPP502 Evidence-Based Policy Development in Northern and Indigenous Contexts (not offered 2025)
MPP503 Realist Research and Evaluation (next planned for delivery in 2026)
PHM588 Qualitative Research
SWK524 Communities, Social Change and Development (no longer available from 2025)
SWK527 Critical Partnerships for Practice: Individuals, Groups and Families (no longer available from 2024)
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 assumed knowledge, pre-requisite and co-requisite requirements for each unit.
| Legend: | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective | E = General Elective |
Part-Time Study Plan
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| DEM513 Leadership in Emergency and Disaster Management | CO | Specialist Elective or Elective | SE/E |
| MAN517 Executive Leadership (INT-3) | CO | Specialist Elective or Elective | SE/E |
_____________________________________
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 assumed knowledge, pre-requisite and co-requisite requirements for each unit.
| Legend: | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective | E = General Elective |
Part-Time Study Plan
Entry requirements
Admission criteria
This course is only available to current professionals within the Police, Fire and Emergency Management sector. Applicants must provide evidence of current engagement in the sector in the form of a CV. In addition, all applicants must meet one of the below:
- 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 sector-specific 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.
The course welcomes applications from professionals engaged in government, non-government and private sector. Applications are welcome from personnels engaged in broad range of industries including - Police including Border Force, Water Police, AFP; Fire and Rescue Service including Rural Fire Service, Bushfire Management, Fire volunteers with substantial experience, Emergency Services, Health Emergency Services, Defence, HAZMAT, Road Accident Rescue, Urban or Underground Search and Rescue, and public safety agencies. It also includes Industry specific safety roles such as Emergency Services Officers, Mines Rescue personnel, Plant Safety, Campus Safety, OHS/WHS, Airport and Port Safety, Large Infrastructure Safety, Incident Management, Business Continuity, Emergency relief and community recovery roles in non-profit sector/CSR, etc.
Essential requirements
English language requirements
DOMESTIC STUDENTS
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. All applicants will be required to supply evidence of this at the time of application.
The minimum English language requirement for this course can be met by evidencing of one of the following:
| Year 12 | Successful completion of Year 12 within Australia, or an equivalent qualification from an approved country where English is the official language (refer to our approved standard and extended lists included below). |
| 0.5 FTE Higher Education Study | Successful completion of at least 0.5FTE of higher education study from Australia or an approved country where English is the official language (refer to our approved standard and extended lists included below). If studies were completed from a country on the extended list, they must have been completed within the past five (5) years. |
| CDU Enabling Course | Successful completion of a Charles Darwin University enabling program of at least 0.5FTE (40 credit points). |
| TAFE Qualification | Successful completion of a recognised TAFE qualification at a Certificate III level or higher from Australia. |
| AHPRA Registration | Current AHPRA registration as a Division 1 or Division 2 nurse. Registration must be current at the time of course commencement. |
| English Test^ | Completion of an approved English test within two years of commencement, meeting the minimum scores outlined in the table below. |
^ Minimum Requirements for English Tests:
| Postgraduate requirements | Undergraduate requirements | |
| CDU ELICOS - English for Academic Purposes | Successful completion of EAP004 | Successful completion of EAP003 |
| International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic test | Overall minimum: 6.5 No band below: 6.0 | Overall minimum: 6.0 No band below 6.0 |
| Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) | Overall minimum: 176 No skill below: 169 | Overall minimum: 169 No skill below 169 |
| Pearson Tests of English (PTE) Academic | Overall minimum: 58 No score below 50 | Overall minimum: 50 No score below: 50 |
| Test of English as a Foreign language | Overall minimum: 79 Minimum writing score: 21 | Overall minimum: 60 Minimum writing score: 21 |
IELTS One Skill Retake is accepted, allowing candidates to retake a single skill within 60 days of sitting their initial test. One Skill Retake results are valid for two years from the date of the first test (not from the date of the Retake test) to the date of commencement at CDU.
CDU accepts combined results from two test sittings of IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, or TOEFL, taken within a six-month period, if:
- Both tests were under the same testing system; and
- The overall score in both tests meets the overall minimum; and
- The applicant achieved the section minimum for each section in at least one test.
Recognised English-speaking countries:
| Standard List | Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America. |
| Extended List | Bermuda, Botswana, Cayman Islands, Ethiopia, Fiji, Kenya, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Seychelles, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Vanuatu, Zimbabwe. |
For further details on the English requirements for CDU courses, please refer to the CDU English Language Proficiency Policy.
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
No other university in Australia would provide you with the unique skill set and professional growth that CDU offers.
Hasan
CDU student
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
No other university in Australia would provide you with the unique skill set and professional growth that CDU offers.
Hasan
CDU student
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
Contact details
For further information about the course, enrolment procedures, closing dates and other administrative issues please contact Student Central on:
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.
Share this course